08/19/2026
What is Watsu? It can feel a little something like this…
Before beginning there was a quiet introduction, a few words about breath, trust, and allowing the water to do what it’s designed to do.
From there I was guided into a floating position, ears slipping just beneath the surface as the outside world softened into a low, distant hum.
Watsu—short for water shiatsu—combines elements of massage, joint mobilization, and assisted stretching, all held within warm water that supports the body completely, removing pressure from the spine and joints.
As one arm is cradled, then the other, and before I can anticipate the movement, my body is already being gently carried through the water in slow, rhythmic patterns.
My spine lengthens without effort as I’m extended, then gathered back in; subtle rotations unwinding through my hips and shoulders, areas in my body that had held tension without me realizing it until then.
The warmth increases circulation and the buoyancy reduces muscular guarding, I soon felt my nervous system begin to shift out of its state of alertness.
My breath naturally gets deeper, syncing with the movement. Each exhale met with a soft transition into the next shape, each inhale creating space from within.
There were moments of stillness where I was simply held, weightless, suspended, and others where I was rocked, spiraled, opened, closed…
each movement designed to gently release tension.
At California Hot Springs Resort, you’ll have an opportunity to experience Watsu for yourself. It is often used to support relaxation, improve mobility, and regulate the nervous system.
Among the sensations—temperature, pressure, movement—is the quiet, steady experience of being supported without needing to do anything in return..
Have you ever experienced watsu? Share with us below!
