By Meredith Zelman Narissi, MS, BCPP
It was her morning and my evening. She showed me the sunrise from her window. Beauty catches her eye. I shared that hours before, I had taken a picture of the sunrise in New York. And so, the resonance began.
Forthright, kind and thoughtful, Kyoko’s answers were succinct and eloquently spoken; even though she didn’t think her English was so great. It was a lot better than my two words in Japanese! As luck would have it, she had a friend over from Paris France, Laure Porche, APP, who kindly stepped in on occasion as a translator. My French is only slightly better than my Japanese, but really Kyoko didn’t need much help. She is a good communicator and I found her answers extraordinary because of her culture as well as her views. The slightly different frequency only made our resonance more nuanced. The differences in our expression intrigued me. There is learning here in the cross-cultural exploration: like a new harmony of reverberation. Enjoy her mindset.
Q&A
Meredith: Kyoko, I know you have traveled many places in the world, making friends in various countries like India, the United States, and even Siberia, but can you tell us about the location of your school, about your area, and how it is unique?
Kyoko: My school is in Kobe, Japan. It’s a beautiful town between Mount Rokko, a mountain rich with spiritual history, and the sea. The mountain gives us very clear water that is known for not going stale when you keep it. The city itself is on Kobe Harbor, which has been open to trade with other countries for longer than the rest of Japan; hence allowing for a lot of cultural fusion. There is also a branch of the school in Kamakura, near Tokyo, where I teach another program as well.
Meredith: What makes your school unique in its Polarity teaching and programming: for example, what kind of electives do you offer that are particular to your school?
Kyoko: My school is founded on Gary Strauss’s teaching (Life Energy Institute), which I combine with Damon Fazio’s teaching, to find a middle way between their very different styles. While sticking to the APTA standards of practice, I have developed a way of teaching that caters to the Japanese mind and perception. This makes the material more accessible to my students. My school is the only one of its kind in Japan.
Kyoko says that her teaching style is all about catering to her audience. There are students more or less “open” to self-expression, sometimes based on which part of the country they are from. She is flexible in order to make them comfortable. She says, her “students are gently changed.”
We discussed how the Japanese sensitivity to subtility is unique and how it might affect touch in Polarity Therapy. We conversed about their empathetic sensitivity, and refined perception versus the challenges Japanese people might feel about self- expression, and a Western self-confidence not quite so acceptable in a culture that prides itself on the undemonstrative.
She also expressed immense gratitude to Gary Strauss and Tracy Griffiths who she both loves! She says they have given her ‘tremendous support every step of the way’ as she is bringing Polarity Therapy to Japan. She stated that Gary, Tracy and Damion are “Higher-Conscious Teachers!”
Meredith: Can you please tell us the schedule, dates and times – of upcoming classes that you wish to share.
Kyoko: Nervous system balancing : Dec 17th to 19th
Polarity 1 : Dec 21st and 22nd
Systemic Constellations Retreat in the US : April 3rd through 11th
Meredith: Do you offer online classes for remote students?
Kyoko: I plan to begin doing this on a regular basis starting January 2020.
Meredith: Can you share a little about your vision for the future of your school and your work?
Kyoko: I plan to write a book. A Japanese translation of Dr. Stones Health Building, also adding updates to adjust to modern times and information. I wish too, to create a community in my school where the staff are all teachers of Polarity, encouraging each other to be truly healthy. That way the experience will be very empowering. I see it as a container for the community to share and build health, learning, and “Soul-Resonance.”
Meredith: Is that your word?
Kyoko: Yes
Meredith: I love it! How big is the school? What other Info would you like to share about it?
Kyoko: Until recently I was the only person with the required credentials to teach in my school. In the last 15 years I’ve had about 100 students graduate APP, and now some of my RPP/teacher training students have become teachers themselves; so, I expect this number to go up in the next few years.
I also appreciate my team: the office manager and my assistant. I wish for them to also become Polarity teachers.
Meredith: How did you get involved with Polarity?
Kyoko: I was introduced to Polarity by Jason Coppola when he was teaching in Japan in the late 90’s. I immediately felt that it was a way for me… that it could sustain my life. When Jason left Japan, I felt I needed to create a container in order to keep inviting teachers to Japan, and that’s how my school was born.
It all started when my neighbor upstairs inspired and pushed me into learning about Polarity. Jason came to teach and stayed for a year. I was attracted to the universality of Polarity concepts.
Meredith: What does Polarity mean to you?
Kyoko: I feel that Polarity gives me a language in which I can express myself as a part of nature, a nature being. I feel that unlimited truth is available through my work as a healing artist.
Doctor Stone’s way feels very clear to me, I have no doubt about the spirituality of his way, and it touches me deeply. I always find the answers I need in my practice and they are always confirmed by Dr Stone’s writing: this makes me feel very safe on my path on Earth. I feel I found myself through Polarity and wanted to create a community where practitioners could find support to continue to practice and live with ease and gratitude.
Meredith: What would you like to say to APTA members?
Kyoko: APTA is great! I believe that the Standards of Practice are most important. High standards are universal. Being open to process themselves is very important for Polarity Therapists. Polarity itself is Universal!
I appreciate and respect these standard, and APTA is working hard to hold that!
I had an amazing time in NY at the conference. I was very touched with lots of gratitude and appreciation. I was very happy.
I am also appreciative of Dr. Stone’s work. I am interested in sound and light currents. I explore these concepts and more as I travel to India two times a year. I travel a lot. I want to learn from the masters and to encourage all of us to share and practice Polarity.
Continents apart, we share these great works of Polarity Therapy. I felt honored to learn and listen to Kyoko and also to appreciate her nuanced subtly that holds so much wisdom.
Can you imagine visiting Japan and hearing “hai, dozo,” (yes-go-ahead) meaning someone is giving you permission to enter their space. Now, a space where Polarity Therapy abides!
Contact Information:
Kyoko Hayashi
Polarity School of Japan
6570011
5-1-50 205 Tsurukabuto Nadaku Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken , Japan
polarityschoolofjapan@gmail.com
Meredith Narissi, BCPP