Biodanza is a comprehensive system that can lead to positive change in a fun and pleasurable way. Its grounding on both art and science might explain its quick spread throughout the world. What's in it for you? Read on to find out!
1) Good mood
One of the things people often report when they first discover Biodanza is that the joy generated during the class continues for two or three days. According to research, this positive mood can become even more stable over time. This is not magic. It's the result of Biodanza's effect on the endogenous mood, which results from a combination of genetic factors and overall health. It is difficult to modify it with the power of the mind alone, but it is possible to improve it through the revitalizing experiences proposed by Biodanza. It is related to hormones and oestrogen, and perhaps more specifically with the 5HT serotonin receptors that communicate with the part of the brain associated with mood.
2) Stress Reduction
Biodanza can help you to be both attentive and active, and deeply relaxed. Every Biodanza session contains dance exercises that invite movement and activation, and others that invite peacefulness and relaxation. The first part of the session activates the sympathetic system (secreting primarily adrenaline), and the second the parasympathetic system (mainly secreting acetylcholine). This is how Biodanza helps to regulate your autonomic nervous system.
3) Stronger immune system
Studies conducted by Marcus Stuck and Alejandra Villegas at the University of Leipzig (2008) confirmed this effect, which had been previously predicted by R. Toro. They compared the salivary secretion of immunoglobulin class A before and after sessions with two groups, one attending Biodanza and the other a stress reduction course. Both groups showed an increase but the Biodanza group showed a "transfer" into everyday life. In other words, a long-term effect when practiced regularly over time. The studies have concluded that the continuous practice of Biodanza stabilises these positive immunological changes.
4) Better relationships with others
Biodanza can help you develop your emotional and social skills with its many exercises leading to integrative experiences that help us develop empathy, assertiveness, and confidence in a very natural way. By following its systematic approach you can gently change your focus from “me” to “we,” practice giving and receiving, develop empathy, and experience “the epiphany of the encounter.”
5) Develop personal skills
Stück and Villegas also conducted research in Argentina and Germany and found that the positive effects produced by Biodanza included, among others, self-efficacy, mental health, inner peace and emotional balance, autonomy, self-worth, self-confidence, optimism, and positivity toward the future and life in general.
6) Expansion of consciousness
Biodanza can also help you achieve deeper levels of perception of reality, enabling you to capture the essence of people and the world at large. Humans have two types of states of consciousness - alternating states (ordinary consciousness and sleep) and altered states (produced by meditation, hypnosis, drugs or trance). The carefully chosen sequences of exercises in Biodanza allows you to experience a gentle, integrative state of trance that leads to expanded consciousness. Don't worry, you will not lose your awareness. Instead, you might experience ecstasy (awaken to the beauty surrounding you, connect with All-that-Is, and identify with others and the universe), and íntasis (perceive your own beauty and potential, and feel happy about being who you are).
7) Affective intelligence
In addition, Biodanza can help you develop your emotional intelligence by increasing your ability to perceive, accept and understand your emotions, and regulate them. With its focus on self-regulation and feedback, it helps you learn to act in ways that are beneficial to you and others. R. Toro emphasised the importance of ethical intention, and proposed the term Affective Intelligence to "intelligence in the service of love, happiness and joy of living. "
8) More happiness!
Finally, Biodanza is aligned with the positive psychology path to a happy life, helping you cultivate positive emotions, create a pleasant life, increase your ability to flow, develop your personal strengths and virtues, and give meaning to your life.