Everything about Polarity Therapy totally explained
Polarity therapy is an "
holistic" health system developed by
Randolph Stone. Proponents believe that healing can be achieved through manipulation of the complementary (or "polarized") forces, known as
Yin and Yang. There has been very little research on Polarity therapy specifically, but much research on other
energy therapies is applicable to the practice. Polarity therapy claims to work with putative (unmeasurable) energy, therefore it's
pseudoscientific.
Beliefs
Polarity therapy is a synthesis of ancient Eastern and
alternative medicine health care ideas centered on the concept of a
Human Energy Field. Using touch, verbal interaction, exercise, nutrition and other methods, practitioners of Polarity Therapy seek to balance and restore the natural flow of energy which, it's claimed, flows from the universe and into the body through the
chakras. The aim is to re-establish "balance". In addition to polarity bodywork, specific polarity yoga exercises, counseling/positive thinking, and nutritional recommendations are used to enhance vitality.
Between
1947 and
1954, Stone published seven books describing Polarity Therapy principles and applications. These were subsequently consolidated into three volumes:
Polarity Therapy Vol. I and Vol. II (CRCS, 1986), and
Health-Building (The Book Publishing Co., 1999).
Principles of Polarity Therapy:
Advocates and practitioners of PT believe in a subtle, invisible and intangible energetic system that's the substrate for all phenomena. According to proponents, if the energetic flow is corrected and restored to its original design, the form will follow. Blockages in the flow of energy are claimed to lead to pain and disease, or be experienced as stuck emotions and lack of vitality. They believe that this is similar to the (measurable and quantifiable) electromagnetic bond between electron and proton that forms atoms. There is no scientific basis for this belief nor any reproducible measurements of this system. While an electromagnetic metaphor is often used, Stone emphasized that the energy concept had a larger context; he referred to it as the "Breath of Life" and used
esoteric language (such as
ki,
chi,
prana and
life force) from spiritual traditions (especially mystic
Christianity,
Ayurveda,
Taoism,
Hinduism,
Buddhism,
Sufism and
Yoga) to describe it.
Practice
Polarity Therapists claim to work with the reciprocal, complementary or "polarized" forces, known as
Yin and Yang. Although, the concept of polarity implies two forces in opposition, these dualities are said by some to be mediated by a subtle third neutral factor, leading to the idea that phenomena are essentially triune in nature. In Ayurveda, the three factors are known as
Rajas,
Tamas, and
Satva.
Polarity therapists claim expertise in "energetic anatomy" and claim to work with these energetic patterns (similar to acupuncture meridians, and marma points). The
Caduseus which is representative of the ida and pingala is another aspect of the nadis/chakra system that's thought to be manipulated during certain types of polarity treatments. Various esoteric energetic patterns inherent in the body, referred to in
Kabbalah, and other traditions, such as the 5-pointed star and 6-pointed star, are traced on the body, allegedly to integrate consciousness and fully connect various part of the being. According to Stone, the purpose of life is "the fulfillment of consciousness;"
Polarity therapy is often connected with other forms of
alternative medicine such as
Oriental medicine,
Ayurveda,
Craniosacral therapy and
Osteopathy, which all claim to explore the subtle energetic factors in health conditions from their particular cultural viewpoints. Many chiropractic, osteopathic, and cranial manipulations and naturopathic perspectives and techniques are explored in Stone's writings, and diagrams. Some of the structural adjustments polarity therapists perform, such as measuring and correcting the short leg, are similar to chiropractic practice. The technique however, that the polarity therapist will use reflects more of an "old-school" osteopathic method (such as rocking the short leg and releasing the inguinal or "pouparts" ligament) versus some of the current chiropractic techniques. Additionally, in Stone's works, cranial-sacral fluid is explored and manipulated.
Stone originally only intended that his work be performed by MDs and DOs. When he was actively teaching, his workshops were only open to the medical profession. Due to the rejection of his writings by the profession, he opened his training to other populations in the decades before his death.
Polarity Therapy has four distinct areas of technique by which proponents believe life force energy can be influenced: touch (massage, acupuncture), stretching and exercise, diet, and mental-emotional process. Polarity practitioners registered with the
American Polarity Therapy Association
should be knowledgeable in all four areas. However, most current APTA trainings although most cover the standard curriculum, tends to have different interpretations of Stone's work, and therefore different emphasis and styles of practice.
Other systems
Polarity Therapy has many branches from its early beginnings, which produce dramatically different practitioners. Many hybrids and other systems of polarity therapy have evolved out of the initial work of Stone, and as such consistency among different schools and consistency in treatments is lacking in the field.
John Beaulieu one of the key educators and innovators, stresses heavily the use of Tuning Forks, and Reflexology (ear, hand, foot).
The introduction of Polarity Realization Therapy, as established by Nancy Risely, and her system of energy healing using crystals called, RYSE, results in a system of polarity more closely aligned to the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and Humanistic Psychology. She incorporates psychological patterns such as sub-personality and inner children integration and healing, and clearing racial and cultural and gendered thought patterns. Risely also teaches color therapy and other eclectic modalities to polarity realization therapy.
Mary Jo Ruggieri, reinterprets Stone's manipulations and body work techniques through the incorporation of myofacial and other osteopathic manipulative techniques. She claims to have used the medical model to align polarity therapists with the medical community in very science-grounded manner tapping into the mind-body medicine paradigm.
Research
Most research on Polarity Therapy has been carried out by advocates or practitioners and such "research" is therefore not objective. The scientific research community has paid very little attention to Polarity Therapy, seeing it merely as a rebranding of other pseudoscientific ideas about
spiritual energy. As such, many of the criticisms leveled at the concept of
spiritual energy also apply to polarity therapy.
Research supporting the validity of Polarity Therapy practice isn't extensive or well-developed, though
anecdotal reports attract followers. Proponents such as
Gary Schwartz believe their ideas about a human energy field to be validated by other believers in the
paranormal. However Schwartz's research isn't widely accepted by other scientists.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Polarity Therapy'.
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