THERAPIES at SANTA RITA SPRINGS
Aquatic Massage or Watsu(R)
with Dorothy Richmond, LMT
Just lie back, floating in the warm water pool and let go of the weight of the world with gentle integrative massage, shiatsu, and stretching while you are moved effortlessly in a flowing dance through the comforting embrace of warm saltwater, allowing trust and time for deep resting...
Cranial-Sacral Therapy in warm water allows more freedom to unwind and release restricted cerebral spinal fluid flow. It is often part of an aquatic massage, as well as the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. Energy moves even more freely through us while immersed in warm water, restoring circulation to stagnant or overworked areas, where tension can be stuck. The freedom of movement in water, as we stretch and turn gracefully or while floating at rest in moments of meditative stillness is a delicious gift to the whole being.
Being immersed in warm water actually lowers blood pressure and increases oxygen intake. Allowing yourself to float into a trance-like state creates such trust and connection with water, all humanity and all of life. Recommended especially for arthritis, pregnancy, rehabilitating injuries, fibro-myalgia, post- traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, sore muscles, and grief, aquatic massage is also just the ticket to a "mini-vacation" for the over-achiever. Sessions are usually 80-90 minutes long.
Dorothy offered Jin Shin Jyutsu, Cranial-Sacral Therapy, and Integrative Massage for 34 years at Tucson's Canyon Ranch, and Aquatic Massage for 15 years. These methods have migrated since 2007 to Santa Rita Springs. We have offered Certification classes since 2007, initially with Harbin Hot Springs' incomparable Elaine Marie, founder of Aquatic Massage. It is a great honor to follow her path to Embracing the Heart through aquatic massage. We have plans for an Aquatic Massage Certification course starting September 5, 2019, and there are a couple of openings for students, so please do let us know if you'd like to join us on Thursdays from 10am-2:00 pm
Appointments offered daily. Contact Dorothy Richmond at santaritasprings@gmail.com, or call/ text 520 990-1857
AI CHI
with Connie Seddon
AI Chi is a practice of meditation in movement, enjoyed in warm water, where body, mind and spirit come comfortably together, helping people cope with arthritis, fibromyalgia, PTSD, depression, chronic pain, back and balance issues, among other ills.
The more we practice the more we move out of our heads, into our bodies, feeling our movements and the water surrounding us. Ai Chi can decrease our stress levels, enabling us to focus on being here and now. By coordinating movement with breath we move our chi, or life force energy, throughout our bodies, easing stiffness and relieving discomfort.
I’ve been in chronic pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia for 40 years. Having learned Ai Chi, and practicing in the warm saltwater of Santa Rita Springs pool have helped me, not only with my pain, but also with overcoming pain’s side effects of depression and imbalance. I’ve become more confident in my ability to carry on with life, not just focus on the pain. I find that the calming effects of Ai Chi help me to move through the troubling times of life better than ever. Being able to share this experience with others continues to be a joy. Please join me.
Connie’s Ai Chi class is at 10:00-11:30 Saturday mornings. She can be reached to reserve your place in class at 520 245-6616 or connieseddon@gmail.com
WATSU
Embracing Our Fluid Life
by Diane Dearmore
Watsu, also known as aquatic massage, frees the body, mind and spirit in warm salt water. Our relationship to water is an ancient one. Each of us is conceived in water and born from it. Our earliest movements were free within water. Our first relationship was within Mother Water. We once dwelled in Mother Ocean. Presently, made primarily of water, we are little sacs of oceans. Our tears are salt water. Essential, nurturing, peaceful, sacred and healing are just a few words describing our human relationship to water. Water is also a doorway to remembrance of creation.
The following is a sharing of this woman’s remembrance of creation while receiving Watsu......
Stepping into an enclosed salt water pool, I was welcomed into warm salt water by my practitioner. After a few moments she asked for my hands, and invited me to close my eyes and breathe with her. A slow inhale and the whole pool seemed to rise with my lungs. The exhale lowered me into the waters of the pool and relaxed the waters within me. After a few breaths and an inner intention of healing, I relaxed onto my back, floating while my practitioner supported my head and spine. Under water, the sound of my breath was amplified; my heart beat audible. With each gentle movement I let go deeper and deeper into the experience, feeling increasing trust and ease in the nurturing arms of the therapist. Awareness of breath disappeared. Was breathing necessary?
The initial welcome evolved into a series of assisted, graceful movements, stretches and periods of stillness that gave me a sense of weightlessness, a freedom which lended itself to feeling transcendent of time and space. A joy awoke within. Inside that joy I forgot everything, only to remember.
