Aqua Healing Touch
  • relaxation and body awareness in water
  • massage and aquatic handling of the body
  • meditation, creative visualisation
  • breathing techniques
 
A gentle and loving method
to help all of those who are afraid or feeling uneasy of being in water. It facilitates our awareness of how we relate in an aquatic environment either in ocean waters or a swimming pool and is not focused on swimming skills.
 
 

Depending on the client's progress it can take several sessions to become confident in water, to really enjoy getting the face wet, even becoming playful under water. Its main focus is to build up confidence in water and to bring a sense of freedom into our aquatic experiences.
 
Aqua Healing Touch helps us to reconnect with water.
You will learn to trust water as it is here to support us.
Don't fight the water, become one with the water.
 
Benefits of Aqua Healing Touch
  • Experiencing water beyond fear
  • Exploring the element water on deeper levels
  • Releasing tension and stress from the body
  • Increasing the capacity of learning and co-ordinating
  • Stimulating deep breathing
  • Increasing energy
  • Activating the healing process
  • Improving sleeping patterns
  • Helping to let go of old patterns
  • Improving changes in life
  • Helping the body to remember its natural state of health
  • Expanding consciousness and facilitates spiritual awareness
Cost
First session is on land - consultation and various exercises. (£35)     
£40 per pool session plus entrance.

£65 per session, when booked on the dates for extra warm pool sessions, (this includes £25 we get charged for the pool per session - a minimum of four bookings is required to heat the pool, if less people the price changes accordingly).

Book a course of special warm pool sessions, click here for dates.

Also look at my new page for more information on Aquatic Bodywork.
 

Leave your feedback here

 
Testimonials
John's Story to help him with his paralysed leg

We met initially to get a case history and do some meditations to prepare for the pool.

"Hi Delphiris,
It was a great pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your patience and fortitude, sitting out in  the cold wind for such a long time. If only I'd had the sense to bring my ramp that wouldn't have happened. Thanks also for the advice   and homework, which I shall try to do as well as possible.
How did I find out about you? Well, I put combinations like 'watsu' and 'devon' or 'water dance' and 'somerset' into the 'All the words' box od Google Advanced and the combination 'water dance' and 'cornwall' gave this as the 4th result.

John R. writes, having come all the way from Plymouth in June 2009 to book four water sessions in two days to help his paralysed leg and increasing the out breath under water:
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!‏
Yesterday morning was like a marvelous dream - I just wanted to go under the water again and again. On the way home, I wondered if being in water, and especially underwater, might be a good situation in which to experience 'satori'? I know we can't create that state, but being absorbed in one's surroundings and one's actions is a good basis.

(My comment:
Yes, satori surely can be achieved. Roger did, having had a session one night for an hour in the total darkness)

"I'm delighted to hear that, but not surprised as I did feel the boundary between myself and the water getting less definite yesterday morning. I think having no goggles or nose clip helped the effect. Maybe one day.........
When I am next in my local pool I'll try your suggestions and let you know how it goes."

 

1st July
"I went to the pool this afternoon. First submersion was unplanned - I was being lowered on the hoist when I dropped my nose clip. I got the attendant to lower the hoist seat as far as it would go, and could then lean down and just reach the bottom of the pool. Next, I launched myself forward as usual and glided to the nearby edge of the pool. Without lifting my head, I turned round and watched while the hoist was wound up out of the water.
Next, breathing exercises as on the steps at Boswedden. Swam backstroke and crawl for a while, then tried exhaling by humming through my nose. This was fine when face down or on my side, but face up - ugh!
I swam underwater several times. Before I came to you, I could only do 5 strokes before surfacing. Now it's 8 and I'll do more work on it. (Meditation breathing.)"

 

16th July
"The best bit was when I started with my back to the wall, went under, pushed off to glide along the bottom, turned over and did some upside-down breaststroke. Felt funny at first, but I got it right after a bit.
The whole session was quite strenuous and  left me with some aches and stiffness, but worthwhile. Next swim tomorrow."

 

20th July
How is the merman doing/being?
"Being marvellous. I've been saying "Phew" to myself all day at the memory. Still hearing the bubbles and feeling them flowing over my face. When I do get to the pool I'll concentrate on the "stroke" you showed me. Last time I was  there, a woman came to the surface at the deep end, took a breath and went under again in a cloud of bubbles. She did this without stopping as far as I could see, for half an hour. Might try that too, regulating out breath as well as possible.
I was so pleased you saw an improvement. Seeing you and Roger together inspires me to try hard."

