* My Access Bar session was gifted by Access Consciousness.
We all know how important it is to look after both our physical and mental wellbeing and the benefits that taking some time out, or some time for ourselves brings. Today on National Stress Awareness day I’m sharing more about my recent experience of having my bars done which aims to ‘relax your brain, and relax your body.’
What is Access Bars?
The Access Bars are 32 points on the head, which when lightly touched can help facilitate a reduction in stress and trauma throughout the body. The sessions are usually a 30 to 90 minutes hands-on treatment - mine was 60 minutes - which involves light touching to various points on the head which can help reduce stress throughout the body and increase positive attitudes towards life.
Before my session I knew that each session can be different, and the treatments can be different for every one and my therapist reminded me of this before the session started. The other thing I learnt was that during the session it’s important your fingers don’t point towards each other directly as this interferes with the energy flow.
I’ve previously paid for some Craniosacral Therapy sessions (a gentle hands-on technique that relives tension and stress) and so I had some idea of what Access Bars might be like, though I was curious about the focus being on the touch points on my head. My therapist said at worst, I’d leave feeling like I’d had a really good massage, and who can argue with that - the video below shares more about what you can expect from the session.
Before I share more about how I got on I want to share a couple of photos of the hotel where the event took place. The public areas of the Clermont Hotel in Victoria are stunning and it was a real treat to be in such surroundings. I’m sure that the hotel has been refurbished since I last visited, which looking back was in 2018 for a friends wedding - how time flies!
So how did I get on?
As I said above I was curious about how the Access Bars would work, but I was open to finding out how I could feel like I’d had a good massage by only being touched on my head. During the session I felt myself relaxing, and I felt what I’ll call tensions release. These felt different in different parts of my body, we all have our known niggles and sometimes more than others. I knew my left calf was tight, and of course my troublesome toe is still healing (I hope) slowly, but also I’ve recently been experiencing symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which are thankfully improving following advice from practice physio, so I was keen to see how these, and other areas of my body reacted and felt afterwards.
As I relaxed I could feel the tension release in my legs, I know that I tense my hips (strangely!) so that was welcome. At one point I also felt what I can only explain as a ‘shooting tingle’ in the top of my right thigh which didn’t feel too dissimilar to having a mobile phone vibrate in my pocket, but without it being there. It was the feeling in my wrists which most surprised me though, and a pleasant surprise at that. It felt as if the energy in my wrists was buzzing, not in the pins and needles, or numb way that I’d previously experienced, but in a more positive, vibrant way - it’s hard to explain, but it felt good.
This video shares more about what it’s like to receive an Access Bars session.
And after the session?
Following the session my therapist advised me to listen to my body, and said I might crave water, sugar or salt. I didn’t expressly crave any of those, though as normal practice following any therapy session I usually up my water intake, something that I’ve found helps all round.
Immediately after the session I felt a little spaced out, again nothing bad, but almost like I was trying to process what I’d just experienced. I didn’t have specific plans for after the session but I did feel more aware of my surroundings, and the multiple vases displaying cut flowers in the hotel lobby, along with the unseasonably warm temperatures outside encouraged me to wander rather than to head straight back to the station.
My unplanned wander led me past Buckingham Palace and through St James’ Park, and it was great to be outside on a warm October day, especially without a coat. I felt more aware of my surroundings, this isn’t a route I normally take - or have probably taken before, and that calf I mentioned before seemed to be loosening up, which I was grateful for.
After stopping to watch the pelicans for a while, with many other people, I found myself back on The Mall and in much more familiar territory so rather than head back the way I came I carried on to Charing Cross station to head home. So I also managed to fit in over twelve thousand steps to my day, including my walk to and from the station at home. And the bonus was I felt relaxed, and planned to take it easy for the rest of the day too.
So for me it was an enjoyable session, and one that was good to experience first hand. I’m still curious though, and am looking forward to reading Dr Dain Heer’s book which promises on its back cover to be a ‘very different book’ providing a set of practical and dynamic tools for generating infinite possibilities and dynamic change.
* With thanks to Access Consciousness for inviting me to experience Access Bars, as usual all views and opinions are my own.