After over 20 years of practicing Watsu and more than 15 years of teaching, I’ve pondered how different clients respond during sessions. Several paradoxes have emerged. For instance, some individuals who appear stiff and tense during the session often express afterward, “I’ve never felt more relaxed!” Conversely, there are those who move fluidly throughout the session yet admit they never fully surrendered.

How can someone who actively engages during a session conclude that they experienced profound relaxation? And how can a receiver who clings to the practitioner throughout the session feel as if they had an out-of-body experience?

Drawing from my resonance with Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism, and my extensive training in Shiatsu with Shinzo Fujimaki, I began to apply the 5 Element Theory to better understand these client behaviors. Over time, I identified five distinct patterns in how clients behave in the water. This insight led me to develop a class called “The Watsu® of the 5 Elements,” where I present a tailored sequence for each of the five types. In this class, we learn to recognize each behavior type and its corresponding emotion, fostering a consistent technique that addresses each individual’s needs. This approach encourages curiosity and observation rather than judgment, prompting us to listen as much as we act.

The five aspects, or keys, will help you identify, understand, and respond to the diverse behaviors of clients, significantly enhancing the therapeutic potential of Watsu. Throughout the course, you will learn various sequences that equip practitioners to adapt to any situation, providing specific tools to facilitate an optimal experience for the receiver.

A standard sequence, like Watsu 1, may not suit every client, especially at the beginning of their journey or during their first session. In Watsu 3, we learn that a skilled practitioner must sometimes set aside learned sequences and rely on intuition to offer the best comfort and support. Adapting techniques to the receiver’s reactions is essential. Understanding the framework of the watsu of the 5 elements provides a foundational tool that enriches the practitioner’s art.

In “The Watsu® of the 5 Elements,” we explore five approaches to engaging the body in water, focusing on how to communicate, encourage, and balance through a gesture dialogue. By using the body’s language, we guide our clients to the depths of their being—a space where they feel understood without words. Through the learned sequences, we aim to harmonize the emotional state of the recipient, allowing them to connect with their innermost nature. It is in this profound depth that healing and happiness truly originate.

Prerequisites:
This course requires you to be already trained with the basics of aquatic bodywork. Good knowledge of Watsu 1 and 2 or equivalent classes is a prerequisite.