From Womb to Wave: How Fabian Atlantis Guides Emotional Release Through Aquatic Therapy

POH-Frank: Can you explain the foundational principles of Harmonic Water Flow and how they integrate with other modalities like Watsu, Tantra, and Reiki in your sessions?

Fabian:  Harmonic Water Flow is an Aquatic Healing Art developed by Damla Yaku that blends various aquatic therapy techniques with sound healing. It’s rooted in the understanding that water is not only a medium for physical support but also a powerful conductor of energy and emotion.  In my practice, I draw from several traditions I’ve studied with teachers around the world—most notably Watsu, which evolved from Japanese Shiatsu and was one of the first water therapy methods to introduce bodywork into warm water. Watsu provides the structural basis: gentle stretching, joint mobilization, and rhythmic movement.

To this, I bring the essence of Tantra—not in a sexualized sense, but as a deep, heart-centered presence. I hold each session as a sacred space of trust, attunement, and unconditional love. In Tantra, presence is the practice. That’s how I meet each person in the water.
Reiki and energy healing also naturally flow through my hands. I see myself not as the healer, but as a conduit—a clean pipe through which life force energy can move. Water amplifies that intention. It softens the body, slows the brain into deeper states of consciousness, and opens a space where stored emotions and energy can be released.

So in each session, these modalities merge fluidly. The structure of Watsu, the energetic transmission of Reiki, the heart of Tantra, and the frequency of sound all come together in the embrace of warm water. That’s Harmonic Flow for me—a deeply integrative, somatic, and energetic journey.

POH-Frank: Could you describe the process of a typical two-hour session, from breathwork and meditation on land to the floating movements in the pool?

Fabian: The session truly begins the moment the client feels called to the water. Even during the booking process, I start gathering insight into their intentions—what they’re seeking, what might be ready to shift. Each session is held either in a warm pool or in the sea, and I take care to prepare the space with intention. Drawing on the teachings of an African Water Shaman, I cleanse the area energetically with scents, sound, and prayer—blessing the water and inviting it to hold us.

Once in the water, we start by simply being—in stillness, in presence, focusing on the breath. Sometimes, the client speaks their intention into the water, offering it as a prayer or release.

With the support of floating devices and a neck pillow, I guide them into a sensory-deprived state, where they can fully surrender. The water is warm—around 33°C (91°F)—allowing the fascia and muscles to relax deeply. I begin with gentle fascia stretches and joint mobilization, particularly around the hips and spine, adapting the session to the body’s needs. The lower back is a common area of focus, as many people carry tension and emotional weight there.

As the session progresses, the client typically enters a deeply relaxed, altered brainwave state—often shifting into alpha or even theta waves. With consent, I may start introducing underwater work, beginning with brief, gentle submersions. These movements can range from still, womb-like floating to more dynamic sequences that safely bring up and release held fears, including those related to control or even death.

Toward the end, I guide the client into nurturing, fetal-like positions that emulate the embryo state, offering a sense of deep safety and rebirth. We often close with joyful, flowing movements inspired by dolphins—a celebration of life, freedom, and emotional release. Each session is unique, but always held in presence, safety, and deep reverence for the intelligence of water.

POH-Frank: Coming to this experience with Watsu and working with different clients—how do you determine what the client actually needs in a water session? Do you rely on a certain intuition from your side, or is there specific training? Are there cues from the body, either yours or the client’s? Or is it a completely organic experience?

Fabian: It’s a combination of different factors. I would say three things.

The first one would be, of course, what the client is telling me. I check in with the clients typically a few days before the session and I ask, “Why are you coming?” And then I already get a first idea, either in writing or they come and see me and want to talk. This talk might be anything from two minutes to an hour. I don’t give any advice to the clients because I’m not a licensed psychotherapist. But if someone wants to talk, I’m here to listen.

