Requirements for placements on the WABA Registry  - 2004

·       150 hours: Watsu 1, 2 and 3

·       50 hours selected from Audits of the above, Supervisions, Integrations, Presence of Being or Watsu 4

·       as many additional hours of the above as needed to achieve and demonstrate mastery¹

·       Log at least 20 practice sessions and 10 sessions received from a professional

·       Current CPR certification

The above, with waba authorized instructors, are the basic Watsu requirements in all the programs listed below.

Watsu Practitioner

Watsu Provider

Worldwide

Licensed Professional

Those currently employed at a spa, clinic or sports club, etc. may, under a WABA supervised program, provide Watsu sessions to the clients at that one location upon completion of all the above except Watsu 3 and the received sessions, (which must be completed within one year of this authorization).  Variants of this program are also offered in countries where Watsu 3 is not yet available.

·       100 hours of Shiatsu and/or Tantsu

·       100 hours of Anatomy/Physiology

Enough additional hours of WABA listed Aquatic Bodywork courses to bring the total hours of classes and supervisions to 500.

In Europe, where variants³ coexist with this Worldwide program, the total, including logged sessions, must be 550.

Those with a current license to touch² may add Watsu as an additional modality to their current practice on completion of the above. (not available in Europe)

·       Those who have never studied Shiatsu may be required to study 50 hours of Shiatsu or Tantsu before completion, or as their first continuing education.

On completion of the above students may apply to WABA to be registered as a Watsu Practitioner. There is a $50 Registration fee which includes the privilege to be listed to the public and have access to job opportunities posted for practitioners on the WABA web site for the rest of the year. This can be renewed every year (every two years outside the US) for $50 if at least 50 hours of authorized Aquatic Bodywork courses have been added to the WABA transcript in the 3 years prior to the renewal year.

WABA authorizes Michele Chelenza to administer this program for spas, and Cameron West for clinics. They can arrange to have it held at the facility, or at the Watsu Institute, or with designated instructors. Call or email WABA for details.

Additional Placements: Those completing all classes in their Worldwide program at the Watsu Institute (or other state approved schools) receive a certificate as a Watsu Therapist and, after 1000 hours, as an Aquatic Bodyworker. Watsu Practitioners may fulfill additional requirements to become Waterdance or Healing Dance Practitioners, and Watsu Assistants and Instructors. Visit www.waba.edu for requirements.

¹ Demonstrate Mastery of the form and principles of Watsu. An evaluation session must be individually arranged with an authorized assistant or instructor during a Supervision, Integration or Audit after attending Watsu 2 and logging the twenty practice sessions and before attending Watsu 3. Demonstrating mastery in this, or a subsequent session, must be recorded before placement as a practitioner.

² Licensed Professionals eligible for this program includes Nationally Certified Massage Therapist (NCBTMB), Licensed Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant, Licensed Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapist Assistant, Registered Nurse (BSN/MSN), License to practice Medicine or Dentistry (MD/DO/DC/DDS/DMD), State Licensed/Certified Massage Therapist (500+ Hours), ATRI Certified Aquatic Therapist (2003 Standards) with over 500 hours of certified training. Those with similar qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

³In EUROPE, the German language IAKA and Watsu Italia offer variant programs based on the common Watsu requirements listed above. These co-exist alongside the Worldwide Program. Classes from one program can be applied to the requirements of another. (Earlier versions of Watsu 1 and 2 are taught in IAKA programs. Students wishing to attend a IAKA Watsu 2 after taking the later version of Watsu 1 must first attend a Supervision and demonstrate readiness, likewise those wishing to attend the later version of Watsu 2 after IAKA Watsu 1.) Watsu Instructors may teach, and students study, anywhere. The registry stores the transcripts of all those in our Water Family.

Note: Those who began their studies under an earlier program may, if they complete its requirements within 24 months of their first class, be registered under that program, or, if they prefer (or it has been more than 24 months), they may apply previous classes to the above program.