This online watsu course is designed to train aquatic bodywork professionals, providing comprehensive skills to design and lead effective sessions for pregnant women. The program integrates safety principles, physiological knowledge, technical precision, and sensitive client support.

During the course, you will learn to:

• Understand the main physiological changes during pregnancy and their impact on buoyancy, muscle tone, mobility, and body awareness, distinguishing needs and adaptations across different trimesters.
• Recognize and integrate emotional changes during pregnancy, creating a safe environment through the Aquasoma® ABC method, non-verbal communication, and a clear professional identity.
• Adapt fundamental Aquasoma® techniques to the specific needs of the pregnant body, respecting its characteristics and conditions.
• Learn new aquatic bodywork techniques to address the main body areas involved during pregnancy.
• Structure a complete session by identifying the most effective sequence of interventions across different body areas, ensuring flow, safety, and overall well-being.

• professionals who have already gained in-depth knowledge of bodywork in warm water.
• physiotherapists, Aquasoma® Specialists, Watsu practitioners, Aguahara practitioners, and other holistic wellness practitioners interested in specializing in aquatic bodywork with expectant mothers.

Main topics covered in this module

• Guidelines to work with pregnant women
• Differences between Aquasoma® and Aquasoma® for pregnant women.
• Flotation adjustments when working with a pregnant woman.
• Physical and emotional changes during pregnancy. Main and possible difficulties to be faced.
• Skin and touch.
• The effects of water.
• Stress and how Aquasoma® influences it. The polyvagal theory and its application in pregnancy.
• The mandible and its relationship with the pelvis.
• Massage techniques based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Specific parts of the body to avoid.
• Body work divided by area.

• Online training and self-directed activities: 35 hours
• Number of credits: 1,65 AECS

• Self-paced online format: 35 hours of self-directed learning.
• Educational resources: online lessons, instructional videos, and self-assessment quizzes.

– Aquasoma® Foundation
(Recommended: Aquasoma® Essentials Specialist certification)

Or alternatively one of the following seminars or certifications:
– Watsu 2.
– Jahara® Specialist (JS)

NOTE: if you think you do not meet all the above requirements, please comment on this in your application so that we can advise you on how to proceed.

Upon completion of all lessons, you will be able to download from your account a certificate that confirms only the completion of the theoretical online part of the course.
This certificate does not certify practical competencies.
To obtain a certificate of the practical skills you have acquired, you must take an in-person assessment. For more information, please contact the school.

Pool requirements for the practices of your online watsu course:

your online course registration includes:

• A discount on the registration fee for the in-person course. For more details, please ask the instructor of the in-person class.
• 10% discount on floaters and other aquatic bodywork floatation aids. Valid for one year.

After completing your online registration and payment, we will manually verify your details to ensure accuracy. This process can take up to 24 hours.

Once verified, you will receive an email from the Online Training Center (OTC) with your login credentials to start the course.

Our manual review process is designed to protect participants and ensure a quality learning experience.

• Lifetime access to the Online Training Center and all educational materials (online lessons, Aquasoma® instructional videos, and self-assessment quizzes).
• 10% discount on floaters and other aquatic bodywork floatation aids. (Valid for one year).
• A discount on the registration fee for the in-person course. For more details, please ask the instructor of the in-person class.
• Professional instruction, highly effective and at the same time enjoyable, provided by the instructors.
• Certificate of completion of the theoretical part of the course, issued by the International School of Watsu.

Online courses are considered “downloadable material” and follow the DIRECTIVE 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and Council of October 25, 2011, on consumer rights , particularly Article 16, paragraph “m.”

On this website, the terms "therapy" and "therapeutic" may be used with different meanings. When we refer to "therapy" or "therapeutic treatment" in a strict sense, we mean treatments provided exclusively by licensed professionals, such as physical therapists or other healthcare specialists, in full compliance with the laws of each country.

In other contexts, we use the terms "therapeutic" and "therapy" in a broader sense, referring to practices and experiences that, while not medical treatments, contribute to mental, emotional, and inner well-being. Simple moments—like a heartfelt conversation with friends that lifts your spirits or a comforting hug that soothes the heart—may not be "therapy" in a legal or medical sense, but they can still have a profoundly positive impact on our well-being. These experiences remind us that quality of life is built through human connections and the feeling of being seen and supported. Sometimes, what is "therapeutic" is simply what makes us feel alive, understood, and at peace with ourselves—without intending to replace medical treatments or encroach upon the field of medicine.