FAQ

How would you describe Water Flow therapy for someone unfamiliar with it? 

Water Flow Therapy is a broad, umbrella term that refers to a variety of different healing modalities that are performed in warm water that involves the client being floated by a practitioner. Just as there are a number of different massage modalities including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Sports, and others, there are also a number of different Water Flow Therapy modalities: Watsu®, WaterDance™, Healing Dance®, Jahara, Janzu, Fluid Presence™, etc. The common denominator is that the client is being floated in warm water, often with the assist of floats that are strapped around the client’s legs, and the client is moved gently through the water. Water Flow Therapy modalities can incorporate, to various degrees, passive stretching, massage, acupressure, breath work, movement that can be simple or complex, dynamic or gentle, and also stillness.

What is it, and how does it work?

Water Flow Therapy, and how it works, can vary significantly depending on what modality is being offered. Some modalities, like Watsu® are surface-only modalities that emphasize stretching and acupressure similar to Shiatsu. Other modalities, like WaterDance™ and Healing Dance® have components that involve submerging the client allowing nearly limitless possibilities for exploring freedom of movement. Fluid Presence™, a relatively newer approach, has a more psycho-somatic focus, incorporates inquiry and dialogue, and is rooted in the healing power of Presence. While each modality has its own unique emphasis, it is the healing power of the warm water that makes Water Flow Therapy so effective. We all know that feeling of entering a warm bath and that tell-tale soothing sigh of relief that follows as we feel ourselves letting go of stress and tension. In Water Flow Therapy, the nervous system is being brought back into homeostasis, and that alone has numerous positive effects on an individual.

Who is it best for? Is there anyone who should avoid the treatment? 

Water Flow Therapy is good for people of all ages, and there may be a number of reasons why someone may want to seek out this form of healing. Water Flow Therapy can be healing on a physical, mental and even emotional level. Physically, it can help relieve stiffness and reduce pain associated with tight and sore muscles, can increase joint mobility, and it is effective for reducing chronic tension held in the body. Mentally, Water Flow Therapy tends to be quite calming as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system which can relieve stress and anxiety. This can lead to improved sleep patterns and a deeper sense of ease in daily life. Emotionally, there is evidence that trauma, which can be held in the body, can be released in a session. Johns Hopkins University, in conjunction with Healing Wave Aquatics (formerly known as the Wave Academy), studied the efficacy of using water therapy to offer relief to clinically diagnosed veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the results were resoundingly positive. Water Flow Therapy even has the potential to shift a person’s relationship with water. I have helped a number of clients overcome their fear of water; sometimes in just one session.

Water Flow Therapy should be avoided by anyone with a contraindicated condition. There are absolute contraindications such as uncontrolled epilepsy, fever, open wounds, and serious cardiac conditions and relative contraindications that would warrant a doctor’s approval such as very low, uncontrolled, blood pressure, certain cardiac considerations, etc. If a client is unsure as to whether or not they are a good candidate for Water Flow Therapy, they should discuss it with their practitioner and health care provider. 

Are there any drawbacks to Water Flow Therapy?

Like with all holistic therapies, there are many different styles of Water Flow Therapy and many different practitioners; a session with one practitioner may be very different than a session with another practitioner particularly if they practice different modalities. While all of the styles of Water Flow Therapy can be extraordinary, a client might find that they really resonate with one modality over another or with a particular practitioner’s approach. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of places where one can find Water Flow Therapy and practitioners of some modalities can be harder to find than others.

How long does each session typically last? Is there a time when the therapy becomes most effective? 

A session can be anywhere from 50-90 minutes depending upon the practitioner and whether the session is offered at a spa versus someone’s private practice. Some clients describe a session as timeless; it can feel infinitely spacious, and sometimes it can seem like the time goes by in a blink. 

The effects of Water Flow Therapy can be both immediate and long-lasting, and the impact can be physical, mental or emotional. It is common for someone to have a great night’s sleep after a session, and that positive effect on the nervous system can last for a while. Some clients make the association with experiences they have had with psychedelic therapy and have gone so far as to describe a session as life-changing.

