Aqua for Balance › Holistic Health › Thermal Aquatic Bodywork
Thermal Aquatic Bodywork
Hydrotherapy, Aquatic Therapy or Water therapy
Thermal Aquatic Bodywork consists of an exercise and therapy program performed in body temperature water. This beneficial form of bodywork recognized for its potential to promote well-being, reduce anxiety and alleviate chronic pain.
The physical properties of water, which create a perfectly safe environment for rehabilitation and healing, include:
This makes the Thermal Aquatic bodywork a multi-dimensional intervention, along with powerful techniques designed to enhance your mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms in a way that can not accomplished on land.
The warmth of the water experience during Thermal Aquatic Bodywork assists in:
People with muscle spasms, pain, and fibromyalgia find this aspect of Thermal Aquatic Bodywork especially therapeutic.
While submerged in water, buoyancy assists in supporting your weight. This decreases the amount of weight bearing which reduces the force of stress placed on the joints. This aspect of Thermal Aquatic Bodywork is especially useful for:
-
People with arthritis
-
Healing fractured bones
-
Overweight persons
It is easier and less painful to perform exercises by decreasing the amount of joint stress.
The viscosity of water provides an excellent source of resistance that can be easily incorporated into a Thermal Aquatic Bodywork and exercise program.
-
Resistance allows for muscle strengthening without the need of weights.
-
Using resistance coupled with the water’s buoyancy allows you to strengthen muscle groups with decreased joint stress that can not be experienced on land.
Thermal Aquatic Bodywork also utilizes hydrostatic pressure to decrease swelling and improve joint position awareness. The hydrostatic pressure produces a 90 degree force to the body’s surface.
-
This pressure provides joint positional awareness, so that the proprioception is improved. This is important for people who have experienced joint sprains, as when ligaments are torn, our proprioception becomes decreased.
-
The hydrostatic pressure also assists in decreasing joint and soft tissue swelling that results after injury or with arthritic disorders.
Ai Chi
Water Tai Chi - a total body strengthening and relaxation progression.
Ai Chi It is a total body strengthening and relaxation progression that bridges East and West philosophies, and integrates mental, physical, and spiritual energy.
It combines Tai-Chi and Qi Gong concepts with Watsu techniques, and is performed standing in shoulder-depth water using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs, and torso.
Aqua Meditation
A water-based guided meditation that helps you relax and heal.
During Aqua Meditation, you will listen to underwater therapeutic music.
While you are floating, a deep breathing rhythm will lead you to a state of relaxation and freedom. Slowly your body relax, and your stressed organs liquefy.
Watsu® Therapy
Shiatsu in water - a true mind/body water therapy experience.
This type of therapy combines the following: gentle stretching, acupressure and shiatsu massage. All while being floated in warm water by a Watsu practitioner. Watsu uses the lightness of the body in water to free the spinal vertebrae, rotate joint articulations and elongate muscles. These rhythmic movements are performed in harmony with breathing patterns to inspire the natural regeneration of the body and mind.
Jahara® Technique
Jahara® Technique brings about an overall sense of expansion.
JaharaTechnique combines body awareness, healthy body mechanics and the gentle power of water. It consists of micro-adjustments of the structural alignment of the body. These adjustments are done through the ActivExercises and Aligned Floating while floating and utilizing a number of slow, continuous circular movements.
WaterDance
Three-dimensional underwater journey
WaterDance (also known as WATA and WasserTanzen) characterized by dynamic movement therapy above and below water, in which you are guided through various movements while wearing a nose clip. Extensions, stretches, flexions, dolphin-like movements and snake-like rhythms are performed in body temperature water.
Halliwick
Helps people with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of aquatic therapy.
The Halliwick concept is an approach to teaching people with physical and/or learning difficulties to participate in water activities, to move independently in water, and to swim.
The practice utilizes the Ten Point Program, which includes essential components of motor learning, and eventually leads to independence in the water.
Aquatic Integration™
Eliminate Pain, Restore Motion and Helps Overcome Trauma.
Aquatic Integration (AI) technique focuses on body intelligence, combining eastern meridian and point work, Myofascial Release, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and breathwork, performed in body temperature water. This technique is proven to be a very powerful tool in pain management used for clinical rehabilitation, emotional and somatic trauma release.
Aqua Yoga
Develop strength and balance with this relaxing aquatic bodywork.
Aqua Yoga is a low-impact aqua bodywork, performing Yoga poses in thermal water. Aqua Yoga poses simultaneously help you to develop: strength, static balance and range of motion increase. This is accomplished in coordination with diaphragmatic breathing and long exhalations.
Aqua Aerobic
A water workout that is good for your heart and easy on your joints.
Aqua Aerobic is a low-impact aqua bodywork that combine a variety of exercise in thermal water: walking or running backward and forward, along with various limbs movements. The Aqua Aerobic exercise may also incorporate equipment such as flotation devices.
Aqua Walk
An easy way to get into aerobic aquatic exercise.
Aqua Walk is a low-impact aqua bodywork that offers a light introduction to Aqua Aerobic. Practice walking movements in waist-high water. Like any Aqua Aerobic bodywork, Aqua Walk is easy on the joints. The water’s buoyancy supports the body’s weight, which reduces stress on the joints and minimizes pain.
Aqua Stretch
Loosen and relax tight muscles with slow stretching exercises.
Aqua stretch is a slower, relaxing form of exercise. Stretching movements are made easier by the upward swell of the water. Thermal water reduces muscle tone and thus makes the muscles altogether softer and able to stretch more and less painful to hold.
Aqua Physical Therapy
Develop strength and better posture with this form of aquatic therapy.
Aqua Physical Therapy is a low-impact one-on-one aquatic bodywork that focuses on musculoskeletal system's condition and primary functions, including body support and motion. Aqua Physical Therapy exercise will lead to: restored function, improved mobility and motor skills, increased muscle strength and improved bone strength and alignment
Shaw Method Of Swimming
Develop swimming skills while improving poise and body awareness.
The Shaw Method applies principles of the Alexander Technique to swimming.
The maintenance of a balanced head, neck, back relationship is a key principal.
Another important principal is that efficient swimming is more about learning to let go than it is about doing more. This integrated approach cultivates a fine balance between power, grace and efficiency for people of all skill levels.
-
Increased endurance, flexibility and range of motion
-
Increased balance and coordination
-
Improves muscle tone and strength
-
Reduce muscle levels of spasticity
-
Improves self esteem
-
Reduction in force to joints makes this activity mostly pain free
-
Provides psychological benefits
-
Recreation and socialization
- Requires no swimming ability - possible for non-swimmers
Benefits of Buoyancy in Thermal Aquatic Bodywork
-
Acts as support for the spine or extremity that may be weakened due to disease, injury, surgery, or immobilization.
-
Makes it possible for people to achieve a position of comfort for exercise not possible on land.
- Flotation devices and "noodles" help people with disabilities maintain buoyancy.
Benefits of Hydrostatic Pressure in Thermal Aquatic Bodywork
-
Helps reduce blood pressure in those with hypertension while exercising in the water.
-
Edema of lower extremities is relieved during physical activity in water.
Back To Top | Previous | Next Topic » Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
