When I first discovered the Shakti mat, an acupressure mat designed to heighten the intensity of meditations whilst simultaneously reducing the severity of various ailments, I admit that I was a little dubious about it’s claims.

Mediation is a blissful experience requiring nothing more than a still mind. Why use a gadget like the Shakti mat? Can I really meditate on a bed of nails?

The simple answer is yes. This little acupressure mat is an extremely powerful meditative tool. I’m addicted to it now, especially at night to ensure I get a good nights sleep. A nagging ache in my hip that had me tossing and turning most nights has become a distant memory, thanks no doubt to the pain relieving properties of my nightly acupressure mat sessions.

The Shakti mat is covered with little lotus-flower shaped acupressure points providing over 6,000 ‘nails’ that stimulate the meridians, releasing energy and lulling you into a state of relaxation. Even busy, buzzy over-active minds will be stilled by a 20 minute session on one of these mats. Your mind has no choice but to slow down, there are higher energies at work here.

As you lie down onto the Shakti mat, the sensation can be a little odd. The secret is to lie straight down onto it and not to hesitate – it’s the hesitant touches of the spikes that feel uncomfortable. Once the acupressure mat is holding your weight evenly there is no discomfort, instead there is a quite unique sensation of warmth.

Within a minute of lying down fully on my Shakti mat,I felt a warm tingling sensation spread across my back. The longer I stayed there, the further the sensation spread. After ten minutes, I could even feel it in my fingertips. The warmth felt as though it were pulsating, moving around under my skin. It sounds strange but in fact it’s very comforting, to me it felt reassuring and I couldn’t help but relax more deeply.

This warmth is energy releasing as your meridians are stimulated by contact with the spikes of the acupressure mat, subtle energies within the meridians rebalancing as you rest.

With each breath, I felt myself melt deeper onto the Shakti mat. As I lay there supported by over 6,000 sharp little spikes, I found that I didn’t need to use any of my usual tricks to enter a meditative state. It just happened.

There was no need to consciously push my thoughts away, no systematic scan of the body to ensure that every little bit of me was relaxed. I simply focused on the warmth and naturally, instinctively, entered into my meditative zone with ease.

The feeling of calm that can be experienced whilst meditating on the Shakti mat is divine. The power of acupressure combined with the act of meditation makes for a truly heightened mediative state. As the subtle energies are stimulated, the mind stills further enabling you to reach a higher level of awareness whilst meditating.

If you’re looking to deepen your meditations then look no further than this little acupressure mat. The Shakti mat, as an aid to meditation, is an absolute gem.

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