Do Acupressure Mats Help?

I recently bought one of these Shakti mats and a pillow to try out.

Basically it's an acupressure mat, but I call it a bed of nails.😬  

I've used it about 5 or 6 times so far.

My goal was to make it part of my self treatment to ease pain and increase circulation in my back, neck and legs.

These are some of the benefits of acupressure 

• Relieving stress, tension and anxiety.

• Improving sleep.

• Relaxing muscles and joints.

• Soothing the pain and discomfort of a sports or other injury.

• Reducing digestive issues.

• Minimising headaches.

• Alleviating chronic pain.

Although I use acupressure techniques during my massage treatments, this is next level.

I won't lie...

The first time I used it, it hurt and I thought it was going to shred my skin, but their information tells me that it's common to feel pain the first few times due to tight congested muscles.

Well I persisted and did my best to relax and as my weight was distributed evenly across the mat the pain subsided and a warm sensation started to develop at each point. This, I believe, is due to both blood circulation being stimulated to flow through the muscles and skin as well as nerve stimulation.

Anyway, I lay on that thing for about 10 minutes the first day.

All was good until the next morning when I got up I felt like a truck had hit me. Usually I feel like that after a deep tissue massage or a neuro-skeletal treatment, so I knew it had done something, but I was left with an uncomfortable neck and shoulder pain and slight headache for most of day 2.

I decided to have another go before bed this time and to my surprise I had the deepest sleep and woke up amazingly refreshed. No lingering pain this time.

I left it for a couple of days before having a third go and then fourth. Each time things feel a little different afterwards and the discomfort of lying on the mat is less. I'm finding the pillow a little

uncomfortable under my neck still, but that might be because I have neck issues that need a lot more work. I tried the pillow under my thighs and calves and that is a little too much for me at the moment.

Gave standing on it a go, like I've seen others in videos doing.

Wow, that was waaaay too intense and painful... don't do it... 😳

Well at least not unless you’re light in weight. Maybe begin by sitting on a chair and resting your feet gently on the mat first.

Something else I’ve noticed is little pimply spots coming up on my upper arms. Not sure if that is a detox reaction from the mat stimulating blood and lymph flow or if I was having a reaction to something else, but they have mostly cleared up. I’ve heard this could be a sign of gluten intolerance, but I’ve never had it before so I’m putting it down to the first reason. I've also had a consistent dull headache on and off for a few days so I upped my water intake to assist the detoxification. Seems to help a little.

I've definitely been sleeping better and finding a slow improvement in circulation and neck pain reduction, but like with everything else I guess, consistency is key. I'm not that great at that though. 

Hope this has been helpful. If you have any question feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them.

Have an awesome day!

Tina