Kaaren Sydney, .R.T., L.M.T., R.Y.T., Watsu Practitioner and Founder and President of H.E.A.L.th.inc., has been in business since 1976, with the focus on prevention and self-care practices in order to minimize the ravages of time, injury and poor habits of daily living. Formally trained as a Recreation Therapist at New York University, Kaaren continued evolving skills in Music and Movement with Poldi Orlando in Miami, Fl., Trance Dance with Frank Natale and Iyengar Yoga with Suzie Muchnick (Spencer), Manouso Manos, Rodney Yee, Gabriella Giubliari and many others. She went to Israel in the late 90’s to study therapeutic yoga and actively worked in the studio with clients suffering from diseases and injuries. Kaaren’s life-long love of the water ultimately led her to discover the joy of Watsu, an aquatic body-work, after receiving her massage therapy training at Educating Hands in Miami, Florida. In 1970, Ms. Sydney designed and created the Recreation Therapy Department at Jackson Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center, where she directed a ground-breaking, first of its kind in Miami, program for spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns and various diseases and other unexpected life changing conditions. This program is still one of the elite recreational therapy programs in all of Florida. Kaaren moved to Brasil in 1973 and traveled extensively, becoming fluent in Portuguese, in addition to Spanish. Upon return to Miami, her focus changed to working with the elderly, which has remained a personal love, working with individuals in their homes, condominiums, senior centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Kaaren has organized training and teaching workshops for corporations, Miami-Dade County, and at “Oasis” as well as nationally. Ms. Sydney introduced Watsu at Casa Casuarina, Versace’s Palace on South Beach, and at Spa Terre, Grove Isle. She also taught Yoga at Pritikin Health Spa in North Miami Beach, at the Fountainbleau Spa, Club Body Tech and at her own studio, “Oasis.” Because travel has always been a passion, at this time in life she is looking forward to sharing her gifts with the world. TESTIMONIALS: “I am eternally grateful for having discovered Watsu with you. It is the most liberating, efficacious therapy I have ever had for my arthritis, not to mention the relaxed and happy mood I carry away with me after each session. In addition, the pool exercises you taught me, which I do ecvery day at home, and the advice you gave me on how to walk and stand has made an enormous difference for me in terms of relieving some of the pain and in flexibility and range of motion. I return each week from your Oasis refreshed and reinvigorated.” Affectionately, Betty King Dear Kaaren, I would like to thank you very much for sharing with me the wonderful benefits of Watsu as a therapeutic modality. As a Physical Therapist by profession, I am consistently searching for effective and also innovative methods of rehabilitation for a variety of health problems. Watsu adds a new dimension amongst therapeutic interventions. The various ingeniously designed flotation devices, combined with your verbal cues and sensitive handling are tremendously valuable on many levels. In experiencing a session at the Oasis, I had the opportunity to learn, first hand, the benefits of Watsu. The buoyancy of the water, as well as the warmth, created a safe and gentle environment for maximizing range of motion and relaxation of muscles. In addition, functional activities and exercises are easily performed in a comfortable manner. Personally, I found the entire experience to be an excellent adjunct to land based stretching exercises, with much of the stress associated with tight soft tissues eliminated. It was particularly beneficial for me in unwinding spinal tension and facilitating an overall feeling of well-being…….Sincerely, Phyllis Frant Gunther “I have always loved massage and yoga and stretching. The fact that watsu is a combination of all of those together is the best in the world. It is not just the watsu being so wonderful, but having Kaaren being the one doing it is so superb! The love, caring and tenderness comes through her and into you. The Best, the Best, the Best! “ Heideloh Ziegler “Alongside freefalling from an aeroplane, Kaaren’s watsu sessions have opened the most profound connection for my body and soul that I can honestly say, “changed my life.” The worlds of colour experienced, the 3D release of blocked body energy and the pure states of bliss….sustained! will empower me for much time to come. “ Mark Sands, U.K.