Ever longed to lay on a bed of nails but thought — if it only came in orange? Well Santa came early because the Shakti Mat combines the ancient art of acupuncture with modern Swedish design for an at-home healing experience.
The Shakti creates 6000 acupressure points to help relive tension and induce a state of deep meditation. The website claims that when used for 20-40 minutes your body will begin to release endorphins, which we all know is like getting a shot of happy. It helps to relive neck and back pain, reduce stress, increase energy and promote a good night's rest.
The mat can be used all over the body, from your back, your stomach, your feet, even massaging your face (it's also easily washed with soap and water). Does it hurt? Some users report a "prickling warm sensation" but the discomfort is quickly replaced by a feeling of relaxation.
For $70, it's actually the price of a massage and may be worth trying.
To purchase, visit the Shakti website.
Has anyone tried a Shakti Mat? A recent article in The New York Times | A Bed Where Comfort Is Not the Point has more information about this trend.
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Comments (15)
I got a mat for my birthday this year and I'm loving it. I've fallen asleep on it on a few occasions and man it hurts when you get up!
I own two Swedish Shakti Mats! One I usually roll up and use under my head as a pillow while falling asleep on the other one. It's amazingly relaxing, you just melt away. Total pointy bliss :)
I found this promo code that gives you $10.00 off when you buy a Shakti Mat at www.shaktimat.com!! Put in code Alex11 when you check out! Enjoy!
we had those years ago (in Russia), actually our grandparents did and probably still do. And I bet you can get them much cheaper than that in Russian Pharmacies on Brighton.
They are most often used to "massage" feet.
If you are interested, it's called "Kuznetsov's applicator". And here's the story of it: http://reflexo-therapy.com/Kuznetsov.html
I have one and love it. It helps me fall asleep if I'm jittery or too tense, and I've found that it helps un-knot muscles in your back. If there's something in particular thats bothering you--say your lower back--you can just roll up a towel under that place to intensify the experience and get at where the knots are. Something about it seems to make the blood start circulating again.
The perfect gift for masochists.
This kind of mat has been voted "christmas gift of the year" in Sweden, and it is a big hype right now. As with everything some people say that it helps alot, others remain sceptical. (My personal opinion is that 20 minutes laying down each day will make you more relaxed, whether on a mat or not).
There are also alot of cheaper versions, and all claim to be the "original" and have the most acupressure points.
So far, there has been no scientific proof of the effect.
Funny, by the way, that they are called swedish, becasue here in Sweden they are called asian...
"Ever longed to lay on a bed of nails but thought — if it only came in orange?"
That's a great line.
I was in Sweden this summer and saw these everywhere, but could not figure out what they were for! I agree with Evergirl...
whoa, mojopin! shill much?
Yes they are great, I use mine to meditate on.
You can get Specially Written Meditations for these type of mats at - http://www.shaktimatmeditations.com
All the best..Sam
The new generation of the acupressure mat is the Pranamat ECO. Less prickly and crafted from all natural materials. I've used both mats for a year now and can tell you they are absolutely awesome for relaxation and relieving pain. I recently started using them on my legs for pain from poor circulation. It became so bad I could not sit in my computer chair for more than 2 hours due to the pain. After about 10 days of using the mats on both legs every night I can now sit in my chair for at least 6 hours with very little discomfort. As these spike mats are great for me I admit that not everyone will get it, BUT if you can withstand the first few minutes of discomfort, wow, you will love it! The Pranamat ECO is the best bet if you have a low threshold for pain. I got mine from www.wellnesstreehouse.com, they have the best prices as far as I can tell.
Acupressure mats are amazing. I love mine!
You can get a high quality one at www.heavenlymats.com now for $39.00. Great deal, amazing product.
http://www.heavenlymats.com has them for $39.00. Get yours now, you will love it, like millions of Swedes love their acupressure mats!