Reclaiming Self-Care

You know those videos of people lying on a bed of nails? When acupressure mats came on the scene of self-care tools a few years ago, that’s all I could imagine it feeling like. (Not that I actually know what a bed of nails feels like. I just envision a lot of OUCH!)

But when Alltrue, a quarterly subscription box I get, offered it, I thought, “What the hell. I’ll try it.”

Now, it’s something I use regularly, and when I tell you it’s heavenly, I mean HEAVENLY. (After a bit of ouch.) 

The initial sensation the first time I used it was a little shocking because it’s a bunch of plastic pokey things all over a cushioned mat. And that’s just not something my body is used to feeling.

But each time I lay on it, the initial sensation is a little more familiar. Which is excellent because it allows my body to relax into the pressure more quickly. And once relaxed, the little pokey things create subtle but ongoing nervous system, fascia, and muscular releases that are quite lovely! 

I’ve noticed my low back and hips, as well as my upper back and in between my shoulder blades loosening more than just with my normal Pilates and foam rolling, and those modalities being more effective.

I don’t know what the long-term benefits will be, and this isn’t necessarily an endorsement quite yet. But I always find it useful to know what the people I trust are doing in real-time for their personal self-care, so I thought I’d share something new I’m trying.

If you have an acupressure mat, I’d love to know what you think of it! If you’re interested in them, here’s the one I have.