Polarity therapy, like most energy work, is based on the idea that there are patterns of energy flows in the human body that can affect our mental and physical health. It was founded by Dr. Randolph Stone after years of study into the human energy field. As the name implies, the goal of this holistic therapy system is to create balance when these energy patterns have become blocked or otherwise imbalanced.

This idea stems from Eastern systems of healing such as acupuncture.  The energy pattern is referred to by different names such as Chi and Prana.  According to Eastern theory, a physical or mental ailment will cause a disruption in the energy flow.  Even if the ailment appears to be corrected, the energy must be balanced to maintain health.

In polarity, the energy runs along five currents that are attributed to the five elements of ether (spirit), air, fire, water, and earth. These currents pass along the fingers and toes throughout the body. Each current is assigned a positive or negative polarity, not in the sense of good or bad, but merely indicating the current’s particular energetic attribute.

Thinking in terms of electromagnetic theory will help in understanding the qualities of positive and negative.

These five elements correspond to the following chakras, the energy centers located in the core of the energy body:

• Ether center is at the throat and relates to speech, hearing, and communication.

• Air center is at the heart and relates to the heart, lungs, circulation.

• Fire center is at the solar plexus and relates to the stomach and digestion.

• Water center is just above the groin near the sexual organs and relates to those organs and emotions.

• Earth center is at the base of the spine and relates to eliminatory organs.

Polarity is a gentle hands-on technique and includes manipulations of the body parts including the head, belly, hands and toes. Different sessions will include various treatments aimed at the ailment the client is seeking help for.

The polarity practitioner’s job is merely to nudge the client’s body into healing itself by getting the energy flowing correctly through the five currents.  Polarity can also be performed by lay people on friends and family.  The beauty of this system is that you don't have to be attuned to it like Reiki or other energy healing modalities.

Those who enjoy Reiki treatments will notice that polarity can be just as gentle but has more physical contact and sometimes more participation from the client.

The sessions are completed by trained practitioners and may include advice on how diet and lifestyle are blocking energy patterns within the body.

For more information, go to the American Polarity Therapy Association website linked at right.

Source:

• Siegel, N.D. Alan. Polarity Therapy, Prism Press, 1987.