Shakti Acupressure Pillow - Black

quality is fab and it looks absolutely beautiful. i haven’t reached out to customer service yet but was weary when purchasing from some previous reviews elsewhere, can’t speak to this as i haven’t attempted contact. had no problems with ordering and receiving product thoughi’m still undecided about whether to keep it, my experience has been ambiguous. once or twice i have found that i have felt extremely relaxed after use, my restless legs were calmed and i felt very sleepy. i still took a while to get to sleep unfortunately but definitely felt more relaxed. i’ve tried with a thin blanket and without, and find it to be much less intense with the blanket but easier to get ‘comfortable’ so to speak. the benefits are obviously reduced though with this but it’s still ... Morequality is fab and it looks absolutely beautiful. i haven’t reached out to customer service yet but was weary when purchasing from some previous reviews elsewhere, can’t speak to this as i haven’t attempted contact. had no problems with ordering and receiving product thoughi’m still undecided about whether to keep it, my experience has been ambiguous. once or twice i have found that i have felt extremely relaxed after use, my restless legs were calmed and i felt very sleepy. i still took a while to get to sleep unfortunately but definitely felt more relaxed. i’ve tried with a thin blanket and without, and find it to be much less intense with the blanket but easier to get ‘comfortable’ so to speak. the benefits are obviously reduced though with this but it’s still relaxing.the **** is interesting, the first time it was much less than i expected actually but i still felt like i couldn’t adjust my body because that was painful, and peeling myself off was (and still is) agony. i couldn’t fully relax just anticipating having to get off it.like i say, i’m still undecided as i can see that it is relaxing but it hasn’t been life changing. the aches and pains are definitely still there, no difference the next day after sleeping but it probably does help short term (immediately after). i’m trusting the process and it is indeed a process

Health practitioner honest review

I’m an acupuncturist and I always acupuncture my own body. I bought this for myself because the only place I cannot actually needle is my back, because yenno.. physics. Anyways I disguised it as a Christmas present for my dad, knowing full well I was going to use it mostly. We both love it. He has a rounded spine and a lot of stress so stimulating the points on the back helps in both those areas. For me I just want to hit those points on my back because all of the spinal nerve roots from T1-T12 innervate all our organs and by stimulating these points we can access our parasympathetic nervous system. Now I will say it’s not a replacement for acupuncture but it’s definitely an amazing accompaniment that can be done daily so I highly recommended. I also love standing ... MoreI’m an acupuncturist and I always acupuncture my own body. I bought this for myself because the only place I cannot actually needle is my back, because yenno.. physics. Anyways I disguised it as a Christmas present for my dad, knowing full well I was going to use it mostly. We both love it. He has a rounded spine and a lot of stress so stimulating the points on the back helps in both those areas. For me I just want to hit those points on my back because all of the spinal nerve roots from T1-T12 innervate all our organs and by stimulating these points we can access our parasympathetic nervous system. Now I will say it’s not a replacement for acupuncture but it’s definitely an amazing accompaniment that can be done daily so I highly recommended. I also love standing on it barefoot and stretching forward and placing my palms on it. It’s sensitive but enormously beneficial. I went straight to the level 3 cuz I’m used to pokey things. But I will tell you that might be too intense for some.

I love this pillow! Just get it.

I am someone who has had a lifelong struggle with neck pain. I was in martial arts for years when I was younger, and got thrown into the mat so many of thousands of times that my neck took some serious damage. I get spasms and tension headaches regularly.I bought the level 2 pillow along with the level 2 Shakti mat about a month ago.I wondered if the mat would be enough on its own, but the pillow called out to me. I took a chance and I'm telling any of you who are on the fence, just get it. It's so good.The size and softness of the pillow are absolutely perfect. They position the little spikies exactly where my neck needs them, and it feels like the contour as well as the acupressure are perfectly placed to relieve pressure on my neck. I've started to crave it ... MoreI am someone who has had a lifelong struggle with neck pain. I was in martial arts for years when I was younger, and got thrown into the mat so many of thousands of times that my neck took some serious damage. I get spasms and tension headaches regularly.I bought the level 2 pillow along with the level 2 Shakti mat about a month ago.I wondered if the mat would be enough on its own, but the pillow called out to me. I took a chance and I'm telling any of you who are on the fence, just get it. It's so good.The size and softness of the pillow are absolutely perfect. They position the little spikies exactly where my neck needs them, and it feels like the contour as well as the acupressure are perfectly placed to relieve pressure on my neck. I've started to crave it at night! I already can't imagine going to bed without lying on my Shakti mat and pillow first. I wake up some time after falling asleep, expertly extract the mat and pillow out from under me, and sigh into blissful all night relaxation. Thank you Shakti!

