Pep Up With Polarity Therapy

Natural Health, April 2005

Energy is the basis for every relationship, and your state of health reflects the condition of your mental, emotional, and physical energies. When your energy is blocked due to stress or other reasons, the result is pain or disease. That's according to Polarity Therapy, a comprehensive, holistic system that "helps a person come into alignment and realize how they can create balance in their life through bodywork, counseling, nutritional suggestions, and exercises," says Tracy Griffiths, co-director of Polarity Healing Arts of California in Los Angeles and a registered polarity therapist.

The term polarity refers to the universal concept of contrary energies — called yin and yang in Asian philosophies — that's reflected in all aspects of life. To find balance in your diet, for example, Griffiths recommends firing up with ingredients like pepper, cayenne, and garlic, yet lightening meals with more juices, fruits, and nuts.

To create more energy flow, perform the exercises below in the order shown, three times a day (before each meal) for two weeks. Before you start, mentally dedicate the exercise to a specific purpose.

For further information or to find a practitioner near you, go to polaritytherapy.org.

The 'Ha' Breath

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Place your hands on your diaphragm, just under the front ribs. Inhale through your nose and then exhale with a short, punchy "Ha!" (The air should come from your gut, not your throat; feel your diaphragm pop in.) Do this 10 times to get rid of stagnant energy. It will also aid your digestion and enable you to process anger, fear, and frustration.

The Wood chopper

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Clasp your hands overhead as if you're holding an axe. Keeping your arm and shoulder joints loose, inhale through your nose, and then swing your torso and arms down as if you're chopping wood. At the point where the axe would hit the wood, let out a "Ha!" from your diaphragm. Allow your arms to continue to swing down between your legs. Come up slowly. Just 3 or 4 reps are sufficient to engage energy and focus intention.

The Squat

Sit in a squat with your feet wider than hip distance. If necessary, lean against the wall for balance, or place a stack of books under your heels if they don't reach the ground. Put your palms together, fingers pointing upward, thumbs at your chest. Sitting close to the earth for a few minutes will ground your energy so you can manifest your intentions.

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