ACUPRESSURE MAT BENEFITS.

It’s been tried and tested, and OMG I love so much!

Just so you guys know, there are lotsssss of products/tips/tricks/hacks I try, and I don’t bring them to The Chic Confidential if I don’t 100% believe in them. In fact, many of them suck. But the few that are amazing, I feel like I obviously have to share.

Here, on The Chic Confidential, we’re ALL about sharing. If something is working for me, you can bet your ass I’m going to post about it. No secrets.

Okay, so let’s get to this wellness tip! If you’re following on Insta/Snap, you’ve probably seen me use the Acupressure Mat. I posted a couple days ago asking if you guys wanted a full blog post on it, and I had a ton of responses saying that you did. So voila, here I am.

Side note: I have a HUGE Amazon problem. Like, I buy everything. I see something weird on there, and I feel like I need it in my life. Eye masks, lip masks, facial oils, ice rollers, etc. You get it. So, when I came across the acupressure mat, I was intrigued. I started reading about it. Researching like a crazy person, and then immediately bought it on Amazon. (You should know, NONE of this is sponsored).

Before I get into the acupressure mat benefits, let me tell you wtf an acupressure mat even is…

It’s a self-applied acupuncture device commonly made of a foam mattress covered in cotton sacking and embedded with hard plastic disks containing protruding spikes.

So basically, it’s a bed of nails. Get on board.

A bed of nails with ENDLESS benefits though. Hear me out before you close this blog post.

And before you think it’s going to hurt, I’ll tell you now that I’m pretty fucking fragile, and do not have a huge pain threshold, and I can handle the “pain” no problem. So, if I can, you can!

It actually only hurts for a few seconds. Maybe a minute at most. And then once you pass that, it’s nothing but relief. (Almost like a weird fetish? LOL).

Some major acupressure mat benefits: induces deep relaxation, stimulates energy, relieves pain and heightens happiness.

The mat is great for people with back pain. Now that I’m 30, you guys know I’ve been cracking the whip on certain things: I’ve been hitting the gym a lot more, taking ALL the vitamins possible, drinking more water, being mindful of unhealthy eating habits, & taking all the anti-aging precautions. (But who are we kidding, I hopped on the anti-aging bandwagon at 25…)

ACUPRESSURE MAT BENEFITS:

BACK PAIN:

Most mats have over 6000 points on them, which stimulates 100 acupressure point on your back. This starts to increase blood flow in your body which helps heal muscles and lets them relax to release pain and tension. Lay on the mat for about 20 minutes. Grab a book or listen to some relaxing music. You will instantly feel relaxed. Trust me. You can either lay on it with a very thin t-shirt, or completely naked if the pain isn’t too much. I like to wear a thin t-shirt, because I have sensitive skin, and I don’t want to irritate it. Most acupressure mats also come with a neck pillow, which helps with neck pain.

I sit at a computer ALL DAY. This is the worst thing for posture, back and neck pain. I try and get up every couple hours to stretch out my muscles, but realistically, it’s not enough. The mat really helps with the pain in my muscles.

STRESS, ANXIETY & ENERGY:

Many people find that it helps with stress and anxiety. Now the mat works differently for everyone. Some people find it relaxing, others use it for more energy. Personally, I think it’s also the time of day that you use it. A lot of people use it in the mornings for energy. Since I never have any time in the mornings for even make-up, I can’t be bothered to use this in the mornings. I like to use it first thing after coming home from work, or right before bed. It can really help with sleep, as it relaxes the muscles.

FEET & REFLEXOLOGY:

If you accidentally step on this, it can be highly painful. Only because it was accidental, and you weren’t mentally prepared for it. If you mentally prepare yourself for stepping on this, it can relieve all kinds of pain. If you suffer from any kind of foot pain, try out this mat! I don’t suffer from foot pain, but stepping on the mat can also help with energy. When I lay on the mat, it’s more of a relaxing/de-stressing feeling. When I step on the mat, I get more of an energy burst. WEIRD, right?

The rounded nails against the skin help the body release endorphins, the body’s very own “happiness drug” which provides a sense of joy. Endorphins are neurotransmitters, or peptides, and the word is short for endogenous and morphine, meaning a morphine-like substance created by the body itself. Endorphins reduce pain and create feelings of euphoria and well-being. Without getting too science-y on you, just know that the mat releases endorphins. And endorphins = happiness. 

If you’re still not convinced, check out this list of benefits:

• Improve circulation
• Increase energy level
• Reduce blood pressure
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Alleviate headache
• Relieve tension and muscle aches
• Improve sleep and relieve insomnia
• Relieve chronic neck and back pain
• Activate the parasympathetic nervous system
• Benefit weight loss by reducing cortisol levels
• Improve heart rate variability
• Revitalize and rejuvenate
• Improve skin complexion
• Relieve constipation
• Alleviate malaise
• Helps with cellulite. (WHAT?!)

Overall, I’m kind of obsessed with the mat. I want to take it everywhere with me. It’s actually very lightweight and easy to take anywhere. If you work in an office environment, you can even bring it to work and sit on it for back pain relief. People may look at you weirdly, but who really cares, right? Take it when you travel. Nothing is worse than airplane back pain.

The brand of the acupressure mat doesn’t matter at all. I bought mine off Amazon. It came with the neck pillow as well. Shop the mat here.

Okay, so what about you guys? Any wellness tips you want to share? Who uses the acupressure mat? Anyone?

Chat soon!

Xx, kim

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