A few weeks ago I received an acupressure mat in the mail from Dosha Mat, a Canadian company based in BC who makes these beautiful acupressure mats
The mats are made using a lotus shape to create the points used for acupressure.
What is acupressure?
Acupressure is similar to massage, acupuncture and reflexology as it massages and targets key points in our body promoting deep relaxation, tension release and healing.
Our bodies are made up of hundreds of key target points/acupressure points or meridians. Meridians or energy pathways connect various points in your body allowing acupressure to create a state of healing in our bodies when dealing with injury or chronic pain.
When you use an acupressure mat, hundreds of meridians on your body are simultaneously massaged and stimulated. This sends healing energy to your organs and other parts of your body and creates incredible health benefits. This process also brings your body and mind into harmony and helps you enter deep states of relaxation. Our acupressure mats enable anyone to experience the incredible health benefits of full-body acupressure in the comfort of their home and without having to spend hundreds of dollars on massage therapy.
How can using an acupressure mat improve your health?
Studies have shown acupressure and acupressure mats to have wonderful health effects (and if you watched my video last week on how to stop a nosebleed, you’ll know that I believe in the power of acupressure!). Some of the stress and tension effects include:
- Reduction of pain and soreness
- Deep calm and relaxation
- Reduction of stress and anxiety
- Improved sleep
- Weight-loss
- Increased circulation
- Increased energy levels
- Alleviates arthritis
- Alleviates fibromyalgia
- Lower cortisol levels
As you all know, I have fibromyalgia, but fortunately, I haven’t experienced any flare-ups yet this summer so I can’t attest to how effective using acupressure is when it comes to relieving fibromyalgia pain, but I will certainly be trying it out next time I do have a flare.
Getting Started
Using an acupressure mat can be a little daunting, those spiky little acupressure points can be scary, but I’ve found the easiest way to start is by placing it on my bed where it’s quite soft and laying on it there. If that is still too much for you in the beginning, you can add a thin blanket or towel (I like a tea towel) to lessen the intensity.
Another great way to get started is by placing the mat on a chair or couch and sitting on it. Once again, because of the softness of the chair or couch beneath it, it will lessen the intensity of the acupressure points.
Once you feel a bit more comfortable, you can begin using it on the floor where the hardness of the floor will allow the mat to penetrate a little bit deeper into the skin activating those pressure points.
Finally, once you are feeling quite brave (haha) you can stand on it! I recommend starting out by standing on it with socks on, but once you’ve grown a bit more use to the sensation you can stand on it in bare feet (I do!)
Reduce Tension & Stress with Acupressure
How long do you use it?
It’s recommended at you spend 15-20 minutes on your mat each day, but even 5 minutes will begin to make a really positive difference in your stress and tension levels.
After only a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel a warmth flow through your body and will begin to feel your stress lesson. After 15-20 minutes you will begin to feel your pain and tension release as you fall into a deep relaxation.
It’s also recommended to use it on bare skin, but I haven’t quite worked up to that yet! But I can say that even with clothes, you will definitely feel it working!
Dosha Mat
Of course, I really liked Dosha Mat when I first learned of them because they are a Canadian company, but after looking into them, I really like that their mats are 100% eco-friendly. Each mat is handmade using highest-quality, hypoallergenic natural linen. Each mat also contains a removable cushion made of 100% natural coconut fibre. The acupressure points are made of toxic-free surgical plastic and have been ergonomically engineered to have the greatest relaxation and healing effects.
Learn more about their mats, all the wonderful uses and benefits on their website https://www.doshamat.com
Disclosure: I was sent a complimentary acupressure mat from Dosha Mat in order to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.