Suddenly my awareness was transported to my Mother’s womb, a time when I dwelled in amniotic waters. My Mother’s soul essence was communing with mine in unconditional love. Her soul was incredibly beautiful, as was mine, like two crystal clear notes of music, each unique, harmonizing perfectly together. The Presence of the Love was so pure and encompassing, it enveloped my heart, expanding and expanding ever more, until the inner ocean of salty tears melted into oneness, joining the salt waters I was enveloped in. Waves of emotion met the consciousness of the wake of gentle waves my floating body created within the pool. Ever so gently I was brought to the side of the pool with my back cradled at its wall. Opening my eyes, I noticed how the sunlight danced on the waters and also on the ceiling, much like the spark of life of an embryo finding its way to the wall of a uterus. Remembrance of Mother and I and Soul Essence, before I was born, is a gift that keeps giving. I am grateful for the knowing that Souls are eternal. I am grateful for the knowing that relationships never die, they keep growing and evolving even when bodies die. I am grateful for the healing of warm salt waters. I am grateful for the woman, the therapist, who facilitated the experience. I am grateful.
On a physical level, watsu frees the spine and joints, aided by weightlessness, it encourages flexibility and greater range of motion. It is likened to receiving the effects of restorative yoga. For the mind, water therapy reduces stress, lessens our resistance and fear of muscle tension, and is deeply calming. It is similar to receiving the peaceful effects of meditation. For the spirit, watsu can transcend time and space. Through that invitation to surrender, it is possible to receive a glimpse of eternity.
It is in warm salt water, as a watsu therapist, that I feel my role is: “To provide a safe, nurturing space where people can feel invited to surrender into the healing they desire, moving toward a wholeness that is always accessible from within.”
Diane Dearmore, Licensed Massage Therapist, has been practicing healing art modalities including myofascial release, cranial sacral therapy and medical massage for chronic pain since 2002. Diane brings the whole of her experience from both her private medical massage practice and holistic spa environments into the water. She is a Nationally Certified Practitioner and Instructor through the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.
Diane is currently NOT offering watsu sessions. She can be reached by email at diane.dearmore@gmail.com or by text/phone at 505 999-9870.
Aqua Yoga
with Jessica Byron, MD
Enjoy the buoyancy and support of the water element while in a small group, usually not more than 6 people, in a gentler yoga class. This practice is in a warm, waist or chest-deep indoor pool. The warm water supports you, and there is an increase in range of motion in the water. Some people find this a perfect introduction to yoga, or a welcome variation for a land-based yoga, exercise or relaxation practice. No experience is required. We start each class with a centering breath exercise, gentle warm-ups, followed by some standing yoga postures which are supported by the water, use of floatation noodles, or the pool wall as needed, and a playful attitude. The last 7-10 minutes of class are usually spent in a guided relaxation while floating, if you choose, with flotation noodles. The whole class is intended to give you the opportunity to quiet a restless mind and body and enjoy the gift of mindful stillness and the delicious sensations of movement in the water.
Contact Jessica Byron MD, RYT, PYT, Certified Aqua Yoga Instructor Healing Path Yoga, LLC at 520 370 3499, by email at jebyron@yahoo.com, or at http://healingpathyoga.com
Biosomatic Movement & Burdenko Aqua Therapy
with Norma Itule
Biosomatic movement is a non-invasive approach to rehabilitation. Gentle move-ment patterns decrease tension, pain and stress. These patterns are very beneficial in the warm water and can be adapted to use on land for deeper self-correction and empowerment.
Burdenko Aqua Therapy focuses on strengthening, alignment and overall balance. Both aproaches can be combined in one session. Norma is certified in both systems and has 45 years of experience as a movement & aquatic therapist. Both are helpful for post-surgery rehabilitation, fibromyalgia, arthritis, added flexibility, and for better relaxation, which improves sleep and many other conditions.
Contact Norma at 520 977-6847 or nitule7@hotmail.com
Sensory Awareness
with Patricia Baxter, MA, LMT
Developed by Charlotte Selver, this experiential study in somatic mindfulness has touched the lives of hundreds of students worldwide, including Alan Watts, Erich Fromm and Fritz Perls. It is considered an influence in the development of many body/mind therapies and disciplines. Zen master Suzuki Roshi once described this study as "the inner experience of entire being, the pure flow of sensory awareness when the mind through calmness ceases to work." Alan Watts called it "living Zen".
Patricia Baxter, MA, licensed massage therapist & teacher since 1983, has a masters degree in Body/Mind Psychology. She has studied Sensory Awareness with its founder, Charlotte Selver since 1984. Her studies in Integrative Massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Cranial Sacral Therapy and Qigong influence Patricia’s way of treating the whole person.
Contact her at 928 792-6618 or sanarimar@gmail.com
Watsu Duet Sessions
with Dorothy Richmond and Kerry Marton
Aquatic massage for two is now offered at Santa Rita Springs. Enter the warm pool at twilight with a beloved partner, friend, sister, brother, child or parent and let the world float away.
Aquatic massage, or Watsu includes effortless stretches, shiatsu, integrative massage, energy work, and cranial sacral therapy, and the deep relaxation of immersion in warm saltwater. Now and then during the 80 minute session, the therapists can bring the couples’ hands or faces together for a few moments, if desired, and dance them around the pool together like dolphins, side by side. Moments of stillness in the slow motion of Mama Wawa bring delightful wordless bonding like no other. Finally, the couple is seated side by side at waters edge. Still there is time for a gradual return, once again, to land.
Appointments may be scheduled by text or phone at 520 990-1857, or by emailing santaritasprings@gmail.com