Polarity therapy, founded
by Randolph Stone, draws on the universal principles of energy set out
in the Ayurvedic healing tradition. It is a hands-on therapy and works
on the basis that health depends on energetic balance and, if this is
disturbed, illness results.
The four key principles of unity, polarity, three forces and five elements
are discussed in detail. The therapy's aim is to unblock and balance
energy flow in the body, relieve soreness, pain and tightness, and also
achieve emotional release, through specific positioning of the hands
to form a polarity relationship between points on the body.
The energy (chi, prana or vital force) that flows within the body manifests
as five qualities or elements - Ether (space), Air (movement), Fire
(transformation, heat), Water (cohesion, fluid) and Earth (materiality,
stability) - and these are used as a basis for diagnosis. The flow of
energy is governed by the three forces - positive, negative and neutral
- and each element (apart from Ether which has no poles as it is located
in joints) has a positive, negative or neutral position on the body.
In a treatment session, the practitioner's hands can be placed either
side of a sore point to establish a relationship and facilitate release.
Other relationships can be created by connecting like poles (e.g. positive
to positive), or by using spinal harmonics to achieve unwinding of a
vertebra, navel contact, ischium contact and, of course, intuitive contact.
The touch used can be penetrating (e.g. on sore reflexes), moving (e.g.
to mobilize a joint) or light and gentle (for balancing). Polarity therapy
can be used to complement a reflexology treatment, so that one hand
is placed on the problem area, whilst a finger of the other is used
to apply pressure to a reflex point on the foot or hand.
The author holds a PhD degree in Chemistry, and is also qualified in
Herbal Medicine, Polarity Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy. He conducts
a Practitioner Training in Polarity Therapy.
