I owe my passion for aquatic bodywork, my experience and skills, to many people. Some are listed here, in order of meeting not preference.
First is my dear English friend Sally Bryant who gallantly introduced me to Watsu in the public remedial warm pool in Bath, UK.
David Katz explored the powerful natural waters of Israel and the spas of South Africa with me, and taught me a great deal about bodywork.
When I met Harold Dull, the creator of Watsu in 1998, he was surrounded by new teachers and innovators with whom I feel fortunate to have trained.
Inika Sati and Alexander Georgeokopolous went on to do wonderful work together and remained in touch, as did Hilary Austin fellow water gypsy.
My colleagues and friends at the Bath House spa were willing practice bodies and two of them went on to train also, Jem Tayle and Maggie Lions.
During my first visit to Harbin Hot Springs, I met Ralph Pitt who shared my interest in the shamanic aspects of this work. We married in 2000 in Laguna Beach, CA, and began our practice WaterJourneys.
Alan Rayner, Dr Jonathan Paul DeVierville, and Marion Schneider have given me much inspiration with their respective insights into the language of water, dreams and spa culture, and spa entrepreneurship.
Courage and passionate determination took Ralph and I on a quest that eventually landed us quite unexpectedly in the Missouri Ozarks where Aquaest Retreat, the first 'vision spa retreat' was conceived.
Not long after our adventure together ended in late 2007, I met Joe Landwehr to whom I owe my soulful sanity, and the name Aquapoetics. It is a grateful mirror of his own Astropoetics.
Through all this, my wonderful family in England indulged my obsession with things watery, and were coastal beacons through some wild and stormy seas.
For the wind in my sails, I especially thank my father Ivor Firman who left too soon but who gave me the balance of security and liberty upon which I have depended.
Many waterbabies have allowed me to accompany them on journeys in the warm-water pool. Their experiences have given me the inspiration I need to continue to explore.
Last, but not least, are the beautiful wild water places that I have had the fortune to visit and live beside: the oceans and rivers and springs that are my life's blood.
Thank you all!
Image:
A crystal created from water that had been 'thanked' (Masaru Emoto).
