Polarity therapy is based on universal principles of energy–attraction, repulsion, and neutrality. The interrelation of these principles forms the basis for every aspect of life, including our experience of health, wellness, and disease. With this understanding, polarity therapy addresses the interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, the importance of relationships, and the value of creating a way of life in harmony with nature. Founded by Austrian-born naturopath Dr. Randolph Stone in the mid-1950s, polarity therapy is a clothes-on, noninvasive system complementing existing modalities with an integrated, holistic model. Polarity is based on the belief that positive and negative poles exist in every cell. The body is gently manipulated to balance the positive and negative energies. In addition to physical manipulation, blockages and toxins are eliminated through a cleansing diet and simple exercises. Treatments are suggested in a series of four.
Polarity Therapy Massage
Nicholette Keel
Nicholette Keel graduated from Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts in Santa Cruz, CA. She incorporates modalities of Swedish, Shiatsu, specialty Pre-Natal, stretching, acupressure, and Polarity Therapy with her fifteen years of industry experience. Her intuitive understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection serves to assist clients in releasing chronic tension and imbalances. Her goal to her clients is for general well-being and optimal health. Her style is best described as slow, firm, relaxing, and nurturing. She accomplishes this by using a combination of long flowing sweeping strokes with specific pressure points that target key areas of stress. Her unique sensitivity enables her to fine tune and craft the massage session around each client’s individual needs. As an active athlete and body-worker, she understands the importance of flexibility and range of motion that massage therapy serves to address repetitive stress injury, fatigue, and tight muscles. She is skilled in using pressure from light to firm with a diverse range of modalities to help clients achieve deep relaxation and recovery.
Pearl Jones
Pearl is native to Santa Cruz, and second generation massage therapist. Graduated locally from Cypress Health Institute in 2011, she has spent the last 8 years practicing massage and becoming the intuitive healer she is today. Specializing in Deep Tissue, Swedish, Prenatal, Hot-Stone, Chakra-clearing, and Polarity energy work. On her time off, she enjoys adventuring about our beautiful community with her husband and 3 sons. After all of her years in Santa Cruz, she still finds new treasures to be experienced. Change and newness are joys in life.
Robin Richart
Robin’s modalities include Swedish, Polarity, Craniosacral therapy, soft to deep tissue, also offering Skin and Body Care treatments.
Samantha Pope
While studying psychology and dance at the University of Florida, Sam took a semester of Thai massage within the dance department, and the spell was cast. After graduating, Sam found herself reconnecting with her Thai teacher, and an opportunity she couldn’t refuse appeared; an intimate apprenticeship to learn the art of Thai massage. For several years, Sam studied & practiced daily with her teacher, and eventually became a co-teacher in all workshops and classes.
In 2017, Sam attended the Florida School of Massage to broaden her training and knowledge and became a licensed Massage Therapist. There she studied several modalities including Swedish, Connective Tissue Therapy, Reflexology, Polarity, Sports Massage & Neuromuscular Therapy. In 2022, Sam moved to Santa Cruz and joined the team at Well Within. Her sessions include elements of the modalities listed above, as well as space for intuition and in the moment discoveries. Her current specialty massage offerings include Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Thai Foot Reflexology, and Thai Massage.
Sofia Kosary
Sofia has been practicing massage therapy since 1992 and studied Swedish, Deep Tissue, Integration, Polarity, Acupressure and Sports techniques. Her transformational massage reduces depression, anxiety, insomnia and painful injuries, creating a mind, body and spirit alignment.
Steven Kananen
Steven practices a slow, thoughtful, and client-centered approach to bodywork. From light pressure to deep, from energetic to orthopedic, Steven tailors each massage to the wants and needs of each individual client. He has studied locally at both Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts and Cypress Health Institute, in addition to a private mentorship in Structural Integration. His modalities include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Polarity, Craniosacral, and Structural Integration.
Yazmin Juarez
Yazmin graduated from Cypress Health Institute in Santa Cruz, CA. She is an Esalen Certified Massage Therapist and trained in Polarity, Craniosacral and Myofascial Release. For Yazmin, massage is an embodied meditation. It is her commitment to bring presence, balance and nourishing touch to all her sessions.