'Medical spa' uses soothing nature of water to center clients

Ana Maria Trujillo | The New Mexican

10/23/2009 - 10/24/09

Watsu is one of the most nurturing experiences that an adult can have, explained Marion Phelps, the executive director of the Aqua Therapy Center of Santa Fe.

Just a peek into one of the sessions taking place at the center, which is run out of Phelps' Santa Fe home, confirms her statement. The watsu instructor held the client close, massaging him and guiding his body in zig-zag motions across the small, warm private pool. The client never opened his eyes as his legs floated with two black floating devices and his upper body was secured by the therapist. He looked as though all his tensions and worries were gone.

"It's a very flowing and gentle movement," Phelps explained. "It helps people relax and helps them get more centered."

Phelps said it just takes 15 minutes for the client to get used to the closeness of the session, and many of her clients feel at ease right away.

"A client recently said that this is the most nurturing therapy they've ever had," Phelps said of watsu, which is short for water shiatsu. "In our minds, we don't think we need nurturing. We're grown-up and we're self-sufficient and ... sometimes we need more nurturing than we think we are allowed to have in the world. It's a very positive experience for people."

Watsu has several benefits for people — especially those who are physically disabled or who suffer from chronic pain — so Phelps has developed the nonprofit Watsu Clinic, which offers sessions to clients who are physically challenged, or who cannot afford the full price for a watsu session.

"We're sort of like a medical spa," Phelps said. "We deal with people who have injuries and accidents or some pain scenario."

Phelps said the watsu relaxes a person who suffers from fibromyalgia or any other condition that causes chronic pain.

"Aquatic therapy is helpful to help people because it relaxes their joints and their muscles," Phelps explained. "When somebody is struggling with mobility and with walking, they can have an easier time functioning in the water, and warm water in particular helps loosen the joints and the muscles so it helps the body."

Usually, clients give a small donation to be able to get a session, but people in the community can donate $25 to help one person get a full therapy session on the Center's Web site, www.aquatherapysf.com.

"If we had donations, we'd be able to see more clients," Phelps said.

The donation covers the cost of the pool because all the therapists at the center, including Phelps, donate their time.

Phelps, who still works as a career counselor, first discovered watsu in the 1990s when she won a certificate to Ten Thousand Waves for a session. Soon after, she took a class in Ojo Caliente to become a certified practitioner of watsu in 1998 and opened the Aqua Therapy Center in Santa Fe in 2000. The center is housed in an addition to Phelps' Santa Fe home. The pool, which is technically a 4-foot deep stand-alone pool, fits into the floor of the addition.

"I've put it inside the deck so it's like an in-ground pool," Phelps said. The pool is indoors so Phelps sees clients year-round. Also, since it's a private pool, Phelps is not required to use a lot of the harsh chemicals public pools use.

For more information, call 989-7085.

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.