 

8th September
"Just back from one of the local pools. Had a very good session, practicing the Delphiris' Dolphin Stroke - getting better but no forward motion!
Then a bit of crawl, backstroke, upside down breast stroke (this last not very successful).
I finished by just playing around, twisting, rolling over, going to the bottom and so on, but trying to emulate the easy way you have of being submerged, or having your face submerged, most of the time. It was easier than I expected to come up for a breath and go straight under again, and fun too."

 

22nd September
after having come over for another three sessions, the third time since we started:
"... with many thanks - and wow, do I mean THANKS!! Last session was best ever for me. Back massage by your feet was my high spot. I was so relaxed lying there. Come up? Well, maybe, some time. Now? OK, suppose I'd better. Float slowly up....
Must remember how the session ended too, and do that again.
I'll have be busy next time at the local pool, doing all the things you told me. Work on merman project, too."

 

28th September
"Sadly, it looks as if I won't be able to see you on the 27th October, because ....
The good thing is that last week's marvellous sessions have left me feeling very positive and able to cope with setbacks like this. Also determined to get back for more sessions!"

 

14th November 2011
'Wow! What a day! This morning's session was as expected - most enjoyable.
The afternoon one was just plain fantastic! Every moment was a joy, even the few minutes before going underwater. Then from the first dip it just got better and better. It was the first time I had ever bubbled air out through my submerged nose, and with eyes open I could see the bubbles hit the surface and make a lovely, changing pattern of rings. All in all, it was a wonderful, magical experience. I can't tell you how lucky I feel to be on the receiving end of your work!
See you next year, if at all possible.
Cheers,John

 
Paralysed after a severe car accident 20 years ago
 

Andy had weekly water massages for three months now.
"I find it very relaxing, especially for my muscles. They used to be very tied,but after the massage became very subtle and relaxed. I tend to fall off into a sleep, it gives me calming effect all over, especially for the mind and the body. I would recommend this to anyone, whether disabled or ordinary. I certainly look forward to continue my weekly treats."
Andy Nutzlader
 

"I have a walking disability and once or twice a year I fly over to Delphiris in Cornwall for water treatments and other therapies. She is a great healer"
Gerry Ellis, Dublin

 

Click photo to watch Kate's transforming session on youtube.

 

"I had the pleasure and privilege of taking the Water Confidence and the Aqua Healing Touch with Delphiris. Until I had done this I never knew how lovely it was to be in the water and I will always be grateful to her for the loving treatment she gave me. I highly recommend her therapeutic sessions to anyone."
Ainsley, Tregeseal, Cornwall (see his story below)

 

"I met Delphiris last year, when she was looking for someone with a fear of water as part of her studies. My problem was that, although I could swim quite well, I would panic, if water splashed into my face. Delphiris worked with me in a physiotherapy pool, which was very warm. First I practiced putting my face in the water on an out breath, to help me co-ordinating my breathing. I did breathing exercises out of the water, wearing a nose clip, which I then did in the pool using a clip and goggles. That progressed to games, such as playing at being a dinosaur. I loved the classes, because they were such fun. I had about eight sessions, by which time I could do somersaults, without wearing the nose clip. Now I even enjoy swimming in the sea".
Cindy Pearce.
Taken from "Fitness and Health". November 2001 issue, page 120.
 

Below: Delphiris enjoying a session

   

    

   

   

   

   

   

   

Delphiris' sessions on youtube:

Delphiris the Mermaid

Aquatic therapy by Delphiris helps the disabled

How to deal with Mermaid Delphiris!

Kate's transformative water session, told in pictures

Shell Healing with Meg

 
Ainsley's Story: "Help I am frightened of water"
 
Ainsley’s story of becoming 'dolphin like'.

"I have never been in a swimming pool. I was drowned in at least one other life and am terrified to lose the ground from under my feet, particularly in the water. I can’t bear to put my head under water. Can you help me?”

