Imagine being able to wipe away your soaring stress levels with the gentle touch of a hand. Or double your energy with a simple stretch. As Erin Craven reports, its just part of the package offered by Polarity Therapy.
Mix a little Massage with Ayurveda, add a dash of Naturopathy and a pinch of Reflexology and you end up with Polarity Therapy - the latest alternative health system being used to relieve stress and boost energy levels.
Polarity Therapy stems from the idea that energy flow influences how well we look and feel. Polarity practitioners believe that illness, stress and fatigue are caused by a blockage in the body’s natural energy flow.
US chiropractor and osteopath, Dr Randolph Stone, who founded the health system fourty years ago, believed that the body’s energy field was influenced by four different aspects: touch, diet, movement and life experiences. Stone developed an extensive system of therapy to affect these four aspects and keep the energy flow healthy and vital.
And today, Polarity Therapy is being adopted as a healthy lifestyle choice, says Bruce Gibson N.D., principal of the Australian College of Vital Health and founder of the Polarity Australia Network.
How does it work?
Polarity Therapy is a wholistic healing system encouraging healthy activity and positive attitudes. It is made up of the four key aspects - Bodywork, to relax, release stress and facilitate healing; Diet, to cleanse and energise the body; Stretching and Energy Exercises, to move energy; and Awareness Counselling, to help heal emotions and bring peace of mind.
1. Bodywork
The bodywork component of Polarity Therapy is like massage in that you simply lie on a massage table, except in Polarity you wear comfortable clothing.
There are three aspects of bodywork used in Polarity Therapy: light touch, gentle rocking and firm pressure.
light touch: The practitioner places both hands at specific positions on the client, to relieve stress, aid relaxation and enhance the Body’s natural energy flow.
"We find that deep relaxation occurs very easily and without the person really trying," says Mr. Gibson. "This occurs because the trained Practitioner’s touch influences energy points on the body that slow brain wave rhythm and enhance circulation of energy throughout the entire body".
gentle rocking: As Polarity Therapy also incorporates the five elements of Ayurveda (fire, water, earth, air and ether), gentle rocking helps to stimulate the vital energy of fire in the body enhancing circulation, metabolism and digestion.
During gentle rocking, the practitioner gently moves the body rhythmically, or shakes their toes to stimulate energy flow through the "long currents" - the zones of energy from head to toe.
firm pressure: Similar to Reflexology, firm pressure is used at specific places on the body to help free up chronic congestion of energy, enhance organ function and re-balance the energy systems.
SEE A PICTURE OF A POLARITY TECHNIQUE HERE.
2. Diet
We can replenish our energy resources by eating foods that are high in energy levels, according to Polarity therapists. The life force in food is determined by its’ freshness and how it is prepared and eaten.
"Things such as chewing adequately, and being relaxed while we eat, help the assimilation of the nutrients and energy into the body," said Mr. Gibson. Pesticides and other chemicals can also effect the life force of foods, so Bruce Gibson says that foods sprayed with chemicals should be avoided as much as possible.
Raw fruits and vegetables are also favoured, as are legumes and rice.
"The balance that is required in the Polarity diet is not exclusively from natural and raw foods, although they are encouraged," says Bruce Gibson.
"We look for balance in all aspects including the types of tastes and combinations of ingredients in the Diet. At times, a cleansing programme is recommended. It is not meant to be a difficult diet to follow, rather a gentle encouragement towards health building."
3. Stretching and Energy exercises
Regular stretching and energising exercise are an integral part of Polarity Therapy. Based in part on yoga, the stretches lengthen and relax the muscles.
A routine of energy exercises may be done early morning to ‘switch on’ the nervous system and energy flow. But they can also be done at any time of the day that the body is feeling restricted or fatigued.
"When we are under stress and don’t move our bodies adequately, then a lot of our nervous-system functions tend to shut down," says Mr. Gibson.
The exercises can be as short or as long as desired.
"It can be done as a 10-minute routine if you want."
4. Awareness Counselling
The counselling component of Polarity Therapy may occur while the client is receiving a bodywork session. The person is assisted through worries and concerns as they can think more clearly while in a relaxed state.
During a bodywork session, the client may be encouraged to talk about their life’s concerns and to develop positive solutions. Polarity Therapists encourage clients to come up with their own solutions.
"When they are relaxed and have a clearer mind they can see things from a different perspective. They are then able to understand more and often come up with their own answers".
How much does it cost?
Sessions can last between 30 minutes and two hours. Most initial consultations last for about 90 minutes and cost around $50 to $75.
Like massage, there is no set number of sessions needed. Counselling and Bodywork are done together, and Nutrition is generally discussed in the first or second consultation. A routine of stretching and energy exercises may be shown to be done at home.
Bruce Gibson says certain aspects of Polarity Therapy can be incorporated into everyday living, such as positive attitudes, the diet and stretching, while counselling and bodywork are accessed from a Trained Polarity Therapist, for deep relaxation or to deal with a specific issue or health concern.