Introduction to Healing Dance®
Healing Dance is a rhythmic journey where movement restores balance, awakens the soul, and sets the body free.
Immerse yourself in the healing embrace of water and experience movement in an entirely new way. Developed by Alexander George in 1993, Healing Dance is more than just a technique—it is an invitation to let go, trust, and be carried by the natural flow of water. Through gentle waves, spirals, and stretches, the body finds a profound sense of lightness and release, while the mind drifts into a state of deep relaxation and presence.
This introductory experience allows you to explore fluid movement, breath awareness, and therapeutic touch, creating a space where tension dissolves, energy flows freely, and a sense of harmony is restored. Whether you seek stress relief, emotional balance, or simply the joy of effortless movement, Healing Dance offers a unique journey into the soothing, transformative power of water.
Introduction to Healing Dance®
Introduction to Healing Dance® is a 25-hour weekend course designed for entry-level students of aquatic bodywork. This immersive experience provides a comprehensive foundation in Healing Dance principles, history, and applications. On land, students explore essential terminology, communication skills, and anatomy, focusing on the importance of supporting the head and pelvis to ensure comfort and ease in movement.
In the water, students develop the fundamentals of aquatic technique, learning to sense the receiver’s weight and breath, provide support, apply gentle traction, ground themselves in stable stances, and use weight shifts and traveling steps to create seamless, flowing motion. A structured practice sequence with a clear beginning and finish introduces students to the art of guiding aquatic bodywork with confidence and ease, while deepening their connection to movement in water.
To support continued learning, participants receive a written and photo manual. Whether you are drawn to Healing Dance for personal exploration or as an introduction to aquatic bodywork, this course offers a unique and profound journey into the healing potential of water.
08- 12 OCTOBER
Intensive full-day training
POLYNESIA WATSU CENTER
Moorea – French Polynesia
125.000 XPF
5-Day Course- 25-Hour International WABA Certification –
Includes Lodging, recreational Activities in Moorea
Healthy Lunch – Snacks – Lagoon Tour
Inika Spence-Whaley
Senior instructor, teaching all the classes of Healing Dance®
I am a senior instructor, teaching all the classes of Healing Dance®. I also teach WATSU® I and II and Aquatic Contact Dance. I have been an aquatic body worker since 1996, working at Harbin Hot Springs as a WATSU, WaterDance and Healing Dance Practitioner. I have over 2800 hours of training and over 4500 hours teaching aquatic bodywork. I have been teaching WATSU and Healing Dance since 1999. I studied Somatic Experiencing, a body-based trauma therapy, in 2007. It has informed my aquatic bodywork, creating a safe environment for traumas to be revealed and possibly let go. With colleague, Diane Tegtmeier, we teach AquaPresence for Trauma, an introduction to trauma-informed aquatic bodywork. Healing Dance is a major part of that class. During my 20 years at Harbin Hot Springs, I became the Director of the Harbin School of Healing Arts, a massage school that featured aquatic bodywork. When Harbin burned in 2015 I moved, with my husband, to the Big Island of Hawaii where I teach and give sessions.
Water has been my element since as a small child building sandcastles and playing in the waves in Florida where I lived. I have a degree in Marine Biology and learned to scuba dive way back in 1971. I worked as a dolphin communication researcher, teaching and being taught by 2 bottle-nosed dolphins. When a friend told me to go to Harbin Hot Springs and get “swished around” in the water I got hooked! I spent 20 years there playing, learning and experimenting with aquatic bodywork in the “Mother” warm pool where aquatic bodywork was birthed.
I live on the Big Island of Hawaii near a 20×27 foot pool where I give sessions and teach. I also teach in the Western United States (including Harbin and other pools), I have taught in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.
I love to free dive in the crystal waters of the Big Island. My favorite is to explore caves and nooks and crannies of the coral reefs; searching for octopus and identifying marine life. When I need to dry out, I hike and bird watch. I have also found an alternate passion: abstract art. Sunsets at the beach, with my husband and friends, are always a treat.
Healing Dance has been my preferred modality in my sessions. After taking one class of Healing Dance from Alexander in 1996, I learned so much about the water, fluidity and flowing transitions. After that class of Healing Dance, I knew Healing Dance would be “my” modality. I influenced the work through the years, bringing more therapy and presence. Relating and Mirroring is the core of the work and allows me to listen, follow and be with my client in a way that brings healing through movement and stillness. My classes are informed by my extensive work as a therapist and therefore bring a grounded and practical aspect to my teaching. I bring grace to the water and convey that grace to my students through my knowledge of movement and experience in yoga, tai chi, dance and meditation. I am excited about the future of Healing Dance and the team we are building!
POLYNESIA WATSU CENTER
Moorea Island (French Polynesia)
Located on the mystical island of Moorea, the Polynesian Watsu Center is nestled by the serene natural lake of Temae, within a nationally protected area rich in unique flora and fauna.
In 2022, we completed the construction of a 10-meter by 3.5-meter infinity pool, seamlessly integrated into the natural environment. This saltwater therapeutic pool serves as a dedicated space for various aquatic therapy practices, including educational programs and private sessions. The water temperature is maintained at approximately 33°C, creating the perfect setting for water-based therapies.
Our center is situated in the Temae area of Moorea, just five minutes from the iconic Temae Beach, near the golf club and the airport.
We also offer a spacious terrace of over 100 square meters, designed for land-based therapeutic activities and courses. Surrounding our center, you will find more than 100 different plant species, which we nurture with love and passion, ensuring harmony with the natural environment.
Introduction to Healing Dance®:
Program course
Introduction to Healing Dance® – 25 -Hour International Certification
Introduction to Healing Dance® course provides 25 hours of credit toward the international WABA practitioner path.
