What you need to know

• Benefits
  • Tension-free muscles
  • Increased circulation
  • Mental clarity
  • Calm and focus
  • Deeper sleep
  • An ongoing sense of wellbeing
• How to use
  The most popular way to Shakti is in bed, before sleep. Lie down with the Mat under your back and shoulders, and use the Pillow as an extension that targets your neck for even more relaxation from your downtime.
  
  To make it easy you’ll receive access to the world’s only acupressure mat app with purchase, unlocking the ability to double your Shakti benefits in minutes.
  
  Pro tips
  
  Mat
  • Combining your Shakti Mat with yoga and meditation—either seated or through poses like sphinx and pigeon—incorporates acupressure into your recovery or wellbeing routine.
  
  Pillow
  • When you place it under your head, neck and shoulders, it disperses pressure avoiding any pinch points. Your shoulders and neck experience a deep release that transitions up toward the top of your skull.
  • Its shape is also perfect for releasing tension in hard-to-reach curves, and you can rest your face against the spikes for a subtle sensation.
• What to expect
  Will it hurt? Yes. But only for a little in the beginning.
  
  Each spike responds to tension in your body, so more tension = more sensation. The initial “Ouch!” you feel activates your body’s pain response and tells it to send happiness hormones and pain-relief chemicals to the area you’re targeting. If those spikes aren’t sharp enough—or you’re beyond relaxed already—you won’t feel much.
  
  After a few minutes, the tingling sensation fades into a deep, relaxing warmth. The redness is purely a circulation boost. You might even fall asleep.
• Which intensity to choose
  There are two things to consider when looking at intensities:
  
  1. Acupressure is personal
  2. Shakti spikes are much sharper than anything else out there.
  
  Like the firmness of a mattress or the pressure of a massage—acupressure is the opposite of ‘one size fits all’. If you go too far in the beginning you’re less likely to build a solid habit. It’s why we offer three intensities that all unlock the benefits of acupressure.
  
  Level 1
  Lying on spikes is weird, so we made sure this is the perfect place to start. Expect a balance of initial discomfort and deep release. Ideal for anyone new to acupressure.
  
  Level 2
  For the bold and brave. Fewer spikes = more discomfort, so commit to pushing through to unlock the deeper release on the other side if you are contemplating Level 2.
  
  Level 3
  Our deepest release isn’t the last stop on your journey—it’s only for the most experienced. Expect a serious sensation to start, with plenty of reward if you can handle it.
• Acupressure vs acupuncture
  Where acupuncture uses needles to pierce the skin, acupressure uses spikes to press against it. The key difference with a Shakti Mat is that you can activate multiple acupoints in as many seconds as it takes to lie on them, and you don’t need to book an appointment either.