Aquatic Biodanza: A Practice to Reduce Stress and Release Tension

In Argentina, a growing number of facilitators are offering biodanza acuática, a practice that uses immersion in warm water to help reduce stress and release tension. This aquatic extension of the biodanza system, originally developed by Chilean psychologist Rolando Toro Araneda in the 1960s, aims to foster creativity, responsibility, and a deeper connection with life. The aquatic version, which began to be more rigorously systematized in the 1990s, utilizes the physical properties of water to enhance the experience. Sessions are typically held in pools with water heated to between 35 and 36 degrees Celsius, mimicking body temperature. This warmth is key, according to practitioners like Karina Gabriela Martínez, as it aids in surrender and relaxation, creating an "oceanic experience" that can evoke a sense of returning to the origin, much like being in the amniotic fluid. Biodanza acuática does not require participants to know how to swim. Sessions usually last between three and five hours and involve an initial group integration, often outside the water, followed by immersion. During the aquatic phase, participants engage in rounds, walks, and dances, individually or in pairs, guided by carefully selected music. Facilitators Carlos Silva and Cristina Peralta explain that the primary goal is to "stimulate experiences of regression to the origin through the induction of trance states in the water," which can lead to expanded consciousness and increased vitality.