ã 2003 Ilana Lam

Ilana Lam was born in 1960 in Beersheva, Israel.  She has been working in the water since 1977. Ilana has operated her business, the Ilana Lam Swimming Center and Therapy, out of the Dekel Country Club in Tel Aviv since 1978. She is a Physical Education teacher, Hydrotherapist and Shiatsu Therapist. Ilana has trained over 700 hours in Watsu, WaterDance, Healing Dance and Jahara Technique in the US, Brazil and Israel. She is currently qualifying to teach the Jahara Technique. Ilana has assisted me in six of seven WaterDance courses held in Israel. In her water practice she does considerable work with people with breath disorders and back problems, but her area of specialty is in resolving water phobias. Her success rate with people having fears around water is virtually 100%.  Even those afraid to put their faces in the water she is able to submerge and WaterDance, if not on the first visit, then on the next. I have witnessed her expertise firsthand and the results are amazing. To contact Ilana, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it home telephone: (972) 03-5446508; cell: (972) 052-756989.  A.G. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Introduction

In WaterDance it is very important to create trust between the receiver and giver. Contrary to other therapies, in water or on land, the giver has control of the receiver's breath. He decides when to submerge and when to surface the receiver for air. Therefore, it is desired to gradually build the receiver's trust on 3 levels:

1) Receiver's trust in giver

2) Receiver's trust in water

3) Receiver's self confidence when in water

Introductory questionnaire

These questions are asked over the telephone or in the pool for some initial information about the client and the reason for him being there. They pertain to the client's water experience:

1) Have you ever experienced any water treatment? If so, which?

2) When have you been last to the pool?

3) Can you submerge your face?

4) Are you comfortable with your face and ears submerged?

5) Have you used goggles before?

6) Can you float on your back?

7) Can you show me some swim movements? Breast and back strokes?

After getting the details and watching the client move and float in the water, we will be able to assess the client's ease in the water, thus selecting the next appropriate exercises.

First step -

The following exercises are done using goggles, with eyes open, sitting down and shoulders in water:

1) Exhaling through the mouth while the face is in the water, taking the face out of the water and exhaling strongly through the mouth, and finally inhaling through the mouth.

2) Exhaling through the nose (humming from the mouth) while the face is in the water, taking the face out of the water and exhaling strongly through the nose, and finally inhaling through the mouth.

3) Exhaling through the nose and mouth alternately.

4) Holding the breath underwater as long as possible. The receiver submerges his face while the giver loudly counts the seconds. Each round the receiver is asked to increase the time by 2-3 seconds, until he reaches 15-20 seconds.

Second step

The following exercises are done floating face down in the arrow position using goggles:

1) Arrow position - no movement, face under water, chin retracted to the throat, neck relaxed, arms above the shoulders, elbows and knees relaxed (not locked), breath out from nose and mouth alternately.

2) Floating face down - advancing along the pool, using hands and legs in breast style movements. The giver counts the number of movements the receiver is doing without lifting the head, and asks the receiver to try and increase the number by one movement each time, until he can advance 6-10 movements without lifting the head.

3) Same as the previous exercise, but without the goggles, and with the eyes closed.

Note:

1) Watch the head positioning when floating on back or face down - It gives a clear indication of the receiver's ease in the water.

2) In all of these exercises note that the receiver is not releasing air too rapidly, and that his facial muscles are not tight when underwater.