The second thing would definitely be intuition. My training in Watsu and Harmonic Flow and Liquid Flow was important. However, I would say that the experience I’ve gathered in attending and leading many retreats in different fields, and being exposed to different spiritual practices, they actually make up the biggest part of this so-called intuition.So I can feel and understand what the person might need. And a lot of it is also connected to the subconscious. Oftentimes I would just follow my intuition, and then afterwards the client would say, “Okay, how did you know that I had something going on with my legs?” And I’d say, “Oh, I didn’t know. I just went to work on the legs because that’s what I thought had to be done.”—so I’m not always aware.

POH-Frank:  Many people struggle with surrendering control. How do you support clients who find it difficult to let go in the water?

Fabian: It’s about creating this atmosphere of connection and trust. This is very important when you work with someone to whom you are exposing your emotions and vulnerability. So it’s not so much about what technique a person uses—it’s actually about the connection and the understanding.

I do serve some Blue Lotus tea to start with, which is actually a tea that has been used in ceremonies in ancient Egypt, and it’s well known to put people into a state of relaxation. That’s the first step. I feel it’s almost like a muscle we have to train. It’s connected to muscle memory in our brain and other parts of the body. It’s really about, “Okay, now I’m in a state of relaxation. I feel safe. And I’m going to let go.”

And once we enter that state, we can often observe that the body releases tension—and makes funny movements, for example. But of course,  if you’re always aware and thinking, it’s hard to achieve this state.I feel like people who have experience in practices like Yoga, Tantra, or things like that—they might have an easier job getting into that state. People who are sitting at their laptops every day, and always have to be “on” in this world we live in—without unwinding— make it sometimes harder to get to that state. And this probably requires more sessions.

POH-Frank: What are some of the most profound transformations or healing benefits that your clients have experienced through water therapy?

Fabian: Some of the most powerful transformations I’ve witnessed in water therapy are difficult to put into words. The healing happens on such a deep, somatic level that it often bypasses the mind entirely. For some clients, it’s as simple and profound as releasing physical tension—like chronic back pain—while dropping into a state of deep relaxation they haven’t felt in years. Others describe the experience as being held like a baby in the womb, receiving a sense of motherly nurture that was missing in their early life. That alone can shift long-standing emotional patterns and attachment wounds.

In more complex cases, I’ve worked with clients who carried sexual trauma, and through the safety, trust, and surrender that water allows, they were able to begin releasing the fear, shame, or numbness that had been blocking them in intimacy and self-expression. These moments are incredibly tender and powerful. Ultimately, what takes place is a somatic release—stagnant energy that was stuck in the body starts to move. When that happens, people often report feeling lighter, more loving, and more connected to themselves and to life. It’s not just physical or emotional; it’s a return to a deeper flow—within and without.

POH-Frank: You mention a state of deep relaxation where brain waves shift into an alpha state. How does this impact emotional trauma and mental clarity?

Fabian: In my water therapy sessions, one of the most powerful things that happens is that the nervous system slows down enough for the brain to enter what’s known as the alpha state—a frequency associated with deep relaxation, presence, and inner harmony. When we’re in this state, the body feels safe. That’s essential for trauma healing. The alpha state reduces activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes fear and stress. As a result, clients often report feeling emotionally held, less anxious, and more open to accessing buried memories or sensations—without being overwhelmed by them. It’s also where mental clarity naturally returns. The chatter of the mind softens, the breath deepens, and people drop into a quiet space where insights arise. In this fluid state, the boundaries between body and mind blur. I often say it’s like the water becomes a mirror—reflecting not only what’s on the surface, but what’s ready to be released from deep within.

This shift into alpha waves isn’t something we force—it’s what happens naturally when we surrender to the water’s rhythm. And from there, real transformation begins.

POH-Frank: Do participants ever have the opportunity to swim with pink dolphins, or is that more symbolic of your personal journey?

Fabian: The pink dolphin is both a personal symbol and a real presence in my journey. Years ago, I began connecting with dolphin energy through meditation—and it changed my life. That connection eventually led me to Egypt, where I now swim regularly with wild dolphins in the Red Sea and guide others to do the same.

