I Laid on These Spikes Everyday (acupressure mat experiment)

Do you have an acupressure mat?  Maybe you're tempted to try one?

I fell in love with my mat the very first time I tried it. Within a couple of minutes I'd ditched the t-shirt and went full skin. I went a full hour. I felt my muscles almost melt, and almost fell asleep on it. I have fibromyalgia that mostly manifests in back spasms, and find when I'm really bad off, my mat is one of my best tools. I've also had the pillow shut down stubborn migraines. One of the best $20 purchases I've ever made.

I suffer from periodic back pain, and about a month ago I got and started using an acupressure mat. The first time you use it you do think this is crazy. It's too painful. However, if you stick it out it does help. I use it for about 15 minutes at a time now. After about 5 minutes the pain goes away and a warm sensation begins to spread around my back. It actually becomes somewhat pleasurable. After I'm done, my pain is gone and I feel very relaxed. Here's a couple of tips about it. I recommend doing it without a shirt on. It's going to hurt like hell at first but it's more effective. Also, I have found the easiest way to get off of it is to lift your body up and pull the mat out from underneath you.

This is reccomended by therapists for kids who cut. The cutting pain relieved the emotional pain but it’s dangerous due to infection or accidental deep cuts. A prana mat is a great alternative for teens and kids who’ve started cutting

"But i dont know about you, but all that takes effort, and i just cant be bothered" i felt this in my soul ❤

Been using one with the pillow for a couple years now. I adore it. The "hurts so good" sensation is very similar to the experience of getting a tattoo. After you adapt to the intensity of it, it's extremely euphoric. Just like when getting a tattoo, i tend to become groggy after a few minutes. It's really quite wonderful and I'll never go without it!

You are one brave soul to introduce your viewers to all these different modalities. I like that you taped over a period of time, and we got to watch you go from an "intense" to a "sublime" experience. You're a charmer! Thanks for sharing.

My daughter gifted one to me about 10 years ago, and wouldn't be without it, I have found it does everything you have said it does, I love mine!

I love your content. It's authentic and relatable. I don't feel like you're trying to sell me anything. All your videos are well researched and informative. I feel I've gained knowledge on a subject each time I consume your content.

Tried this after watching your video! I absolutely love it!! Has helped with my neck pain, low back pain, mobility, and sleep! So awesome! Thank you for doing this video!

Can't live without it. On some instances I've fallen asleep and spent a whole night on one of those. The worse the pain in the body, the less the pain from the mat, is my experience. When my lower back acts up, making it hard to get up out of bed or a chair, it will suffice with 30 sec or so to turn the pain off. Really helpful and useful.

I have chronic pain in my neck and upper back. A friend who has similar issues introduced me to acupressure mats like 5 years ago and now I can’t go without it. It’s one of the few things that can help a pain flare or can even stop it/avoid it if I catch it early enough.

My first session was 25 minutes. It was incredible. I modified the pillow by taking the foam out and inserting a microbead pillow and that was awesome. It molds to the shape of your head. If you put it long ways you can go from your neck to the top of the head.

I use it to help with my anxiety. My anxiety manifests itself physically and this seems to calm my nervous system down tremendously.

It hurts so bad it takes your mind off of anything else.

I first discovered this mat when I was at a day spa facility. You can imagine a nice, quiet, tranquil place. Much like in this video, you can imagine me trying not to swear and moan and groan in agony from this damn mat! Call me crazy, but I actually liked the sensations that it bought to my body after I stepped off. It peaked my curiosity, so I bought one for my home. Fast forward a couple months, I was really struggling with plantar fasciitis from being on my feet all day at work in the wrong shoes. I had booked in to see a podiatrist in a few weeks time, so I started to use the mat in the mean time. It was so painful for my feet that I had tears rolling down my face in agony! But after a few minutes the pressure release felt SO good. When I finally had the podiatrist appointment, the podiatrist checked the usual pressure points a few times over my feet whilst asking if I felt any pain at all. I felt a bit silly, as I said ‘no it actually feels fine’ every time. I told her about the acupressure mat that I had been using and how painful it was initially, but how wonderful my feet felt after using it. She basically said to me, “well I think that mat has done the job for me and helped you get rid of your plantar fasciitis pain.” She never heard of the acupressure mat before but was quite surprised by the results it had produced for me. Warning: if you have plantar fasciitis, IT SUCKS. Take it slooooowww when stepping on the mat and lean against something, or do it sitting down to take the weight off initially. I’ll never forget the pain when I first stepped on the mat. It’s seared into my brain as a core memory. But now when I step on the mat, I think back to those days and notice a MASSIVE difference in what it has done for my feet and I can now bear my whole body weight on a single foot at a time.

I've had dozens of normal acupuncture sessions, with actual needles. This is a bit different, cause this mat doesn't give you that paralising feeling in your muscles, if you put a tension to them, like moving your arm while having needles in it. This mat really helps to relax. So much, that I have to set an alarm to wake up - my longest nap was exactly 1h 32min 😅 I use it 2-3 times a week.

OMG you're hilarious! Thanks for sharing those REAL responses

Welcome to the club! Amazing how quickly you adjust to the discomfort isn’t it? I find it SUPER relaxing now. I love it!

Thanks for being so brave. I bought one of these at a yard sale for 2 dollars with the pillow. Forgot exactly what you said when you first tried it but I wasn't on camera so it was more xxx rated. I figured a second time would kill me for sure. Did play with the pillow some but---. But now I'm gonna pull it back out and go for it. Won't settle for any less than the relaxation you got. Thanks!!! I do remember getting off was worse