Finding Balance through Connections
Image by Araya Sununkingpet, Biodanza Encounter 2023 - Australia - New Zealand - Japan
Finding Balance
Our bodies are constantly shifting and changing between different emotional, physical, chemical, mental, and energetic states. When events happen, our bodies respond to the environment and try to return to a point of balance. Homeostasis is a fancy way of saying the body’s way of bringing itself into a state of balance. It is regulated by the hypothalamus, the region of the brain just above the pituitary gland. In Biodanza, we are training our bodies to find its internal state of balance through different activities.
Co-Regulation and Connections
Humans are made for social engagement and connection. The vagus nerve that runs along both front-sides of the body senses our environment, other people and gives us the information of feeling safe.
As babies, we initially learned the way to safety is through our mother’s breastfeeding, and later in life, we realise that social interaction was what kept us safe – the social cues we get from mother, their voice, other people’s voices.
Modern societies have been conditioned to constantly engage in this heightened state of stress and non-safety, forcing us to reduce our connection with others and our environment - the opposite of what our body needs. To support us in our wellbeing, we need to reduce the warnings our body perceives, to help us function in healthy ways.
When we co-regulate, our nervous system has a conversation that happens below our level of consciousness. As the vagus nerve is connected to our face through to our hearts, lungs and digestive system, we also co-regulate using other parts of our bodies. For example, being in connection with another through voice or touch.
In Biodanza, we introduce co-regulation throughout the sessions to support our bodies, systems, and psyche to feel safe through connection with ourselves and others. We bring these dances in gently to re-build these vital connections within ourselves and with others again.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is the process in which we connect with what our body needs – it could be slowing down, speeding up, rest, walk, hydrate, go to the toilet. Dr Porges defines self-regulation as the ability of the nervous system to maintain feelings of safety in the absence of receiving cues of safety from another person[1].
In Biodanza, we invite participants to self-regulate by asking them to listen to their bodies – perhaps they are feeling tired and wish to rest on some blankets, or perhaps when dancing with another who is a faster tempo, to honour their internal tempo and dance at their own pace while still being in connection with the other.
Self-regulation is closely related to co-regulation. When we feel safe in the spaces we are in, we feel safe to slow down, or to allow ourselves to bring forth what is most alive – whether it be joy, sadness, anger, fear, or other emotions. It allows us the freedom to be who we are, and for a more nuanced sensitivity in the way we notice the messages our body sends us. We create more sensitivity in the way we connect with our body’s messages and in a safe environment, we might act on these impulses. This is an environment that we cultivate within Biodanza.
As participants continue with regular Biodanza sessions, these small signs of self-regulation can be seen in their everyday. In my own experience, it’s been in recent years that I’m listening more to my body by taking naps, instead of listening to my internal ‘productivity police’ to keep going even when I am tired, sleepy and well, not productive!
In our modern technology driven lives, it is even more important that we bring balance into our bodies to maintain health and well-being, and we can do this with the support of others, and community. Yes it is nice to walk alone, but even more fun to walk with another!
If you are curious to explore how Biodanza can support you in bringing balance into your body, join us!
[1] Porges S.W. (2017). The pocket guide to the polyvagal theory, New York: Norton
