TLDR: this acupressure mat will take you on an emotional, mental and physical journey from pain to pleasure. That is, if you can make it through the first 3 minutes.
I've been practicing yoga long enough to become familiar with the staple yoga props - mats, bolsters, blocks, straps, blankets, towels, and eye pillows, to name the major ones that come to mind. Most studios will invest in their own assortment to support yogis, but really they are so much more than assistive devices: props challenge yogis to maintain a curious, non-judgmental mind.
I recently wrote about how yoga is so much more than a practice on the mat. Which got me thinking, if blocks and bolsters help me on the mat, what are the props that help me off the mat? What items bring me back to and best support my practice throughout daily life? Are these products/tools/items in line with who I want to be? And most importantly, how do these things make me feel?
Enter, the Shakti Mat. The quintessential item for my new Prop up your Practice blog series. Not only does it support my yoga practice off the mat in daily life and meditation, it checks every one of my scrupulous purchasing boxes, which include:
Quality - the original acupressure mat, handmade, over 21,000 5-star reviews.
Practical - something that I will actually use & cultivates the home environment that I desire.
Ethical - supporting charities with every purchase, fair wages to local craftspeople in India.
Sustainability - organically certified cotton & dyes, committed to reducing carbon footprint.
Sentimental or longtime interest in the item - I first used a Shakti mat when visiting Italy in 2019.
What is the Shakti Mat?
The Shakti Mat is an acupressure mat with sharp spikes. Running at least 29 inches in length, it's designed to effectively target all the acupoints on your neck and back to help you release tension. Similar to yoga and meditation, acupressure takes time to get used to. As you learn to let go of any tension in the body, you're able to receive the benefits of the practice. Using the Shakti Mat for 10 minutes or more will allow you to melt into the mat and enter a calm, meditative state.
There are 3 levels of Shakti Mat intensity: light, original and advanced. I have the Original mat in black.
How it works
In the mind - the acupressure spikes are alarmingly pointy. The only way to persevere through the initial stages are to turn all of your attention inward, focus on your breathing and attempt to let go of any tension. In response to the physical pain, the body releases endorphins which creates positive feelings of calm and joy. After a few minutes, without much effort, the mind naturally enters a trance-like state.
In the body - the spikes target pressure points and increase circulation to the affected areas, resulting in warm, tingly sensations. They also clear energy pathways and allow it to flow more freely. The body begins to self-soothe from this resting place.
In general - regular use can help with sleep, relaxation, recovery, stress relief and release tension from the muscles. The Shakti Mat may be especially effective if you struggle to "shut off" your brain (due to stress, anxiety, rumination, etc.) as the acupressure spikes facilitate a hypnotic state of calm. When you are unable to toss or turn or focus on anything else, the mind can finally settle down. Sometimes all it takes for the mind to relax is laying on a bed of nails.
My experience
To get started
I recommend opening up your favourite meditation app and selecting a 10+ minute timed session to help you through your first Shakti experience. If you're looking for inspiration, here are two meditations that I recommend: for grounding and for contentment. Or you can listen to this calming playlist on Spotify. Press play and set yourself up to sit or lie down on the Shakti Mat. If you feel comfortable and safe to do so, practice with nothing in the way of your skin and the mat (shirtless, braless). I would compare this experience to entering cold water. The sooner the clock starts ticking, the quicker you will get through the initial shock.
Note: I chose to sit down on the Shakti mat for the purpose of this blog. For my regular practice, I prefer to lie down with the mat underneath my neck and upper body.
Minutes 0-3
What you can expect: see image below.
Focus on: deep breaths and stillness. Fidgeting will reset your efforts.
Minutes 3-5
What you can expect: mindfulness. Pain begins to dissipate as the mind and body relax. Skin begins to feel tingly.
Focus on: deep breath and stillness.
Minutes 5-10
What you can expect: relaxation. The mind is calm and the body lets go of any tension. Skin feels warm.
Focus on: the present moment.
Your session may end here.
Minutes 10-20
What you can expect: bliss. Like a massage, the time goes by quickly. You may be surprised when the session ends.
Focus on: enjoying the experience.
Continue practicing as desired.
In essence.
The Shakti Mat can be used and enjoyed by anyone looking for deep, at-home relaxation. Keep in mind that the intense early sensations are part of the Shakti Mat's spiky magic. After a few weeks of daily practice, the initial pain grows to be less intimidating while remaining effective. The more that I use it the more I seem to try and find ways to incorporate it into my daily life, like resting my feet on it as I write this blog post. Use the Shakti for stress relief, better sleep, mental clarity or to enter a deep state of relaxation, as needed. For all these benefits and the others I am sure to discover, I have to give this mat props.
If you are a brand that wants to be featured in the Prop Up Your Practice series, contact yinwithmir@gmail.com.
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