If you're curious, this is your sign

I had seen Shakti Mats on Instagram plenty of times and was definitely curious, but continued to brush it off until eventually my stress & anxiety escalated to an unmanageable degree and I decided it was time to start trying new things. I am interested in relaxation and general wellbeing anyway, so this seemed like a good place to start. While the first time was indeed more painful than I had hoped, I'm so glad that I was persistent and continued to push through the discomfort. I will say, the first time I tried this I had my partner in the room with me and while I love the way they make me laugh, laughing on the mat definitely added to the sting! It's really helpful to be in a relaxing, isolated environment so you can totally check out and focus on breathing. This ... MoreI had seen Shakti Mats on Instagram plenty of times and was definitely curious, but continued to brush it off until eventually my stress & anxiety escalated to an unmanageable degree and I decided it was time to start trying new things. I am interested in relaxation and general wellbeing anyway, so this seemed like a good place to start. While the first time was indeed more painful than I had hoped, I'm so glad that I was persistent and continued to push through the discomfort. I will say, the first time I tried this I had my partner in the room with me and while I love the way they make me laugh, laughing on the mat definitely added to the sting! It's really helpful to be in a relaxing, isolated environment so you can totally check out and focus on breathing. This has greatly improved my anxiety overall, and is a fantastic grounding tool as well for when I feel like I'm spiraling or on the verge of a panic attack. The initial discomfort kind of distracts your brain into re-assessing the situation and allows you to slow down and regain composure, and then once that 1-2 minutes of discomfort passes it's a very relaxing, warm sensation. This is becoming a staple in my routine. I will also say that while there *are* cheaper mats on the market, the quality and ethics of the brand are 100% worth it.

Life changing!

I bought the Level 1 mat, pillow and eye wrap for my partner for Christmas. He has suffered from horrific ********* for the last three years, and at some points they were becoming so bad that the had to have CT/MRI scans to check there was nothing untoward going on. We’ve tried every form of **** ******, natural cure etc. to try and ease them to no avail, until now!Within just a couple of weeks of using Shakti for twenty minutes a day around three times a week, his ********* became a rare occurrence. When they did occur they were only 10% of what they had been previously, and if he was able to use the mat, pillow and eye wrap when he felt a migraine coming on then they would usually dissipate altogether.Although I don’t suffer from ********* I began to use the mat ... MoreI bought the Level 1 mat, pillow and eye wrap for my partner for Christmas. He has suffered from horrific ********* for the last three years, and at some points they were becoming so bad that the had to have CT/MRI scans to check there was nothing untoward going on. We’ve tried every form of **** ******, natural cure etc. to try and ease them to no avail, until now!Within just a couple of weeks of using Shakti for twenty minutes a day around three times a week, his ********* became a rare occurrence. When they did occur they were only 10% of what they had been previously, and if he was able to use the mat, pillow and eye wrap when he felt a migraine coming on then they would usually dissipate altogether.Although I don’t suffer from ********* I began to use the mat etc. purely because I could see how much my partner enjoyed it and how much it was helping and wow! I started having the deepest, most restful sleep of my life, and I was starting to fall asleep really easily - even on nights when I hadn’t used the mat.We both exercise so suffer from the usual aches and pains, the mat is always perfect for those too. If you’ve got any doubts about Shakti, I can assure you that they’ll disappear once you see the benefits. Although I was able to stay on the mat for as long as I fancied from first use, my partner had to build himself with from five minutes at a time all the way up to as long as he fancies now - so if you struggle at first then definitely persevere, it’s so worth it. We’ll definitely be looking to get the next level soon.

One week in, I can't remember the last time I slept so much!