After having met Ainsley on a dolphin oriented workshop he called me months later – having been nudged by his hyper space "dolphin pod" to do something about his fear. I gave him a rough outline how I could be working with him, releasing his fear of water and find the joy in being caressed and supported by water. After only three sessions and an insatiable will to progress Ainsley was for the first time in the deep end of the swimming pool, under water, totally spacing out. It felt to me he was going off into another world, feeling totally safe.

After the first session: (A little quote from his diary:)
"I have been wondering if, now that i have started the aqua healing sessions, the various water issues I have been having will now end.

Over the years there have been many water things happening to me; back in London a pipe under the bath leaked, the water heater leaked, the toilet cistern leaked and the toilet bowl broke – in a different toilet in the same house the cistern leaked. here in Cornwall the seal around the bath leaked, the shower unit leaked, the walls leaked, the window leaked. the toilet cistern valve broke and water leaked down the walls, flooding the kitchen; is it my imagination or is there a pattern here?"

Could it be that all I really needed to do was connect with the water element and embrace it, take it into myself fully and accept it, just so that it could stop having to shout at me?"

After the second session:
"Thank you for your congratulations; I really feel that I have truly accomplished something here, I never thought that I would enter the water so willingly and, to be quite honest, for all those years I could never see the point of immersing myself in water - except to bathe and even then there were some parts of me that would stay essentially dry."

After the third session:
"I did not realise that I was so far gone, if only I had realised how much fun being underwater was I would have done this years ago. then again - if I had, then I would not have found your connection and the loving assistance that you are giving me. From that point of view I am glad not to have learned before."

After the fifth session:
I sent Ainsley to have a pool session without me.
" Well I did it! In the pool by myself without any aids of any kind, other than goggles and nose clip. My lower end still has a tendency to sink but I am getting the idea of using my legs and feet to propel myself through the water.
I don't think I need any more water confidence sessions but I would love to have at least one more water massage, I did miss that today."
 
Ainsley tells his story:

"I had never been in a swimming pool. When I was in the sea the water did not pass my mid-thighs and once when I was sitting in the water near the edge of a large pond my partner swam past and the waves sent me into a panic which made me spend the next fifteen minutes picking the mud out from under my fingernails. Even having a shower had me in a panic situation if water went into my ears.

Several meditations I undertook showed me that I had drowned in at least two previous lives and I realised that this was keeping me from wanting to enter any watery place: however, I did not feel that I was actually missing out on anything.

Another workshop introduced me to the idea of a spiritual dolphin pod-mate: she took me to places that I had never even dreamed about and told me and showed me some beautiful things. Recently I attended another workshop, this was dolphin related and my pod-mate took me again into places that I found wonderful. Another attendee at this workshop was Delphiris, whom I had met several times before but there had been no "connection" between us, this time however my pod-mate gave me a push and we talked for a while, I found that there was a spiritual connection between us, the teacher that I had been looking for was here with me. After this I had a few other things to do but within three months I was contacting Delphiris to ask if I could have the water confidence treatment that she offered.

Delphiris gave me an outline of what she was going to offer me and ask me to do; she insisted, quite correctly, that everything that she said was only suggestion and not an order. So at no time did I feel that I was "under pressure" to perform yet since I had decided to gain the confidence to be in the water I really wanted to get on with all of this work. I was, of course, terrified and in my first wet session this caused me to miss my footing on the bottom step in the pool and I plunged into and was completely immersed in the water. Delphiris said when she saw this that I had taken myself to the second level of her training before she had even given me the first. It was actually at this point that the real fear vanished and I was left with only the residual nervousness about entering the pool and the water.

Just a couple of weeks later there is something I would like to quote from Delphiris. After only three sessions and an insatiable will to progress Ainsley was for the first time in the deep end of the swimming pool, under water, totally spacing out… it felt to me he was going off into another world, feeling totally safe."

This was indeed how I felt; I really could not understand why I had not related to water before and there was a real comfort involved in being completely enclosed and almost cocooned by water. Delphiris was there to protect me but she had to surface three times to breathe while I was staying underwater. Over the next couple of weeks Delphiris gave me a few new techniques to integrate the movements of my upper body with my legs and....

This week I went to a private swimming pool alone, unsupervised just to play in the water by myself, lovely. Thank you Delphiris, for showing me what I can do if I just have the confidence and will.

 

All photos with John and Matthew taken by Vimlan Sass. Thank you!