Instructors: Gianni De Stefani & Natalia Chaverri Madden. Assistant: Elisa Muñoz Blanco.
June 09 – 17, 2026 in Water Nest, Rivera, Switzerland.
(80 hours accredited with Watsu India™ – Aquatic Bodywork Institute, Watsupath™ Training Institute and the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association http://waba.pro for the professional training in Watsu®)
COURSE VISION
For Watsu Italia and India Team teachers, Watsu® is a Healing Art in which the practitioner is grounded, centred and acts in a meditative state, without any intention. A Watsuer operating in this state allows the protagonist (the client) to receive the gifts of the five elements.
They could be expressed trough:
- the “oceanic feeling” (the absence of limitations)
- the no action state (thanks to the absence of gravity)
- the full acceptance (of any part of the body at any time)
- the complete fluidity of movement and full transparency (the Inner Self as water, that allows the rising up of our truth).
Practice and teaching of Watsu®, for the Watsu® Italia & India Team, are inspired by the following seven principles:
1. Unconditional surrender: unconditionally accepting the status of the client, within the setting, and giving Watsu® in a meditative state
2. The deep listening: listening to the Inner Self of others and connecting to the All
3. No action: letting the action arise from a spontaneous response and not from a specific choice dictated by the mind, allowing a full mastery of the technique not hampered by technicalities
4. The technique as Art (Tekné): the practice not as a mere technical act, but as a profound experience resulting from research work, awareness and listening
5. Freedom: full acceptance of individual expressions of others, while respecting and protecting our own freedom
6. Tuning: perfect alignment of your will to the Universal All
7. Feedback: opening the perception and listening of others, as a valuable tool of growth and maturation of our Inner Self
We try to live these fundamental principles not only theoretically, but as the very foundations of human communication and we try to feel them alive in every moment of our experience.
CONTENTS (80 HOURS)
Overview of the International Watsu® Instructor Training Course (ITC) of Watsu India™
• Role of Instructor
• Creating and Maintaining Safe Container
• Managing Communication
• Teaching Styles
• Watsu® Skills
• Teaching Land and Pool Classes
• Ethics
• Business Practices
Watsu® ITC will be taught with a minimum of 6 students and maximum of 8 participants.
PRE-REQUISITES
This course has the following pre-requisites:
- Pass ATC
- Assist Watsu® 1 two times, with two different Instructors.
- Submit application to Instructor Training Program of choice (see https://www.waba.pro/esac_docs/)
Some pre-requirements may be fulfilled also afterwards on a case-by-case evaluation.
Class is taught in English with possible translation into Spanish.
QUALIFICATIONS
You will receive a certificate issued by Watsu India™ and Watsupath™ Training Institutes, certified by W.A.B.A. (Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association) for the Watsu® Professional Training path.
After successful completion of Watsu® ITC, you are eligible to co-teach Basic Watsu® classes with an experienced Watsu® 1 Instructor, who has taught at least four Watsu® 1 classes.
INSTRUCTORS
Gianni De Stefani
Aquatic Sports Professor, Swiss Swimming and Aquafitness instructor, Swiss Olympic and State Certified Adult Pedagogical Teacher and Founder of Aquatic Bodywork & Neurological De-programming and WOGA® (Water Yoga) Program. He teaches Basic Watsu®, Watsu® 1 – 2 – 3, Anatomy, Adapted Watsu® (Watsu® for special cases), Meditation for Watsu®, Baby Watsu®, WOGA® and Oceanic Bodywork Aqua, first, second and third level.
He is the founder of Institute of Watsu® and Aquawellness India and the WOGA® Institute. His aim is to spread this beautiful water work in accordance with human needs, all over the world. He currently teaches in over 20 different states around the world.
Natalia Chaverri Madden
Holistic Balance Instructor, Licensed Physical Therapist, Master in Therapeutic Exercise, Yoga Teacher and Watsu® Instructor (Watsu® Basic and Watsu® 1, 2 & 3). WOGA® teacher. Nati has been involved in yoga, bodywork and healing arts since 1999. Since 2005 she has been providing Professional Watsu® Sessions and other related Water and Land Therapies. Regularly she travels to different places around the world to learn more about and teach Watsu® and other beautiful healing modalities. She founded Watsu® Costa Rica in 2006 and is working together with other instructors to develop the Latin American Watsu® Institute.
ASSISTANT
Elisa Muñoz Blanco is a registered physical therapist, university lecturer, and clinical researcher with over 20 years of experience. Her work focuses on complex health conditions, persistent pain, pediatrics, disability, and aquatic therapy, approaching the body as a living, self-organizing system. Elisa is the founder of Watsupath™ Training Institute, an international project for research, clinical practice, and professional education. She is the creator of Craniosacral Therapy in Water™ and an accredited instructor of AiChi®, Watsu® 1 and 2, and Clinical Watsu® 3. Specialized in fascia, trauma integration, and self-regulatory processes in water, her practice is defined by presence, deep listening, and respect for the body’s rhythms.
COURSE VENUE AND REGISTRATION
WATER NEST – Gianni De Stefani’s house.
Via alle Gerre 49, CH 6802 Rivera, Switzerland.
Organizer, Registration & Payments: Gianni De Stefani / Loretta Caneva
Email: watsueu@gmail.com
Phone Number: +41919306466 home
Cell: +4179 4440226 – Whatsapp Loretta: +4176 3686281
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER WATSU® ITC
On remarks field, please remember to indicate the name of Watsupath™ Training Institute when registering.