I have had my mat and pillow a little over a week and have used it every night except for one. Started using it with a thin running shirt, and have since moved to no shirt (the first few minutes are intense I play a Peloton meditation while using it to help me breathe through the intense).Prior to the mat, I had trouble falling asleep and would wake up most nights and it would take me an hour to fall back to sleep. I was lucky if I got a little over 7 hours of sleep with a few nights per week of 5 or 6 hours. Since using the mat, I fall asleep on the mat and roll off and go back to bed! There was one night where after using the mat I stayed up a bit longer, and had a touch of trouble falling asleep, but globally I fall asleep quicker and (maybe more important) I ... MoreI have had my mat and pillow a little over a week and have used it every night except for one. Started using it with a thin running shirt, and have since moved to no shirt (the first few minutes are intense I play a Peloton meditation while using it to help me breathe through the intense).Prior to the mat, I had trouble falling asleep and would wake up most nights and it would take me an hour to fall back to sleep. I was lucky if I got a little over 7 hours of sleep with a few nights per week of 5 or 6 hours. Since using the mat, I fall asleep on the mat and roll off and go back to bed! There was one night where after using the mat I stayed up a bit longer, and had a touch of trouble falling asleep, but globally I fall asleep quicker and (maybe more important) I sleep through the night. I track my sleep on my apple watch and in the week since getting the mat, my shortest night sleep was 7 hours and 15 minutes, and my longest was nearly TEN HOURS. I cannot remember the last time I slept that much! Additionally, prior to the mat I spent more time at night awake than I did in deep sleep and since the mat, that has reversed. I was skeptical and fully thought I'd return this but its a game changer.

Stop the clock!

I suffer from multiple health conditions, work very long hours and struggle with physical activity sometimes but worse of all, can't sleep.Purchasing the whole Shakti set has given me a whole new end to the day, start of another.I now end the day on a mat (level 3), head wrapped in its own spikey pressure headband, covered in weighted and heated wrap/eye pillow. Just the blanket to go!After just a few days, i found myself getting beyond that initial intense '****' from my resting weight on the spikes to a place where within 10 minutes my body gives way to restful and hard sleep. It is a choice though, as every other day I use the Shakti App to run through exercises taking up to about 45 mins. Again, rather than sleeping finding a really relaxing inner ... MoreI suffer from multiple health conditions, work very long hours and struggle with physical activity sometimes but worse of all, can't sleep.Purchasing the whole Shakti set has given me a whole new end to the day, start of another.I now end the day on a mat (level 3), head wrapped in its own spikey pressure headband, covered in weighted and heated wrap/eye pillow. Just the blanket to go!After just a few days, i found myself getting beyond that initial intense '****' from my resting weight on the spikes to a place where within 10 minutes my body gives way to restful and hard sleep. It is a choice though, as every other day I use the Shakti App to run through exercises taking up to about 45 mins. Again, rather than sleeping finding a really relaxing inner peace.As someone who doesn't settle well at night this new routine has immediately made a difference, it sets me up for night time. Rather than 3-4 times wakening during the night its now just the once.My sleep is deeper, the time on the mat a reset. A great and well needed routine. I have even picked up some Shakti rings (from elsewhere as were out of stock - now back again!) and that provides its own effect during the day.Thanks for the significant difference for me, do give it a try.

Surprisingly Soothing!

The stress I was holding in my body had increased so much this year that I was feeling aches all over and my sleep was terrible. My shoulders were rock hard with tension and my emotions were high. I tried a few massage devices and other remedies suggested by family and friends to help but nothing worked to relieve my body and mind.I stumbled upon an ad for the Shakti mat. I had never heard of such a thing and was intrigued but skeptical. With nothing to lose except a few dollars, I purchased the set of mat and pillow in black. The mat shipped to me quickly which was appreciated because I was keen to try it.I read some info and reviews before it arrived so I felt somewhat prepared for what to expect for my first experience.My order arrived and I loved how it was ... MoreThe stress I was holding in my body had increased so much this year that I was feeling aches all over and my sleep was terrible. My shoulders were rock hard with tension and my emotions were high. I tried a few massage devices and other remedies suggested by family and friends to help but nothing worked to relieve my body and mind.I stumbled upon an ad for the Shakti mat. I had never heard of such a thing and was intrigued but skeptical. With nothing to lose except a few dollars, I purchased the set of mat and pillow in black. The mat shipped to me quickly which was appreciated because I was keen to try it.I read some info and reviews before it arrived so I felt somewhat prepared for what to expect for my first experience.My order arrived and I loved how it was packaged and labeled with who had handmade my mat. I could clearly see the quality and care put into this handmade product and I think that alone made the mat worth every dollar. But then my experience using it over these past couple of weeks has made it worth SO much more to me.My first try I found to be exactly as described by others... a bit spikey and uncomfortable to begin with, that lead into a feeling of warmth or a sunburnt feeling which wasn't too uncomfortable but felt weird and then soon lead into a beautiful relaxed feeling that was euphoric for me after the level of tension I had been feeling for so long. I didn't want to get off! But I didn't want to overdo it at first and slowly I've increased my time on the mat over the last couple of weeks and have accidentally fallen asleep on it few times too! I found I soon got used to the initial spikey discomfort that starts each Shakti session and I hardly give it a thought anymore. After daily use for the recommended minimum of 20mins, my tension has melted out of my body and my sleep has noticeably improved. This has also brought with it an overall improvement in my mood throughout each day. I look forward to my Shakti time each evening because I can actually feel the benefits to my body.Over the first few days of using my Shakti and seeing my blissful benefits, I had my husband and, surprisingly, my kids all were asking for their turn to use my mat and pillow! I jumped on the Black Friday sale opportunity to grab two more for the family to use so I no longer have to share mine!!

