| Dancing with dolphins |
They are ocean ballerinas and acrobats—gentle, warm-blooded creatures with brains as large and complex as our own. They are gifted communicators who embrace life with the energetic joie de vivre seen in human toddlers and people in love. Spinning, twirling, gliding in temperate and tropical waters around the world, dolphins have an almost magical ability to induce feelings of relaxation, serenity and intense pleasure in most who come into contact with them. Dolphins possess an uncommon ability to open our hearts and facilitate the process of biophilia—the deepening of our connection with nature.
More than with any other animal, human interactions with dolphins invite us to experience the pure joy and beauty of life. As we bask in the bliss of this unconditional love, we're left with a profound inner peace and "an enduring affectionate communion for all living beings, including our fellow humans."
Besides inducing feelings of relaxation and serenity, the interaction between dolphins and humans (preferably in the wild, but effective also in more controlled captive settings) has a powerful ability to promote healing for people who suffer from a number of psychologic and physical ailments.
As a result of research that has been ongoing since the 1970s, resorts and organizations in places such as Florida, the Bahamas, Hawaii, New Zealand and Mexico have set up structured programs that allow humans the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Some of these programs are geared toward personal growth seekers interested in discovering new transformational tools to enhance the self-development process, while others specialize in assisting people with depression, autism or a whole range of developmental, neurologic or physical disabilities.
Recommended sessions on Holiday Resorts Guide:
Dolphins and children with special needs
Water Planets therapeutic programs
Two options:
HARMONY PROGRAM
The emotional impact of a dolphin encounter in his own environment combined with expressive art, massage, watsu and music can be a beneficial experience
for emotionally challenged and fragile children.We find that our "Harmony" program can help a wide variety of children: most spectra of autism, manic depression, Rett Syndrome, Turrets Syndrome, ADHD, Down, hyperactivity, etc. We can also help children with more general mental and emotional disorders or
difficulties in social adaptation and even children with terminal illnesses (cystic fibrosis, cancer, leukemia, etc.)
SERENITY PROGRAM
Introducing special needs children to dolphins in their natural environment.
Aquatic bodyworks, physical and occupational therapy with expressive arts used
as therapeutic aids.This program caters to children with serious developmental delays, physical and motor disabilities like cerebral palsy, Head and Spinal Cord Injury, Mitocondrial Disorder. Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Angelman's Syndrome and other disabilities, which require mechanical interventions. The specific therapeutic regimes are established by the children's therapists and applied by specialists in PT, OT, MT with some new techniques like cranio sacral therapy, WATSU and energy work. These activities, combined with the expressive art and music workshops take place afternoons, after the dolphin encounter trips.
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