| Polarity therapy
It's one of the latest 'alternative' therapies to hook the celebrity crowd, but are there any genuine health benefits to polarity therapy? Anne Woodham investigates According to polarity therapy, our physical, psychological and spiritual well-being depends on the free and uninterrupted flow of 'life energy' around the body. This energy, which is comparable to 'chi' in Traditional Chinese Medicine and 'prana' in Ayurveda, is said to move in currents between a positive and negative pole. Disruption in this flow is thought to lead to pain and illness, and practitioners use bodywork, diet, exercise and self-awareness counselling to restore or rebalance the flow so that the body can heal itself naturally. Polarity therapy is a comprehensive health system that was founded in the mid-20th century by Dr Randolph Stone, an Austrian-born naturopath, osteopath and chiropractor who practised in the US. Stone's research into Eastern and Western concepts of health convinced him that the human energy field is affected by touch, nutrition, movement, sound, attitudes, relationships, life experience, trauma and environmental factors. He also pioneered many of the techniques of craniosacral therapy that were later developed by osteopathic physician and clinical researcher and John Upledger. How does it work? The head and right side of the body represents the positive pole and the feet and left side the negative pole. The centre of the body, along the spinal cord, is neutral and contains five 'energy centres' that correspond to the chakras of Ayurvedic medicine. What is it good for? What to expect at a practitioner's The practitioner moves his or her hands around your head, down towards your feet, up the body over the five energy centres and finishes back at the head. Touch may be light (neutral) to restore body awareness and balance; medium (positive) to stimulate energy by stroking, moulding and rocking the body; and firm (negative), which uses deep-tissue manipulation to release 'blocked' energy. The results of polarity therapy sessions can vary from profound relaxation to emotional outbursts of anger or grief as areas of stagnation are cleared. You may be given stretching exercises to perform at home and a health-building, cleansing diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. If the practitioner feels that negative thought patterns are a factor, counselling techniques may increase self-awareness and the emergence of your own inherent 'knowing' can help you realise your potential. Self-help One example is the relaxing pose. Sit for two minutes with shoulders back, knees apart and the soles of your feet together. Gently lift your knees upwards as you push against them with your hands. In the calming stretch, sit with legs in front of you and knees bent. Reach forward to grasp your toes. Hold for three minutes, breathing slowly from the abdomen, and gently rocking back and forth from the hips. Diet: steamed or boiled vegetables, salads, soups, fresh juices and herbal teas are important elements of a polarity diet. The Polarity Liver Flush and Tea are designed to cleanse the liver, kidneys and intestines. For the flush, combine lemon, orange and pink grapefruit juices with olive oil, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper. Follow this with an infusion of linseed, fenugreek, anise, fennel seed, liquorice root, peppermint leaves and slices of ginger. Add hot water to the ingredients and leave to stand for ten minutes before straining. What is the medical opinion? Useful addresses UK Polarity Therapy Association |