Very happy customer!

This company has exceeded my expectations!I went all out and got the Advanced mat, pillow, and headband.I have ************ and Cervical (spine) Dystonia.Basically chronic **** more days of the week than not.Deep tissue massage and acupuncture help as I am getting treatment, but flare up again shortly after finishing.This has helped my body have some ****** daily so the time in between getting any treatments isn’t completely excruciating!I have been using the mat and pillow every day, more than once a day. I use it in the floor after stretching or exercise, to relax if I’m watching tv, or just as a little boost if I’m getting sore.I use it in my bed if I’m laying down, and for about the first hour of my sleep every night and it helps me position my body and ... MoreThis company has exceeded my expectations!I went all out and got the Advanced mat, pillow, and headband.I have ************ and Cervical (spine) Dystonia.Basically chronic **** more days of the week than not.Deep tissue massage and acupuncture help as I am getting treatment, but flare up again shortly after finishing.This has helped my body have some ****** daily so the time in between getting any treatments isn’t completely excruciating!I have been using the mat and pillow every day, more than once a day. I use it in the floor after stretching or exercise, to relax if I’m watching tv, or just as a little boost if I’m getting sore.I use it in my bed if I’m laying down, and for about the first hour of my sleep every night and it helps me position my body and relax it a bit as I’m falling asleep.I have been bringing it into my car and position it upright on the seat while I’m driving. It helps tremendously while sitting in traffic!I will be ordering another set for my car, so I don’t have to keep carrying them back and forth inside!Maybe they can make a design specifically for car seats soon?!?! :o)Or a Backpack of some sort with the straps and back pad lined so when hiking or outdoors I can carry my items and have the option of having ****** in that way!My only negative feeling about it is I have to wear very lightweight clothing or a tank and shorts while I’m using it so it is as close to my skin as it can get!I tried it with a hoodie on, and a little bit thicker clothing and I couldn’t feel much.I ordered the headband also, but wasn’t too fond of it. It didn’t really fit my head well, where I wanted the pressure points to be. The Velcro doesn’t do much adjusting size wise.But it was great quality and customer service was wonderful, friendly and quick with giving me a refund!Definitely 5 Stars and very happy!

Wow!

The Shakti mat definitely caught my attention because I'm a big believer in holistic medicine. I'm going through menopause and not feeling like myself - restless sleep, tension, achy joints - ugh! I got out the original mat, watched the starter videos on the website and decided to go big or go home - bare skin for the full 20 minutes. I have to admit, it was VERY uncomfortable the first 5 minutes. After that, the warmth started to spread across my shoulders and back. My yoga and meditation skills definitely helped me breathe through the discomfort and surrender to the process. At the end of 20 minutes, I felt more relaxed. I like to think it improved my circulation and my deep breathing helped me get more oxygen into my body. I ordered the neck pillow 2 days later ... MoreThe Shakti mat definitely caught my attention because I'm a big believer in holistic medicine. I'm going through menopause and not feeling like myself - restless sleep, tension, achy joints - ugh! I got out the original mat, watched the starter videos on the website and decided to go big or go home - bare skin for the full 20 minutes. I have to admit, it was VERY uncomfortable the first 5 minutes. After that, the warmth started to spread across my shoulders and back. My yoga and meditation skills definitely helped me breathe through the discomfort and surrender to the process. At the end of 20 minutes, I felt more relaxed. I like to think it improved my circulation and my deep breathing helped me get more oxygen into my body. I ordered the neck pillow 2 days later so I could release more of the tension I carry in my neck. It only took a couple of times for me to zen out and fall asleep by the end of those 20 minutes. I'm so glad I ordered my Shakti! Is it for everyone? Maybe not...but it definitely worked for me.