Fab find: Acupressure mats!

I'm the proud new owner of an acupressure mat and I love it. We've been together for nearly a week now and these are my first impressions (ha!).

But seriously, if you've thought about getting one, go for it! There are a bunch of reviews out there that talk about the benefits of acupressure and how it can be both relaxing and rejuvenating. I'll skip repeating all that and tell you that it's really not that uncomfortable. In fact, I fell asleep on my mat the other night.

What surprised me the most is just how deeply I've been able to relax on this thing. Laying on it on my back and meditating I was able to relax as deeply as I only have in 90 minute+ massages or during shirodhara. Heaven.

The points do take getting used to and I'd recommend wearing a T-shirt on your first go. But don't be afraid, you can barely feel them at all through denim. Also, ease on and off, don't slide or you'll be sorry. Then, once you're used to how it feels, try it bare-skinned for more intense results. (Okay, I can't handle standing barefooted on it. Not yet.) In short, if you regularly have tension in your body and don't have the time or money for frequent bodywork, an acupressure mat may be for you. 

Mine came with a handy little booklet that showed different suggested poses and durations for each but I was my usual scattershot and needed to try all of them immediately, plus a bunch I was making up as I went. I did some simple qi gong as I stood on it for about 5 minutes and about a minute after I got off the mat I felt a massive slide of sinus drainage. Amazing. I'd been taking Bi Yan Pian for four days at that point so some of the drainage could've been from that but it was so dramatic and so soon after I got off the mat that I'm assuming that's what did it. Definitely standing on the mat has been most intense for me.

For a nice gentle start, I recommend leaning against it while sitting on the couch.

My only criticisms are that the eco foam doesn't seem very durable and it's kinda small. I'd need to buy two more to experience laying on points from head to toe, all at once. Oh, I nearly forgot, I hate the brand name: Spoonk. It sounds like, well, nothing I want to be laying on, thanks just the same. And it's emblazoned across the top of the cover just above spikes. What were they thinking?