Have you ever felt the compulsion to let complete strangers stick needles into you? Maybe that answer depends on the kind of nightclubs you go to. In this case however, I am referring to accupuncture. For the unitiaited, my sister can only be described as an accupuncture fiend and would doubtlessly recommend it to anyone, unless, say, they were scared of needles.
It just so happened that while we were window shopping for nothing in particular in Covent Garden we were soon to learn that Neal's Yard Remedies had a very well hidden therapies centre just opposite its conventional store. It's just signalled by one very narrow door between two cafes so it's astonishingly easy to miss, but once you enter, a world of wonder awaits!
Got ailments? This place has every treatment you could ever want.. and not want. From shiatsu massage to psychic healing, life coaching to cupping. Even if you don't have any, you might as well indulge that inner hypochondriac and get some indulgent treatment in a lovely crisp white room, by a practitioner with an unusually soft voice 'just in case' you feel tense at some point later in the week and want to mitigate that risk now. My sister insisted 'we're here to get accupuncture and cupping'. I went along with it, as I usually opt for Shiatsu (I'm getting quite predictable in that respect) so off I went to get pricked by a random person.
It felt very tickly, and the pins felt like tingles... the cupping was a hilarious experience for me personally. It feels like a bunch of unusually big leeches have snaked onto your back and stared sucking really hard. Obviously it is no way near as disturbing as that. Think 'zen like'. Yes, I know that 'zen' and 'leeches' go together in a slightly oxymoron-like kinda way.
Afterwards I felt floaty and spaced out... my persistent neck stiffness disappeared for a bit too. The experience costed £60. Worth a shot, if you like needles and leeches. read more