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Polarity and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:52:11 GMT

The Similarities and Differences Between Polarity Therapy and TCM

“Energy based body work.”

This is the most concise explanation I have yet.

We follow points along the body as described by Dr. Stone to access points of energy stagnation or resistance and we rock, hold, and give attention to that spot until there is a change in presence.

I have had polarity sessions and I have had acupuncture sessions. I am also a highly sensitive person and have a phobia of needles. So yes, I have some biases. A polarity session is a lot like an acupuncture session. Instead of needles, we use our hands to access the same and similar spots that TCM accesses.

Where they differ lies in their training. Polarity can be done by anyone, just like reiki, it is intention based and doesn’t pose much risk. Acupuncture however, does come with risk, and also a lot of reward. Beyond their huge difference in education level, polarity only allows for one to two spots to be accessed at a time, where acupunture can access many points, giving you faster, more tangible results quickly.

Polarity is a way of life, just like TCM, many of their teachings over lap but there is no denying that TCM pracitioners are held to a higher standard of practice because their education is so vast and integrative. Polarity theories can be learned quite quickly and integrated into daily life, to envoke your body’s own natural healing processes.

I love seeing my acupuncturist, I recommend her to anyone looking for someone to hold a space for some really powerful work. I would continue to see her if my nervous system allowed it. It’s important to know your limits, and my body needed a break and that’s okay.

What I learned was more confirmation and confidence.

I realized how much I already knew. My practitioner would access a point and the next point would already be buzzing within my body. I could call it out before she could place the next point. This kind of introspective information was too much for my nervous system to handle so intensely because I have dysautonomia, so this work is too activating to me.

But something about that buzzing feeling felt so familiar and it clicked immediately, this is what polarity feels like to me. I am pulled to spots.

The buzzing is like how a good baseline feels, feeling the bass in your body from loud speakers, it’s like the most comfortable temperature with the most beautiful sunset with your best friends, having fun, sipping your favorite drink on the first day of camp, it’s excitement, a rush. It feels like rhythm, your favorite song on repeat, driving down a smooth road in your dream car. It feels right.

This is the feeling I get accessing polarity points. There is an ebb and flow and an unwinding.

Your spine is an intenna and how your body processes the information it’s given ripples out through your body. These points also often coincide with fascial tension patterns. Go figure.

What I am saying is, acupuncture might be absolutely perfect for some while others may need to take a less intense approach. It’s okay, it’s not weak of you, it takes a lot of strength to try something scary and learn that it’s too much. It takes a lot of self compassion to step back and decide you need gentler work.

I like to learn as much as I can about TCM but I am no official pracitioner, mostly I like to learn about all the connections and how interconnected polarity and TCM are.

I am a third generation artist

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:30:51 GMT

3rd Generation Artist

Arthur Henes, son of Alexander Henes of Barre, Vermont was a hardware store employee by day and artist by night. His art started at a young age sculpting a bust of George Washington in his front yard drawing attention from the town including a picture in the local paper. He grew up devoting his life to God, his country and his family. His craft, granite sculpting.

Christopher Henes, son of Arthur and Cecile Henes of Barre, Vermont has been a carpenter his whole life. A Master carpenter now his work can be seen throughout Maine including furniture, with some historic site restorations in Portland, Maine. His craft, carpentry.

Briana Henes, Daughter of Christopher Henes and Christine Watson originally from North Yarmouth, Maine earned my licensed for Massage Therapy in 2016 and worked part time jobs while building my massage clientele. Finally in 2020 I started full time. My craft, Massage and bodywork.

Connection to family can be hard sometimes, not everyone has the same connection to others and some families are closer to each other than others. I am lucky to not have much drama in my family, at least from my perspective and experience. That’s not everyone’s experience and they’ve sheltered us from this. Because of this I value my family highly. The connections I have with them get to be a pure source of love and support. This example is only one.

Fun fact through this branch of my family I am related to Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Grace Kelly. My Nana, Cecile Messier Henes pictured below with my Papa Art, her lineage brings relations to more famous figures like, Walt Disney, George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Edison, Walter Chrysler, Theodore Roosevelt, Emperor Perdo I of Bazil, Emperor Pedro II of Brazil, The Imperial Princess of Brazil Isabel, William Shakespeare, Hellen Keller and Winston Churchill.