5-Day Immersive Introduction to Healing Dance®
Join us for a transformative 5-day program that introduces you to Healing Dance® in an immersive setting, blending aquatic bodywork training with the healing power of water and nature. This unique experience allows you to nurture your body and mind, deepen your practice, and connect with the flow of movement in water.
Program Highlights
Each day is a step toward refining your ability to be present with others in the water, cultivating deeper connection, sensitivity, and flow. Techniques are introduced and practiced within a supportive learning circle, combining technical skill with intuitive understanding.
The course builds upon the foundations of aquatic bodywork, introducing:
- Core movements and their applications in Healing Dance®
- Principles of fluid, wave-like motion for effortless movement
- Techniques to enhance support, grounding, and responsiveness
- Breath awareness and weight sensing for a deeper connection with the receiver
- Dynamic transitions to guide the body with ease and creativity
You will also explore the energetic principles behind Healing Dance®, learning how to integrate breath, rhythm, and intuitive flow to create seamless, restorative sessions.
To fully assimilate this level of training, we encourage students to practice giving and receiving multiple sessions, allowing the movements to become second nature before advancing to Healing Dance I or other aquatic modalities.
Come experience how Healing Dance® can open a new dimension of connection, movement, and transformation!
Course Objectives
During this training, participants will learn to:
Understand the Foundations – Learn the history, principles, and applications of Healing Dance.
Learn Key Terminology – Familiarize yourself with essential terms for clear communication.
Explore Anatomical Support – Study head and pelvis support for safe handling.
Experience Healing Dance – Receive a mini-session to feel its effects.
Develop Aquatic Techniques – Master weight sensing, support, and gentle traction.
- Maintain Grounded Stances – Learn stable positioning in the water.
Facilitate Fluid Movement – Use weight shifts and steps to create flow.
Enhance Relational Skills – Deepen connection through aquatic bodywork.
SCHEDULE
- Day 1: 14:00 – 18:00
- Days 2 to 4: 09:00 – 18:00 (including a 1.5-hour break
- Day 5: 07:30 – 12:00 (external activity)
- Recreational Activities: Whales Lagoon Tour
Benefits and How a Session Works
A Healing Dance session offers deep relaxation, emotional release, and a profound connection with the body. The warm water supports fluid movement, relieving physical tension while calming the mind. Through gentle spirals, stretches, and still moments, the practitioner guides the body into a state of weightlessness and ease. The experience fosters a deep sense of release, allowing both physical and emotional renewal as movement and water blend harmoniously.
Before the session, the participant consults with the practitioner and takes a cleansing shower. In the pool, leg floats are fitted for support, and a short meditation helps transition into relaxation. As the session begins, the practitioner lifts the participant into the water, cradling their head and sacrum while guiding rhythmic movements in sync with their breath. The water acts as a partner, creating a sense of expansion and freedom. If an underwater session is chosen, a nose clip is provided, and careful breath signaling ensures a smooth and safe experience.
The session concludes with a gradual return to an upright position, allowing time to integrate the experience. The participant may share reflections or simply absorb the stillness. Each session is a unique and deeply personal journey, offering healing, release, and a moment of profound peace.
Psychological, Emotional, and Mental Effects
- Induces profound relaxation
- Cultivates joy, restoring your inner source of health, energy, and vitality
- Promotes deep states of gratitude and an ecstatic connection with life
- Strengthens relationships with yourself, your partner, family, and community
- Helps resolve past traumas related to water, birth, and near-drowning experiences
- Enhances mental clarity and focus, improving overall efficiency and inner calm
Physical Effects on the whole body
- Instills deep relaxation and stress relief
- Supports post-traumatic rehabilitation, aiding recovery from fractures and injuries
- Releases physical tension, promoting overall well-being
- Enhances body awareness, fostering a deeper connection with oneself
- Improves flexibility and range of motion
- Stimulates circulation and boosts the lymphatic system
- Relieves chronic pain and muscular stiffnes
Testimonials
What people say about our courses
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for bodyworkers, massage therapists, wellness practitioners, movement enthusiasts, and anyone interested in aquatic healing. No prior experience is required.
Do I need any previous experience to participate?
No prior experience is required! This class is open to everyone, whether you’re new to Healing Dance® or simply curious to explore the benefits of aquatic bodywork.
How are the activities structured during the course?
Attending a Healing Dance class may be unlike anything you have ever experienced. It combines experiential learning in the water with cognitive learning on land. In the water you will learn by giving and receiving movements that form a sequence. On land you will review the material you practiced in the water, going over the details and asking any questions you have. Time is also devoted to sharing and exchanging grounding bodywork to balance the hours spent in the water. So, water time alternates with land time throughout the course.
What can I take home after the seminar?
The Healing Dance Introduction course offers a deep and practical understanding of water-based movement and healing techniques. As a core course in the Practitioner Certification, it provides 25 hours of training over three days and serves as a prerequisite for Healing Dance I. No prior experience is required.
This course is a transformative introduction to the power of water as a therapeutic tool, giving you valuable skills and insights to take home and integrate into your personal or professional practice.
Can I work professionally after this course?
The Healing Dance Introduction course is a foundational step in the certification process, but it does not yet qualify you to work professionally as a Healing Dance practitioner. It provides essential techniques and hands-on experience, serving as a prerequisite for Healing Dance I, which is part of the full training pathway.
To become a professional practitioner, you must complete further training, including Healing Dance I & II and additional certification requirements. Healing Dance offers two professional certifications:
- Practitioner Certification (Surface Work)
- Underwater Practitioner Certification
These certifications are issued by the Healing Dance Institute and recognized by the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (WABA). This introduction course is an excellent starting point, giving you practical skills and a deeper understanding of aquatic bodywork, but professional practice requires further training and official certification.
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