Later, I followed the call to the Amazon, where I had the profound experience of swimming with pink freshwater dolphins in their natural habitat. These encounters felt deeply spiritual—like meeting ancient guardians of joy, presence, and play. Today, I offer spiritual travel experiences to both Egypt and Brazil through my platform oceanicventures.co, inviting others to connect with these powerful beings in person. Whether in the Red Sea or the Amazon, dolphins have a way of touching the heart and awakening a sense of deep belonging. For many, it’s not just about the swim—it’s a soul-level homecoming.

POH-Frank: You hold space for people working through deep emotions and energy release. How do you stay grounded while supporting others in their healing?

Fabian:First of all, I do some sort of prayer, and I imagine an energetical bulb around me, to make sure that I’m energetically protected. However, it’s true—I haven’t always been doing that. And I have experienced clients who have maybe had some psychedelic experiences, and they come to me for psychedelic integration. And maybe they went through a bad trip. Maybe they took—I don’t know—ecstasy or something, some chemical substance. And  I remember sessions where I felt very worn out after that.

So I think it’s also important for a practitioner to decide: Do I want to go into that space? Do I want to work with a person who had just a bad trip two days ago?

POH-Frank: Do you have any daily practices or rituals that help you stay grounded? I’ve noticed that many healers focus so much on helping others that they sometimes forget to care for themselves. So I’m curious—do you create space for your own healing, too?”

Fabian: I do have a yoga practice, which also includes some pranayama breathwork—this is definitely my go-to practice. In particular, the Shavasana in the end.  It’s incredible. And I really need this. Other than that, I would definitely agree that it’s a challenge for me to take care of myself sometimes. I used to have a pattern where I wanted to save other people—save poor people in Africa, save dolphins, you name it. And it’s a journey that many people in this space share.

It’s important to carve out space for ourselves, for sure. I’ve worked many years ago in the field of communications, diplomacy, and technology. And in that field, it was very fast-paced, and people didn’t really value wellness, for example.

POH-Frank:   Do you have any personal mentors or spiritual teachers—someone you follow?Or are there any guiding philosophies or spiritual paths that influence your current journey?

Fabian:  Hmm, yeah—that’s a good one.

So, I was born Christian. But during this journey, I’ve been exposed to many different practices.  Sometimes I wonder— Is it actually beneficial for humans to be exposed to such a large variety of different spiritual practices?

Me personally—I look up to people I work with. For example, in my water therapy practice, I work with my teacher. I assist her, and I also organize retreats together with her in Egypt. So these are people who are close to me, and I feel I can benefit—because I don’t only see their YouTube channel where they share their teachings… I actually see what’s happening behind the scenes. That’s very important to me.

I’ve also personally volunteered for many teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Joe Dispenza—and all the big names like Deepak Chopra. I always take away something—even if it’s only meeting them a few times and feeling the energy. I feel that’s when I receive the download I wanted to have.

So overall, these days—and this might change in the future—the relationships I cultivate, and the gods or mentors I pray to… it’s a variety. It’s the Huni Kuin, indigenous people from the Amazon, because I’ve been initiated.  It’s Jesus Christ.
It’s the Yoga way.  I would say those are the main ones I follow.

POH-Frank: Where are your therapy sessions offered? Do you conduct retreats or prefer working in a specific location?

Fabian: At the moment, I’m living a nomadic lifestyle, offering my water therapy work across the world. Over the past year, I’ve held both private and group sessions in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dubai, Berlin, Tallinn, Paris, London, Zurich, Basel, Bali, and Thailand.

I travel intentionally, following the seasons and opportunities to connect with people who feel called to this work. In addition to private sessions, I also co-host transformational retreats, where water therapy becomes part of a broader journey of healing, embodiment, and reconnection with nature.

You can find upcoming sessions and retreat dates on my website: oceanicventures.co. My goal is to continue bringing this medicine to as many people and places as possible, while listening to where the water wants me to flow next.

POH-Frank: Thank you for your time – and thank you for helping people on their healing journey