Why is the water set at a specific temperature? 

The water needs to be approximately 95º as that is the average skin temperature of a human. If the water is any cooler than 93º, it is quite possible that a client may get cold and even shiver during a session as their parasympathetic nervous system becomes activated and the client drops into a deep state of calm. If the water is any warmer than 96º, the client may exhibit beads of sweat on their forehead and may become overheated in a long session. 

What can a client expect during a session? How do you ensure comfort/safety for clients during sessions? 

A Water Flow Therapy session can vary greatly across different modalities and the practitioners that offer them. Some practitioners follow a routine, not unlike a standardized spa massage, while other practitioners intuitively respond to what arises during a session and allow it to unfold in an unpredictable way. It is a good idea for a client to ask their practitioner what to expect before booking a session especially if that knowing brings them some sense of comfort. Across all water therapy practices, a client should expect professionalism. Essential to creating comfort and safety for clients during a session is the initial dialogue at the beginning of a session where a practitioner should gather information from their client and share what to expect throughout the session.This includes being asked about pertinent medical history and being asked about the current state of their body. A client should expect to share why it is they have sought out the experience and any expectations they might have in receiving a session. Their practitioner should follow an ethical code of conduct and strive to create a safe, healthy, nurturing environment in all ways including good hygiene of the facility and the water, clear, compassionate communication and, of course, maintaining ethical boundaries during a session. Clients should be aware that they will be in close physical contact with their practitioner and should always be encouraged by their practitioner to verbalize, at any moment, anything that doesn’t feel comfortable.

Is there anything a client can do in advance of their session? 

It is probably best for a client not to overeat before a session and, ideally, allow time to digest a meal before receiving if they’ve eaten. In maintaining the integrity of the water, it is recommended that clients shower before a session and not wear perfumes, lotions, oils, or sunscreen. If a session is going to be outdoors and sun exposure is a concern, a client can opt to wear UV protective swimwear. I also ask my clients not to wear any jewelry. 

How can someone find a practitioner? What should they look/ask for? 

To find a practitioner, searching for one online is a good start. Some practitioners pay dues to be listed on the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Registry (WABR). This registry is not comprehensive, however, and many practitioners are not listed there. In looking for a practitioner, a client may want to make sure that the practitioner is certified in at least one water modality. Most Water Flow Therapy certification programs require that practitioners have studied anatomy, physiology, ethics and even land-based massage techniques in addition to the water curriculum specific to the modality in which they are training. In many states, it is required that, in order to obtain what is referred to in the industry as “a license to touch”, the practitioner needs to pass a national exam. Some states require continuing education in order to maintain this license. Regardless of any specific state requirement, it is important that clients ask their practitioners for their credentials to insure they are working with a trained professional. What certifications do you have? What ancillary training have you had? How long have you been practicing? These are all good questions to ask. 

How accessible is Water Flow therapy - in terms of the average person being able to access the service? Would also like to ask what the typical cost generally is and can insurance cover it? 

Unfortunately, despite the overwhelmingly positive response many people experience in receiving Water Flow Therapy, it can be hard to find. It doesn’t have the name recognition that many other holistic healing practices have, and it can be expensive for individual practitioners to build and maintain a warm-water therapy pool. The cost of a session varies greatly depending on the length of the session and whether the session is offered at a spa, a medical facility or someone’s private pool. It is not typically covered by insurance although, depending on the policy, the practitioner and their relationship with a doctor or medical facility, it could potentially be covered. 

Other thoughts…

Clients often express that Water Flow Therapy is one of the most profound experiences they have ever had. There are many reasons why people find it to be so impactful, and there is no question that more evidence-based research needs to be done. While the Johns Hopkins study showed the effect on post-traumatic stress in veterans, there are so many other groups of people that studies might show could benefit from the work: children on the spectrum, people in hospice care, victims of abuse, folks suffering from addiction, depression and/or anxiety in addition to everyone else that finds themselves in need of support, be it physical, mental or emotional as they navigate this human experience. And I think that includes all of us.