She added, "Maybe it's a placebo effect or the fact that being on the mat forced me to put my phone down for a while, and just lie still – a rarity these days – but either way, I can confirm that I felt better following my Shakti experience than I did before. That burning sensation could easily become quite addictive." Another plus point? The Shakti Mat can easily be rolled up afterwards and stored without taking up too much space. Is a Shakti Mat good for muscle tension? It was also a really good way to increase circulation in feet and legs while sitting at a desk, and when used right before bed engendered a sense of feeling calm. What are the benefits?

Embrace the soothing embrace of the Shakti Pillow, and embark on a journey of relaxation and revitalization that aligns with your well-being goals. We noticed that when our muscles were more relaxed before bed, sleep quality was upped, and that added to our sense of wellbeing the next day. Using it also acted as a little punctuation to the afternoon at our desk almost as a cup of coffee would, giving us more energy with which to carry on the day. How do you use it?They recommend practising this technique for 10–20 minutes each day, which is the perfect amount of time for a Shakti Mat session. The outcomes vary from person to person, depending on how their body and mind works, and for some, it can be purely physical, while for others the body helps to lead the mind. Once in place, you’re aiming for 20+ minutes of time on it. We found it’s a good idea to either take the Shakti Mat to bed to read while on it, or to lie on it when ruminating or watching TV. If you are standing on it, two–five minutes is enough – but more doesn’t do any harm, and we drifted off a few times when on it. As our Cosmopolitan staffer said, she definitely felt more relaxed and energised after spending some time on the mat. But if you're struggling with stress and anxiety to such an extent that it's impacting on your day-to-day life, we always recommend reaching out to your GP for a chat. Other self-care methods to try Harvard Medical School reveals deep breathing disengages you from "distracting thoughts and sensations," and details how to practice breath focus perfectly. First, you must breathe in slowly through your nose, and allow your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Then, let the abdomen fully expand before breathing out slowly through your mouth or nose - whichever one feels more natural.

Others have recommended the mat as being beneficial for Restless Leg Syndrome and as a good way to soothe muscles after exercise or playing sports (one rugby player we chatted to while researching the mats couldn't stop singing its praises on that front). Is a Shakti Mat good for anxiety and stress? The general idea behind a Shakti Mat (and its competitors) is that the multiple spikes attached to each mat are specially designed to target your muscles in the most relaxing way. Now, we realise that 'multiple spikes' and 'relaxing' don't exactly sound like they naturally work together in a sentence, but the pain isn't actually all that bad (we'll get into that properly in a minute...).Acupuncture is puncturing the skin with needles; acupressure is applying enough pressure on an acupuncture point to stimulate it," explains Sahar Hooti, acupuncturist and founder of AcuCare Clinic. She adds that this stimulation can reduce your stress, improve sleep, boost energy, relieve muscle tension and ease pain, thanks to the needles helping to regulate levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Shakti Mats - and acupressure mats in general - claim to aid the user with a number of different physical and mental ailments, including: There's no harm in trying out more self-care methods - on top of the Shakti Mat if you're keen to try - to improve things like stress and anxiety. In fact, it's actively encouraged, we'd say. If you've still got a spare couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon and you're really craving that ultimate zen, there are numerous other techniques you can try - both with and without your new Shakti Mat... Like our writer said, some deep breaths were required before she got used to the mat and began to feel its results. But certain breathing techniques are certified wellness tactics and are often used in other practices like meditation and yoga to relieve stress and help you relax.