It started in 1993 on a hot August day in Austin. A friend and I decided to escape the Texas heat with a driving tour through New Mexico, Colorado, and California. I suppose most people wouldn't think of hot springs in 100 degree weather, but we both had aches and pains we wanted to soak away and we were headed for cooler climes. We found the first one in Truth or Consequences, N.M. in humble settings.... ...After that we went to Harbin Hot Springs in California since it was highly recommended. I had no idea that I was about to see something that would affect me so profoundly and change the direction of my life. Harbin Hot Springs is a two and a half hours from San Francisco near Middletown with rolling hills and oak trees comparable to the Texas Hill Country. The drive up from Middletown is pleasant after the busy California highways and Harbin is beautifully groomed with gardens, waterfalls, restored buildings and the main attraction; the hot spring pools. After checking into a nice room, I went to the main pool, ready to ease my body and soul into the healing warm waters. As I was getting in, I was momentarily distracted by pairs of people involved in doing something unusual in the pool. After settling in I began watching and was spellbound by the expressions on the people’s faces while they were being worked on. They were all obviously transported to a state of blissful relaxation that for all I knew could be reached usually and only by religious ecstasy or deep meditation. Although I was not ready to experience what they were doing, at this point I knew I had to find out more about this. After this both mystifying and relaxing soak, I went in search of more information on what I had just seen. A friendly resident ( Harbin is a community of over 150 people) informed me that what I had seen was called Watsu and guided me to the gift shop where I purchased a book and a video. Over the winter of 1993-94, I watched the video, read the book and realized that becoming part of this process of deep relaxation was important. I enrolled at Harbin School of Shiatsu and Massage for being certified as a Watsu Practitioner for the following Spring.