This acupressure mat solves (almost) all of my back problems
Despite its spikes, Wthn’s mat is actually incredibly comfortable — and as someone who was afraid to try acupuncture, it’s a great place to start.
Wthn’s Acupressure Mat Set ($78) comes with a rectangular mat (16 inches by 9 inches by 9 inches) and a bolster pillow. Both are covered with spiky plastic discs, which activate pressure points across your body when you evenly distribute your weight across them. Using the mat helps alleviate back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as improve circulation and promote mental and physical relaxation, leading to better sleep and less stress, according to the brand.
The mat and pillow are made from a linen and coconut fiber material, and the pillow is filled with memory foam so it’s soft and supportive. A how-to guide and drawstring storage/carrying bag are included with the set — you roll up the mat with the pillow inside it, wrap two elastic bands around the bundle and stuff it into the bag. You can pay for Wthn’s Acupressure Mat Set with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), if you have one.
Wthn recommends using its acupressure mat daily for about 20 to 30 minutes for the best results. I typically follow that routine, or up the duration if I’m really tight and tense. I unroll the mat and place it on my apartment’s wood floors — the brand recommends using it on a flat, solid surface like the floor, rather than a soft surface with some give, like a couch or mattress. Then, I sit near the edge of the mat with my legs out in front of me and slowly lay back. I put the pillow under my neck to support my head and at 5 feet 4 inches tall, and the mat covers my entire back from my shoulders to my hips. When using, I typically set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes, and listen to music, watch TV or do a guided meditation on my phone while laying on the mat.
I’ve tried standing the acupressure mat up against the back of a sturdy chair and leaning into it while using my computer, but I don’t find this nearly as comfortable or beneficial as lying on top of the mat horizontally.
Jello is the best way to describe how I feel after an in-person acupuncture session. My whole body relaxes, which makes me looser and more flexible, and my mind feels quieter, making me calmer. I get a very similar sensation after using my acupressure mat at home.
Within minutes of laying on the mat, my body settles into it as I find a comfortable position and release tension I was unconsciously holding onto throughout the day. Its spikes are gentle enough that they don’t puncture my skin or feel painful, yet effective enough that they apply pressure in all the right places. Other acupressure mats I’ve tried had sharper, more aggressive spikes, which made using them much less enjoyable. And while Wthn’s mat only covers my back, laying flat on the ground causes me to let go of tightness in my limbs, so I feel its effects across my whole body.
It also forces me to lie still for 20 to 30 minutes. I’m a chronic multitasker — if I can do two or more things at once, I try to, which makes me very bad at truly relaxing. But when I use my acupressure mat, I can’t move around or attempt to check something off my to-do list. It’s introduced a much-needed moment of mindfulness to my busy days and helps me carve out time to shut off my brain.
I undoubtedly have tech neck from hunching over my phone while scrolling. And while I have no intention of stopping that bad habit, using the pillow included with my acupressure mat helps counteract some of the stress I repeatedly put on my muscles and joints while craning my neck toward a screen.
The pillow fits perfectly under my neck in the space between my head and shoulders. It helps me align my upper body so my spine stays straight rather than curved while using the mat, keeping my body level with the ground as I’m lying down. The neck pillow’s firm, which prevents me from sinking into it, and its spikes press into the base of my neck up through the bottom of my head. It acts as a true extension of the acupressure mat, even when I use it by itself — sometimes I put it under my neck while lying on the couch for extra support.
All acupressure mats look relatively similar, though they’re made with different materials in various colors and sizes. That said, acupressure mats range in price from under $20 to over $100. I definitely could have gotten one that’s less pricey — for comparison, Wthn’s is $78 and a highly rated model on Amazon from ProsourceFit is $29.99. But I was drawn to the overall organic look of the mat’s linen material, and since I leave it out in my living room all the time, I’m grateful I opted for one that isn’t a complete eyesore.
It feels like a wellness treatment you’d see in a spa rather than something you might find in a physical therapist’s office. I always recommend it as a gift because it’s so practical and looks well-made. I’ve now had it for about a year and it’s in perfect condition, despite daily use.
I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from adding an acupressure mat, like Wthn’s, to their daily self-care routine. It relaxes the body and mind, which everyone could likely use a little more of, and is a low-effort way to reduce muscle tension. There’s no special technique to learn or directions to follow — all you have to do is lie on the mat for 20 to 30 minutes. Even during my most hectic days when I can’t get a full half hour in, I look forward to the time I carve out to use my acupressure mat and recenter myself.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select, where I’ve covered wellness and fitness since 2020, including topics like posture correctors, Pilates equipment, exercise mats and running sneakers. I frequently test products and share my personal experience using them in my everyday life, like Wthn’s Acupressure Mat Set, which I’ve owned for about a year.
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