The Acupressure mat, also known as the Shakti Mat has a number of benefits for general wellbeing. The Acupressure mat is covered with over 6000 points disguised as little lotus flowers, offering an even greater number of acupressure points than the traditional Indian bed of nails. It is the sheer number of these stimulating acupressure points that make the mat so effective in deepening the meditative experience and in relieving a variety of common ailments.

Have you resigned yourself to dealing with the any of the following symptoms, sciatica, muscle tension, backache, sleep disorders, migraine, stress, depression or lethargy? The acupressure mat can alleviate a lot of these symptoms, but you are probably wondering how.

It has long been recognized that the body can heal itself and acupressure is one of the methods for spurring this kind of healing. When you use the Shakti mat the many points of the mat stimulate the body's natural energy giving you an instant feeling of well being while easing symptoms of several common ailment. It may be hard to imagine that a session on an acupressure mat could relieve pain, but it does.

The idea of the Acupressure mat is centered around the idea that the body is composed of a meridian system, somewhat like the nervous system, that runs a complete circuit through the body and ends at your hands or feet on pathways. Lying on the mat, the points that fall within the meridian are stimulated. This causes a rush of energy to flood the pathways.

Acupressure causes the release of endorphins within the body. Endorphins are our feel-good hormones which trigger a calming and uplifting response in the body. They reduce the sensation of pain and have a positive effect on the emotions. As a result of endorphins releasing, blood pressure decreases and blood circulation improves. Endorphins also rid the body of acid which is of great benefit in relieving joint pain and digestive disorders.

Endorphins are generally believed to be similar to morphine when it comes to pain relief. If you are suffering from persistent pain, a session on the acupressure mat amy well benefit you.

To use the mat for overall wellbeing, lie on it daily for around 20 minutes. For targeted pain relief, the affected area should be in contact with the mat for however long is comfortable. Start with five minute sessions and build up to 20 minutes or more. For example, if you have a pain in your hip that stops you from getting off to sleep at night, go to bed and lie on the affected side ensuring the entire hip area is in contact with the acupressure mat.

You may feel tingling sensations, pins and needles or a rush of warmth as stagnant energy begins to flow through the congested area, in this case the hip. Gradually you will feel the warmth spreading down your leg and across your back until a warm, pulsing sensation is felt from your fingers to your toes.

Insomnia is greatly relieved by sleeping on the mat, lying flat on your back. You may wish to place a pillow beneath your knees to allow yourself to comfortably drift off into a deep sleep. Consider using a guided meditation to help this process along, there is a specific Deep Sleep meditation available from www.shaktimatmeditations.com which has been designed for use with the Acupressure mat.

Regular use of the mat will reduce a variety of painful conditions including migraine as the elevated endorphin levels in your body work to block the pain impulses in the brain. Depression is alleviated by the same process as endorphins naturally lift the mood leaving you feeling calmer, happier and more relaxed.

For meditation and general relaxation, take ten minutes or more whenever possible to lie on your back on the Acupressure mat, with relaxing music or a Shakti Mat Meditations playing in the background. Your overall wellbeing, mood and energy levels will benefit greatly from a time out like this.

As you can see, the Acupressure mat is not simply a meditation aid. It has multiple uses in everyday life. It is a powerful health promoting tool that can help to increase productivity, reduce reliance on painkillers and improve quality of life by gradually reducing and ultimately eliminating lethargy, depression, anxiety, erratic sleep patterns and more through the widely documented benefits of acupressure. Just as every household has a hot water bottle for winter colds, each one might also consider an Acupressure mat for ongoing health maintenance and wellbeing for the whole family.

Do you like yoga as a relaxation and stress control medium? You may be surprised to learn you can perform many yoga poses on the Shakti mat. The acupressure actually boosts the effect of your yoga poses. It is a good idea to place a cloth between you and the mat until you become accustomed to the sensations. Begin with yoga poses in which your weight is evenly balanced, this could be seated and forward bending.

When the affected or painful area begins to decongest you will feel the sensations mentioned above, this means your muscles are relaxing and ultimately you will have relief from pain. If you will use the acupressure mat on a regular basis, you can actually prevent the pain from returning. Anytime you have a body part that is in pain simply follow the steps above and you will experience the same pain relief and relaxation.

Many people enjoy yoga as a form of relaxation and stress relief; did you know that you could perform your poses on the acupressure mat? Yes, the Shakti mat will increase the overall effects of yoga. Until you are accustomed to performing these poses on the mat, you may want to place a thin cloth over the acupressure mat. Now begin your yoga poses in a manner which keeps your weight evenly balanced over the mat, perhaps a standing forward bend or even a seated forward bend.