Access Bars

Access Bars is a unique form of energy-based bodywork known for its simplicity and potential to create positive change in various aspects of life. Within the holistic wellness sphere, Access Bars is recognized for its focus on facilitating greater ease, peace, and personal empowerment. Created by Gary Douglas in 1990, this dynamic technique has gained popularity globally for its accessibility, gentle approach, and potential for transformation.

What is Access Bars?

Key principles of Access Bars include:

The Bars: 32 points on the head that correspond to specific areas of life (money, creativity, aging, etc.).
Electromagnetic Charge: Belief that thoughts, emotions, and beliefs hold ‘charge’ that can be released.
Light Touch: Practitioner subtly touches the Bars, aiming to release this stored energy.
The Questions: A core philosophy of Access Bars uses open-ended questions to shift stuck perspectives.
Energetic Clearing: Aims to create a sense of spaciousness and ease within the mind and body.

How can Access Bars help you?

Access Bars might be supportive if you are seeking:

Stress Reduction: Provides an environment for deep relaxation, calming the mind and body.
Mental Clarity: By releasing old patterns, it can create a sense of increased mental space and focus.
Easing Anxiety and Depression: May alleviate symptoms due to its calming and clearing effect.
Improved Sleep: Promotes relaxation and can help establish healthier sleep patterns.
Personal Empowerment: The Access Bars philosophy encourages self-awareness and embracing new choices.

What are Access Bars good for?

Consider Access Bars if you have:

Experiencing High-Stress: A great tool for unwinding tension and promoting a sense of peace.
Limiting Beliefs: Helps question and release beliefs that may be holding you back in various areas of life
Desire for More Ease: For those wanting to feel greater flow and lightness in mind and body.
Self-Improvement Focus: Encourages a mindset of curiosity and willingness to create change.
Attracted to Energy Work: Offers a simple entry point into the world of energy-based modalities.

Benefits of Access Bars

Potential benefits include:

Deep Relaxation: Many experience a sense of profound peace and tranquility during and after a session.
Reduction of Mental Chatter: Reduces the ‘noise’ of racing thoughts and limiting beliefs.
Increased Well-being: Can contribute to an overall sense of enhanced physical and emotional well-being.
Greater self-awareness: May uncover unconscious patterns and offer new perspectives on life choices.
Positive Shifts Opens the possibility for positive changes in relationships, health, finances, and more.

What to expect from Access Bars with a practitioner

An Access Bars session typically involves:

Conversation: Brief discussion of goals, focus areas, and any specific issues you want to address.
Relaxing and Receiving: Lying down comfortably on a massage table as the practitioner lightly touches the Bars.
Verbal Processing (Optional): Some may incorporate questions or conversation during the session
After the Session: Feeling lighter, relaxed, and may want quiet time for integration.

Similar Modalities to Access Bars

Other energy-based and relaxation techniques share some similarities with Access Bars:

Reiki: Gentle touch modality focused on balancing energy flow but doesn’t use specific points.
Craniosacral Therapy: Light touch focused on releasing fascia and fluids of the craniosacral system.
Meditation: Practices cultivating mindfulness may create similar feelings of peace and awareness.
ThetaHealing®: Energetic modality using belief work, but with a more structured and verbal focus.

Final Thoughts

Access Bars offers a unique and gentle approach to promoting well-being. Its focus on release, openness, and empowerment makes it a popular tool for those seeking stress relief, enhanced awareness, and positive change. If you’re drawn to simple yet impactful energy work and the idea of clearing mental and emotional blockages for greater ease, Access Bars may be a valuable technique to explore within your wellness journey.

Scientific References

Field, T. (2016). Massage therapy research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 24, 65–78.
Chiesa, A., & Serretti, A. (2009). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for stress management in healthy people: a review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(5), 593–600.
Jain, S., & McMahon, G. T. (2017). What do we know about the mechanisms of action of energy therapies? Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 25(4), 301–308.