Through its carefully designed gardens, classrooms, pool
and environment, one sees the beauty of creation while
healing, learning, and rejuvenating aqua therapies become
the vehicle by which one experiences oneself.

Brazilian born Virginia Macedo (Vivi) grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. R.N., Intuitive Healer, Certified Aquatic Bodywork Therapist and Shiatsu Massage Therapist by the School of Shiatsu and Massage and W.A.B.A. Worldwide Aqautic Bodywork Association, AquaCranial Therapist, Aqua Wellness Practitioner by the Aquatic Wellness Center in Bad Sulza, Germany.

She is the founder and manager of The Aquatic Healing Center in Santa Barbara, California.

Since 1986 she's been studying and practicing bodywork and various healing modalities including Reiki, Sound Therapy, Ai Chi, Acupressure, Ayurveda, Qi Gong, and Color Therapy. She also has studied and practiced Yoga for the last 29 years with teachers such as DeRose in Brazil, Gary Kraftsow in Maui, and at the Iyengar Institute in San Francisco, CA.

Vivi has been involved with Watsu since 1996 when she met Harold Dull (the creator of Watsu) at Harbin Hot Springs and became his student.

She lives in Santa Barbara near the ocean with her 3 sons, Tiago, Raphael, and Mateus.

"Imagine a warm liquid world where your body is gently floated, stretched and cared for. An invitation to dive deeply into the experience of your own unique rhythm and experience the ultimate in relaxation. Where time suspends amid effortless weightlessness and dynamic movement while guided by safe, supportive and loving hands" - Shantam (WaterDance Instructor)

Aquatic Bodywork has been around since the 1980s and has been spreading rapidly. What all of its several branches have in common is that they are practiced in warm water, such as is found in therapy pools, mineral springs and spas. Additionally, each technique is holistic; that is, it acknowledges that the human being is not only physical, but also emotional, energetic and spiritual. More about Vivi's Watsu

Healing Dance™ is a powerful and beautiful technique developed by George Georgakopous in 1993, incorporating elements of Watsu™, WaterDance™, Trager Work™, and dance. It consists of four trainings, Basic Healing Dance™, Advanced Healing Dance™ and two underwater trainings - Above and Below, and Shape and Space. Healing Dance is primarily based on wave movements for the entire body, and also includes quiet embraces, releases, traction, smooth transitions and massage, all woven together in an unending flow. The guiding philosophy of the work is that movement is the "medicine" and in the experience of "received dance" the healing the healing process of the body is activated. More about Vivi's Healing Dance

Waterdance™ (WasserTanzen) is a dynamic movement therapy above and below water. It was developed in 1987 by Peter Schröter and Arjana C. Brunschwiler. Experience a profound water therapy in which the client is given a nose clip and gradually, gently taken entirely under the water.

Lights are dimmed, sound is muffled, time stops, and gravity becomes a slow-flying dance of submergence and emergence. It is s physical freedom beyond what can be experienced on land and an ideal state to explore altered realities of movement. WaterDance incorporates elements of massage, yoga, rolls, somersaults, inversions, extensions, stretches, flexion, dolphin-like movements and snakelike rhythms which offer release not only on the physical level, but also allow the deepest stats of relaxation and meditation to be experienced, sometimes even returning us to memories of the womb. More about Vivi's Water Dance

The Aquatic Healing Center is a resource and provider of aquatic therapies. Offering classes in Watsu™, WaterDance™, Aquacranial®, and Aquanatal®. All classes and instructors are approved by the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (WABA), and fulfill requirements for WABA Practitioner Certifications. Below is our updated class schedule.