Syllabus

Watsu training is comprehensive, in depth and focuses on developing the professional and personal skills, awareness and ethical working manner required of those providing this profound water therapy. There are five key stages to becoming a professional Watsu Practitioner.

Basic Watsu

A 16/18-hour programme. Participants will receive certification and be registered with WABA (the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association).  Their 16 hours will be logged with WABA and shall count toward further training should they wish to progress toward becoming full Watsu practitioners. Notes are provided and the major elements of the training are:

  • Watsu’s basic moves and positions taught as a sequence
  • Body mechanics, client alignment and support
  • Client and personal safety
  • Contraindications (Absolute; Relative; Range-of-Motion)
  • Meditation and breath work
  • Self awareness, maintaining boundaries and ethics

 

Watsu 1

50 hours training, 20 logged practise sessions, demonstration of competency. After completing this level (Basic Watsu), current hydrotherapy professionals may then immediately start incorporating Basic Watsu into their current work – thereby enhancing their ability to serve their clients. Meanwhile those not already engaged in hydrotherapy in a clinical setting will be able to use what they’ve learned with family and friends.

Watsu 2

50 hours training, 20 logged practise sessions, demonstration of competency. On condition that they repeat Watsu 2 and subsequently complete Watsu 3 within 12 months, a person may become a Provider of Watsu within a single, specified spa or clinic setting.

Watsu 3

50 hours training, CPR qualification, have received at least 10 logged sessions from a Watsu professional, demonstrate competency.

Watsu 4

Becoming a Professional Practitioner involves a further 10 days Shiatsu, 10 days Anatomy & Physiology, plus sufficient WABA aquatic bodywork courses to total 500+ training hours. However, body work professionals with over 200 hours of clinical experience require only 300 WABA hours (of which 166 will have already accumulated in Basic, 1, 2 and 3).