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What I Tested…
WTHN Acupressure Mat Set ($88, Ulta)
Why I Tested…
How I Tested...
I used the full set or a portion of the set once a day for three weeks. I took notes on how my stress levels, jaw and neck pain, and muscle soreness were affected.
Test Results...
Pain relief. The pillow is a lot stiffer than the mat (which I loved), so I was able to feel more pressure. I lay my neck on it most nights for at least 10 to 15 minutes. 20 minutes is recommended but I had to build up my tolerance. Over the course of three weeks, I realized I didn’t wake up with a stiff neck as often as I used to. Some days, I lay on the flat mat at the same time as the pillow. Other days, I just did the pillow. I did not notice a significant difference on days I used both at the same time versus just the pillow, but I stand by the acupressure prowess of the pillow itself.
Muscular relaxation. I also used the mat and pillow set on my lower back and calf muscles as needed after training. After 20 minutes of pressure, I found that, while the pain wasn’t completely gone, I felt my targeted muscles relax significantly. As noted above, I didn’t feel that the mat alone gave me enough pressure for pain relief, but I did feel much more relaxed and settled — even if just emotionally.
Energy boost. I soon realized I really liked the mat for pressure points on my feet. I worked up my tolerance level to be able to stand on it for four to five minutes. I tried sitting at first with my feet planted firmly on the mat. While I was able to last 20 minutes in that position, I didn’t feel any good release. However, once I tried standing, I was able to work my way up from 30 seconds to five full minutes. After my sessions, I could feel a noticeable difference in my energy levels throughout the rest of the day.
Sidenotes...
Materials. The Acupressure Mat is made with coconut fiber and linen and holds 200 gentle stimulators (aka, the pokey things). The pillow is made with the same materials and filled with memory foam. You also get a linen carrying case for both the pillow and the mat for easy toting.
In-person sessions. WTHN has five locations in the New York and Brooklyn areas, where they offer acupuncture and body cupping services, aromatherapy, sound baths, and more.
The Fine Details...
WTHN Acupressure Mat Set ($88, Ulta)
At wthn.com, first-time customers can use WELCOME20 to get 20% off their first session at any of WTHN’s New York locations