My Health Journey

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:09:00 GMT

My health Journey

For the last ten years my clients have seen me go through quite a bit. Especially the last 3 years culminating to the present day with a newly diagnosed chronic illness. Cool, cool, cool, just what I need. I’m not mad anymore, I was upset when it all came to a head this past winter. When driving was getting unsafe and I had to take a month off from work to recover. Thankfully I had a team of health care practitioners listening to me and the treatments had enabled me to return to work with my clients commenting on how much my energy has improved.

This is wonderful and ideal, but it’s not the whole story. It’s important that my clients know and understand what my chronic illness does to me so that I can pace myself properly to avoid a flare or burnout.

My symptoms suggest an overproduction of prostaglandins and cytokines and thankfully I don’t experience reactions like anaphylaxis like some. My symptoms do range from mild to debilitating. It’s been quite the pill to swallow but hey, being here is better than not. I am generally looking at the positive side of things. I will also admit that I am scared, less so now, but when I was losing my ability to drive safely, and even to this day standing in lines is my greatest enemy. It’s no longer a patience thing. I will be the first to admit that I could be more patient, but now it’s about not ending up on the floor.

Using mobility aids has always been something that I have advocated to my clients, especially the ones experiencing the same thing as me to use anything they need to get around safely. Here I am now taking my own advice, and cringing my way through it. I can walk into the post office, I have no problem being patient and waiting my turn, I just need the ability to sit. So I walk in seemingly unincumbered carrying a cane and as I wait in line I use that cane to lean on to give my joints and body a break because when you have dysautonomia being vertical and sedentary is the final boss.

I am writing this in March and my clients have all said they’ve seen a noticeable shift in my energy and that the color has come back to my face. The meds that I am on are working, and now I am learning to pace myself. I am taking 2 people a day 60 minutes maximum each to start and I hope to work up to offering 90 minute sessions again. I have to live within my set confines of energy or a risk setting myself back again, I am getting better at gauging my energy levels.

A flare or crash can range from a headache, extreme or mild fatigue, GI upset, flu like symptoms, inability to regulate body temperature there’s a few more but I would really prefer to spare you the details.

A special note to my regulars, the ones who have seen me through it all over the years. Thank you so much for your unwavering support, love, and trust, it means the world to me that you believe in me.

Why is Touch so Important?

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:09:00 GMT

The importance of healthy touch

Anyone who has had a massage knows the benefits and how much information you can get from just one session. Things you had know idea were lingering in your muscles, being revealed to you like you’re a stranger in your own body.

It's no secret that our ever digital society is touch starved, our connections with others are heavily digital and as much as I love a remote work set up, we miss out on that much needed connection.

Healing touch is scientifically good for you from premature babies being held skin-to-skin gaining weight faster and leaving hospitals sooner to 20 second hugs measurably calming the nervous system. Caring touch triggers oxytocin, the body’s natural bonding hormone, to be released and lowers cortisol levels from stress.

Our aging community suffers from the most touch starvation while young mothers are after touched-out. Bodywork also provides a source of touch therapy for otherwise solitary adults of any age.

I’m not saying we need to start touching people more, but maybe linger longer for hugs with friends and family, let yourself be held, connect deeper. My most favorite hugs are from the people who hold me a little longer.

Should you hug your massage therapist?

Well, it depends, like any hug it depends on the person involved. Do you know them well, do you know how they usually respond to hugs? Is the body language indicating that a hug could or would be appropriate or appreciated. If I have hugged you before I would probably hug you again. Objectively I do not hug men unless it’s family or close friends, but I do hug the girls, gays, and theys.

Why Massage and Bodywork?

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:09:00 GMT

Why Massage?

My favorite question to answer. I have known I would be a massage therapist since I was five years old. Believe it or not, my first job was being my dads barber. If my sister and I weren’t dipping combs in water or putting our barrettes to style his hair, we were cutting it. He would pay us $5 for this hair cut. One guard all around, clean up around the ears, nothing fancy.

Me, being the clever little entrepreneur I am, seized the opportunity to embark on a new business venture, massage.

My dad is a skilled master carpenter, his craftsmanship can be seen in homes all throughout Maine, including furniture, with some historic sites restorations in Portland. His job was tough on his body and as a little empath, I saw this and sought to alleviate any pain I could for him. So, I offered my lowest rate ever, .75 cents, for a back massage while he watched entertainment tonight.

This simple offer, turned into one of the greatest passions of my life. Bodywork.