Professional Training — WATSU® Professional Education
The WATSU® Practitioner Training is a 20-month excellence programme, designed to guide you into the heart of this discipline and prepare you for professional independent practice.
The programme includes a total of 500 hours of in-person training, integrated with 50 hours of internship, supervision, and final examination.
At the end of the training pathway, participants receive a Certificate of Successful Completion, qualifying them for professional practice in WATSU®.
Recognition and Quality Standards
The training programme offered by Watsu Italia is aligned with the Regional Framework of Professional Standards (QRSP) of the Lombardy Region for Water Shiatsu. Practitioners trained by us operate in full compliance with Italian National Law no. 4/2013, ensuring the highest standards of transparency and professional competence.
The educational pathway and teaching staff are certified by WABA (Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association) and are regularly registered in the WABR (Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Registry), the global registry accessible via www.watsu.com.
In addition to meeting international standards defined by WABA, the training programme has received the formal endorsement of WATSU® founder Harold Dull.
Thanks to the high level of content and methodological rigour, this training is also recognised by S.I.Co. (Italian Counseling Association) as a Counseling pathway.
Who It Is For
This training programme is open both to those approaching WATSU® for the first time and to experienced professionals.
Professionals already active in related fields — such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, spa operators, and most Bio-Natural Discipline practitioners (DBN) — may access a Short Professional Training Pathway, designed to recognise and enhance prior competencies.
Watsu Italia also offers the possibility to request credit recognition of up to 150 training hours, subject to evaluation of documented qualifications and prior professional experience.
Educational Content
The training pathway is structured into specific modules covering every aspect of the professional role in Italy:
- Communication and Relationship — the language of touch and empathic listening
- Foundations of WATSU® — forms, principles, and operator postural dynamics
- Somatics — biomechanics, movement anatomy, and experiential anatomy
- Fields of Application — personalisation of the method for specific needs and conditions
- Breath Awareness — a central tool for presence, connection, and focus
- Relationship and Safety — creating a field of trust that allows surrender and self-healing
- Foundations of Water Shiatsu — elements of Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Physiology of Emotions — recognising and supporting emotional processes
- Flow and Fascia — study of the fascial system and Free Flow
Upcoming Intakes
No upcoming classes at the moment. Check back soon!