Who hasn’t experienced trouble falling asleep? We all have and then there’s that awful feeling of fatigue. Coupled with the normal stress of every working day, it’s a combo we want to avoid. Now there’s a fast solution so you can be alert and ready for early morning meetings, which for me sometimes involves exhausting fashion shoots. But how about just getting through the day? The answer is a Yantra Mat.
Ingrid, a Swedish friend of a friend, brought this Swedish sensation to my attention. I was willing to listen, desperate for relief. When I first received my new mat, I admit I was skeptical that it could massage me to sleep and relieve my aches and pains.
The Yantra Mat is a little intimidating at first with plastic spiky flowers attached to the mat which target 8,820 acupressure points in the body. Guess what? I was instantly relaxed. The prickly surface is not unlike the bed of nails embraced by yogis. The idea is that reclining on the surface kick starts the body’s natural healing process, releasing endorphins to overcome pain.
One must approach the mat step by step. I laid down aligning my weight with the contact points. It was a little uncomfortable but that soon subsided. It’s important to use one’s breath to work through that initial discomfort and shield yourself with clothing or try placing a sheet between the body and mat. After a bit of time I was able to lay right on the mat without barriers.
Adjust to the mat incrementally: the first 4 days – 10 minutes; the next 9 days – 20 minutes, preferably at bedtime. If you fall asleep … that’s okay. It feels great, really! Once you become accustomed to the spikes the possibilities are endless – back, face, feet. After 14 days, 40 minutes is doable; the outcome is energy and revitalization. Now you don’t need to be stressed, have sleepless nights or suffer from pain and low energy.
The art of healing through acupressure has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. So, how did the Swedes become so smart? Perhaps it’s just that Scandinavian sense of wellness. I’m psyched because now I have my own “om” in a bag.
The Yantra Mat is $49.
Available at www.yantraway.com or by calling 866-229-2866