Growing up, I always had a fear of needles, so even the idea of laying on a bed of spikes was intimidating for me. And I tried my best to avoid acupressure sessions as long as I could. Fast forward three years later, after I started yoga, I was looking for a solution for my sore muscles post practice. Then I came across this acupressure mat online, but what about my fear of spikes? There was only one way to put these concerns to, ahem, rest: finally try an acupressure mat.
You’ve probably seen acupressure mat in my Instagram stories a few times. I use it almost daily to help with everything from muscle tension to headaches, insomnia, and calming the mind. I never knew about all the benefits before I bought it.
Most people have seen or at least heard of the traditional bed of nails used by Indian ascetics as a tool to help transcend the limitations of body consciousness; acupressure mats are kind of like a milder version of this. They might be relatively irritating and potentially unpleasant initially, but they quickly become comfortable and invigorating once your skin and nerves become accustomed to the sensation.
What Is an Acupressure Mat?
You’ll notice that these mats are covered in small, spiky nodes, but what might look like a torture device to some is ultimately a soothing wellness tool, When you lay or sit on them, your weight and any additional wriggling motion help to massage and stimulate your body against the mat’s irregular surface.
Think about getting a relaxing massage when you have no access to a massage parlor nearby, this MAT is the solution!
An acupressure mat is a foam mattress that has plastic “spikes” all over. These plastic mats work to “activate blood flow to the epidermis and dermis” and the “increased blood flow helps to relax the muscle tissue,”
If this sounds painful, believe me, it’s not, it’s actually deeply relaxing, like getting a good massage. Any slight discomfort is actually beneficial, because it can increase blood flow and circulation and release chemicals called endorphins.
Acupressure mats have become popular this year for many reasons. Acupressure can sometimes help with nausea during pregnancy and chemotherapy, and people have used it for pain in labor as well as for fatigue , fibromyalgia, insomnia, anxiety and depression, and chronic pain in the neck and back.” For example, one study showed that acupressure mats were a helpful therapy for neck and lower back pain; another study concluded that these mats have beneficial effects on the nervous system and measures of stress, including self-rated relaxation, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and skin temperature.
How does acupressure work?
It’s a complementary therapy believed to stimulate the central nervous system (CNS). According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupressure is designed to target different points along the meridian lines, or energy pathways, of the body. “It’s all about eliminating blockages in our neuro-vascular pathway, which is where our nervous system and cardiovascular systems meet. This is believed to help restore the flow of ‘qi’ or life-force energy throughout the body.
The pressure of many rounded nails against the skin triggers the body’s innate way of healing itself, stimulating energy pathways known as meridians. This helps to encourage relaxation on a whole other level, and laying on an acupressure mat will truly take your wellness practice and meditation to the next level!
Benefits of using an acupressure mat
I wanted to share more in depth some of the many potential health benefits that you can experience from using an acupressure mat regularly.
- Decreased anxiety
- Decreased depression
- Increased sense of well-being
- Lowered stress levels
- Higher self-esteem and confidence
- Better regulated appetite
- Less body pain
- Insomnia
- Less tension
- Less headaches & migraines
- Improved blood circulation
How do I start using an acupressure mat?
If the above was enough to get you to add an acupressure mat to your cart, all you need now is to know how to use it. I use my mat almost everyday. For the start, “You can wake up and stand on the mat barefoot—there are a ton of nerve endings in the feet—to energize yourself and wake up,” You can also use the mat at the end of the day: Lie down on your stomach and do some deep breathing into the belly to wind down. “This is great for organs and the digestive system.”
There are many more ways to use this mat in your daily life. So If you are interested, let me know in the comments, I will share different positions in my next blog.
I hope that you enjoyed this blog post, and I would love to know – have you ever used an acupressure mat? Or thinking of getting one. Leave a comment below! I would also love to hear your feedback if you decide to try out one of these amazing mats. Here’s the link: TLISMI Acupressure Mat.
Be sure to follow me over on Instagram @yoga_with_pal for daily Yoga, health and wellness tips!
See you soon,
Pal