Aquapoetics

Your underwater breath (poem by Joe)

Poetry has always been associated with Valentines Day, and like Water it is the conveyer of deep emotions.  So, it is no surprise that many find in aquatic bodywork, a poetry in motion that inspires pure Love. I'd like to share here a beautiful poem by my partner Joe who has helped me recover my poetry, my passion for water, and my love.

       Your underwater breath by Joe Landwehr

The knowledge I am seeking
cannot be found in books,
cannot be written,
cannot be thought
without turning thought inside out
to reveal the gossamer thread of its underpinning –
nothing but air.

Air.

So where shall I find such knowledge?
You find it in the water, I know.
Can I find it there, too?

I wonder.

I want to say
“take this body I won’t need it”
but who am I fooling?

In these cells
is wisdom
or at least
something ancient,
tried and true
and without it where would I be?

Dead.

Instead,
perhaps I should ignite it
with your help

and see what I can see
in the blaze of its demolition.

The knowledge I am seeking
has been here forever,
but invisible to those who seek it.

Seek it I shall not.
Feel it in your underwater breath
blowing through my heart
I shall.

Aquatic Bodywork and Trauma Healing

Aquatic bodywork has the potential to integrate well with some of the new energetic and somatic modalities known to help heal trauma. Experienced aquatic bodyworkers, comfortable with the concept of free flow, are very likely to come across the phenomena of spontaneous movements in the water. 

Some of the forms this spontaneous movement takes may be an indication of past trauma.  These body memories buried under circumstances that were not safe and long-since suppressed by the mind, may rise to the surface as the body is supported and moved in the unique ways that water allows. 

Diane Tegtmeier and Inika Spence, based at Harbin Hot Springs in Northern California, have studied trauma and bodywork and are collaborating in relating this to aquatic bodywork practice.  They have already presented workshops introducing a 'Trauma Healing in Water' program for aquatic bodyworkers. 

Earlier this year, one of the participants on this initial course had a very challenging personal experience which led her to write the account below. To protect her privacy, it is presented anonymously but the writer will follow any discussions that develop here and share her further insights as appropriate.

Her experience is important for a number of reasons:

• it highlights skills that can be gained from aquatic bodywork (at least Watsu-based) with regards to supporting body movements associated with trauma release

• it hints at the potential of aquatic bodywork to facilitate stress release after a land-based traumatic episode (and where no contraindicated injury is involved)

• it suggests sharing this knowledge in some way in the training of medical or other personnel likely to witness various kinds of trauma

• it calls for recognition of our humanity and our natural instincts of healing and connection, which many who experience aquatic bodywork will know to be a significant part of this method's value.

Trauma and PTSD

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the physical and psychological effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)*, an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone has been through a traumatic event. 

A number of different treatment modalities have arisen out of this, and in some the importance of physical release (spontaneous or facilitated) is included.  Notable people working in this field are Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, and David Berceli, creator of Trauma Releasing Exercises.

It is important to recognize that there are different kinds of trauma: some are based in psychological shock, while others arise primarily from physical injury (such as a blow to the head) or physiological damage (such as ingestion of harmful substances). 

All these may show similar symptoms in terms of how they affect a person's vital signs, and, where that effect is life threatening, emergency medical intervention is essential. However, non-life-threatening trauma is not necessarily helped by immediate intervention.

Emotional and physical support are helpful, but this doesn’t have to come from a medical team. The human organism has very healthy ways to initially cope with trauma; temporary denial, for example, is one of them. If helpers rush in to address a non-life-threatening trauma that the person hasn’t begun to deal with yet, it can inhibit the normal healing mechanism.

PTSD is a disorder that appears after a period of time following a precipitating event, which is different from the trauma itself.  The ability to forestall or moderate PTSD, or less debilitating manifestations of shock stress, would be valuable.  Diane and Inika distinguish big 'T' and little 't' but note that working with the latter is still beneficial to the individual.

There is a need for more awareness of the links between physiology and psychology in trauma; this is the mind-body connection that most alternative healers and some in conventional medicine acknowledge.  Further studies examining the differences between cognitive and somatic trauma approaches, the nervous system’s role in trauma, the role of memory in trauma, and the effects of trauma beyond 'mental health, will contribute much to this field.

Considering trauma from an aquatic healing perspective

Here is my colleague's courageous account of a traumatic event that she examines in the light of her own practice and appreciation of aquatic bodywork: