Henriksen Lundberg (mealfibre4)
What is Watsu? By definition, Watsu means"union" or"direct coordination between parts." It is also known as"laying on hands" or"considered treatment." It is often confused with Swedish massage.
According to Dr. Hayashi, writer of Watsu and Therapeutic Massage, the practice consists of numerous ancient Japanese forms of bodywork and manipulation. Some forms like Tai Chi have been used in Asian cultures for centuries. In the United States, however, it has only been in the last century or so that students of conventional medicine have begun to learn it. Some believe it was in Japan that the first ever water was performed. At that moment, therapists were only allowed to perform limited bodywork techniques. Over time, with the progress of scientific massage therapy and the discovery of endless pools of healing energy, it became possible to carry out full-body therapy to millions of clients.
When the world recognized that therapeutic massage was an effective remedy for muscle and circulatory disorders, they began to apply it to the neck and back to relieve pain. Gradually, other regions of the body were included, such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, shoulders, buttocks, back, legs, feet, and wrists. Thus, the term,"watsu" was born. To this day, water remains a popular therapeutic technique used for pain relief, relaxation, and chiropractic care.
According to Dr. Hayashi, a professional who specializes in chiropractic care,"The treatment session begins with a warm water therapy for the body and ligaments to prepare them for further manipulation. Then, the client lies on a massage table at which a particular pattern of movements is done on the different areas of the body. The movements are choreographed by a knowledgeable professional with training in watsu." After the therapy session, the customer is required to return to the massage table for upkeep and safety purposes."
Chiropractors are trained to perform traditional Swedish massage and shiatsu as part of the regular care. But, Dr. Hayashi notes,"Chiropractors have also incorporated shiatsu in their practice since it's been found to help reduce soreness and reduce pain perception." According to Dr. Hayashi,"chiropractors find that patients with decreased muscle soreness and immune systems experience a decrease in stiffness and pain following weekly treatments." This, in turn, helps to enhance the client's quality of life and physical health.
In contrast to the idea that traditional Swedish massage and shiatsu are restricted to only addressing the muscles and tissues, massage chair manufacturers are currently incorporating watsu principles into their massage treatment systems. By integrating the watsu principals in their design, massage chair makers have managed to address many of the tissue and muscle demands of their clients. An added benefit of incorporating this type of therapy into a massage seat system is that, because the water principles are integrated into the design of the chair, patients are not as likely to be harmed during a traditional Swedish massage treatment. According to Dr. Hayashi,"chiropractors who incorporate watsu principles in their practice have found that their patients have a reduction in soreness and pain during and after a massage."
Another benefit of incorporating water into a client's regular health care regimen is for patients who are experiencing muscle spasms or people recovering from an injury. According to Dr. Hayashi,"chiropractors have noticed a decrease in muscle spasms and cramps following a watsu treatment." He goes on to note that,"other patients have experienced a decrease in swelling and pain after receiving a shiatsu therapy." This has been proven true time , with several different studies conducted on this subject. Therefore,
