Taught by Gabriela Villalba Gallardo, Watsu® 1 Instructor
October 8–12, 2026 | Málaga, Spain
(50 hours accredited with Watsupath™ Training Institute https://watsupath.com and Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association W.A.B.A. http://waba.pro for the professional training in Watsu®)
Watsu® is a unique form of aquatic bodywork offered in one-to-one sessions, where the practitioner gently supports, moves, stretches, and massages the receiver in warm water (34°C/93°F), while keeping the nose and mouth comfortably above the surface. Originally developed by Harold Dull at Harbin Hot Springs, California, Watsu® is practiced for relaxation, personal growth, recreation, and therapeutic purposes.
Harold Dull began developing Watsu® in California in the early 1980s after studying Zen Shiatsu in Japan with Shizuto Masunaga, one of the leading masters of this traditional Japanese healing art and author of Zen Shiatsu. Zen Shiatsu applies pressure from the practitioner’s Hara (energy center) along the meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine, supporting physical, emotional, and energetic balance.
After returning from Japan, Harold adapted the stretches and principles of Zen Shiatsu to warm water. Working alongside professionals from a wide range of disciplines, he gradually developed what is now known worldwide as Watsu®, an innovative and transformative approach to aquatic bodywork.
In the 1980s, Harold established the official Watsu® Registry (watsu.com), which maintains a public directory of certified instructors and courses while tracking students’ educational credits. At the same time, the non-profit Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (WABA) oversaw the educational activities at Harbin Hot Springs. Following the sale of the school, instructors and training institutes created today’s Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (waba.pro) to preserve and continue this educational tradition.
Today, Watsu® is practiced around the world in rehabilitation centres, hospitals, wellness facilities, and spas. Through the contributions of an international community of practitioners and educators, it has evolved into one of the most respected forms of aquatic bodywork.
COURSE CONTENTS (5 days, 50 hours)
Course Objective:
To provide participants with the essential foundations for developing practical skills and understanding of Watsu® as an aquatic bodywork approach.
Competencies to be acquired:
- Develop efficient body mechanics for safe, effortless movement with the receiver.
- Adapt head support to meet each individual’s needs.
- Refine sensitivity to perceive and facilitate the receiver’s breathing.
- Perform the complete Watsu® 1 sequence with accuracy and confidence.
- Develop smooth and connected transitions in preparation for Watsu® 2.
- Observe changes throughout the session in order to adapt the approach appropriately.
PREREQUISITES
The course will be taught in Spanish.
All required pre-course assignments, including the WABA Code of Ethics and Conduct for Watsu®, must be completed and submitted before the course begins.
CERTIFICATION
Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Participation issued by the Watsupath™ Training Institute, the only training institute in Spain accredited by the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (W.A.B.A.) to deliver the official Watsu® Professional Training Path.
INSTRUCTOR
Gabriela Villalba Gallardo is a teacher of Body Expression and Dance whose professional career has developed across the fields of education, the performing arts, and therapeutic practice. She has trained extensively in a variety of movement and body-based disciplines, including Qigong, Yoga, Dance, Theatre, and Creative Movement.
Gabriela is a certified Watsu® practitioner with advanced training in several aquatic therapies, including Craniosacral Therapy in Water™, Sound Water™, Fire and Water®, and Ai Chi®. She is also a certified Basic Watsu® and Watsu® 1 Instructor, a Shiatsu practitioner and instructor, a sound therapist and gong player, and a manual therapist trained in Ayurveda, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, Reflexology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy.
She is a member of the Watsupath™ Training Institute, where she serves on the Education Committee as a Watsu® 1 and Shiatsu Instructor. Gabriela combines land-based and aquatic therapeutic approaches in her work, practising in spas, rehabilitation clinics, and private practice while fostering professional connections between Spain, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Argentina.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Gabriela Villalba Gallardo
Email: gabriela.villalbagallardo@watsupath.com
Website: watsuvibes.com