I’m a long-time sufferer of neck pain and terrible posture too (I can hear my friend Sach telling me to straighten up as I type this 🤦♀️)!
Stiff from my shoulders touching my ears all day. And tension from clenching my jaw for too long!
🙋♀️ Hello fellow tension holders, I see you!
And I was getting acupuncture for a while…which got a bit too expensive to carry on with to be honest.
And it was my needle guy who suggested I should try a Shakti mat instead.
While it might look a bit intimidating at first—it’s an acupressure mat with lots of tiny spikes pressure points—it’s become my daily ritual for the last few years.
I went for the medium intensity mat, which is level 2. Recommended for “the bold and brave” because this baby, has 6,000 points-per-spike!
Meaning…more initial discomfort too.
And because I’m an extreme gal, I also only ever lay on my mat bare-back (I can’t feel it through my t-shirt).
Now you might be wondering, “how do you use the shakti mat for neck pain?”
Well, I’ve got a wee hack that’s worked brilliantly for me. Plus, it’ll save you some money too—always a bonus!
(And if you stay with me until the end, you’ll learn how to take advantage of my Shakti mat discount code as well)!
Quick admin bit:
I’m a proud affiliate for Shakti (you can read my website T&C’s here) because I genuinely love their products. I’ve had mine for years and I only recommend what I use myself.
Also, this blog reflects my personal experience and so, it isn’t meant to replace any medical advice—your experience might differ from mine.
Right, with that out the way, let me share exactly how I use my acupressure mat for neck pain…
How to Use Your Shakti Mat For Neck Pain
You can use your mat at any time of the day. But I opt for night time, as a way to settle my mind and body before I go to bed. Plus, it’s also when me and my partner mostly binge some new Apple TV show!
So the laptop gets propped up with a trusty cushion between us in bed. And I lay down on my spikes whilst maximising my telly viewing time!
My money-saving setup hack
Now for that money saving tip I mentioned…
Shakti offer a pillow which is a great companion to your mat (you can buy both as a bundle here).
Or if you don’t have the funds to buy both, you can get creative and do what I do instead…
I grab my partner’s hoody (that’s usually chucked in a heap on the floor), and I roll it up into a neat, fat sausage!
You could also use a towel for this—I’m just too lazy to get one from the laundry cupboard!
Getting into position
The rolled up hoody sausage then goes underneath my mat, but on top of my bed pillow, like so:
I also position a pillow, further down the bed and inline with my knees, so I can rest my legs over it. That way you can keep your spine neutral and alleviate a bit of pressure from your lower back and hips. I sleep through the night with it too (minus the mat and hoody, obviously), because I’ve found this is the best position to support my neck.
I invested in one of these pillows too which has been life changing for me [pictured below my hoody; the solid, bluey/green looking pillow]. I’m not an affiliate for them, I just wanted to give them a shout out because their pillow has helped my neck pain tremendously! And I don’t go anywhere without it now (seriously, it’s come on many holidays with me)!
I then get into my pyjamas, from the waist down, because like I said earlier—bare-back is best! (Partner usually gets a look in too)! And then, I slowly lie back on to my mat, carefully adjusting my position to make sure I’m as comfortable as I can be.
The goal of the hoody (or towel), is for it to wedge between your head and shoulders. So the mat can really dig its way into your neck.
Does it hurt?
Yes, but the pain starts to subside after about 5 minutes of use. It also depends on how tense that text neck of yours is! Because the more tension it’s carrying, the greater the sensation you’ll feel.
Here’s what’s happening beneath your skin:
The initial sensation activates pressure points that may help trigger your body’s natural relaxation response, similar to how acupressure has been used traditionally.
Once the sharp, spiky pain eases off, you’ll melt into a deep and warming relaxation, as your circulation gets its boost! Hence your red and dimply skin afterwards too (not permanent, don’t worry)!
Breathe through the intensity
Like with cold water immersion, the trick is to focus on your breathing—not the spiky mat! So this is a good time to engage in some breath practice too. Concentrating on long and slow exhales helps signal to your nervous system that you’re safe. Even though those initial sensations might feel super intense for you.
When you breathe deeply and slowly, you’re activating your parasympathetic nervous system. Which is your “rest and digest” mode that helps your body release tension naturally.
I like to breathe in for a count of four, and then exhale for a count of six or eight (or as long as I can push it out for)! This longer exhale tells your body to shift from a stress response and lean into relaxation mode.
Notice how your body adapts just through the slowing down of your breath. What starts as “this is too much to bear!” Transforms into: “oh, this is actually quite soothing!” Once your nervous system settles, you’ll soften into it and enjoy the warm sensations.
The Shakti mat has other benefits too, like:
- A deeper, more restorative sleep (I sometimes have accidental naps on mine)!
- Relieve aches and pains
- Increased circulation
- Mental clarity
- Calm and focus
- An ongoing sense of wellbeing
How Shakti Helps Develop a Better Mind and Body Connection
Using a Shakti mat as part of your daily routine helps cultivate a better mind and body connection too. Because it forces you to slow down and actually tune into what’s happening in your body.
Most of us are completely disconnected from our physical sensations throughout the day. We hunch over laptops and phones (guilty 🙋♀️), clench our jaws during stressful moments, and scrunch our shoulders up to our ears—all without noticing.
And this lack of body awareness means we miss the early warning signs. We don’t notice when tension starts building, until it becomes that familiar ache or stiffness that’s too hard to ignore anymore.
When you’re lying on a Shakti mat, you can’t zone out or multitask. Those pressure points demand your attention. You become aware of exactly where you hold tension – maybe it’s more on your left side, or perhaps your legs stiffen when you’re trying to relax.
This awareness is powerful because you:
– start recognising tension patterns before they become painful
– notice what triggers your neck to tighten up during the day
– can catch yourself hunching and consciously adjust your posture
– develop a better sense of what relaxation actually feels like for your body
You’re basically developing an early warning system, that helps you pick up on your bodily cues, before they escalate and get worse.
How long should you lay on it?
Shakti recommends 20 minutes and that’s the minimum time I spend on mine. Sometimes I’ll just chill there, watching my stories, and I might get through a whole 40 minute episode without realising!
Make it a daily habit
Since I started using my Shakti mat for neck pain, I made sure I kept up with my night time ritual.
It’s the consistent habit that helps me manage my pain best. Because as soon as I feel tension building, I dedicate just 20 minutes for a couple of nights. And I notice my neck muscles loosen their grip, my shoulders drop from bracing all day, and I’m left feeling much more at ease.
Life’s about those little improvements you make every day. Like adding drops to a bucket—each drop might not seem like much, but all together, they fill it up.
The odd 20-minute session on your mat won’t do much if you do it once. But in the long term, if you keep it up consistently and regularly, it’ll amount to so much more.
I’ve been using my Shakti mat for years now and I won’t be stopping. And with their less than 1% return rate, it looks like others aren’t either!
Get your discount!
You don’t need to know the source of your neck pain. You just need options to relieve it and invite relaxation in. Because let’s be honest, a weekly neck massage isn’t feasible for everyone! Which is why I love the Shakti mat: it’s convenient, it doesn’t require an appointment, you can stay at home. And you’ve got unlimited usage of your mat—but for the price of one massage!
So if you’re interested in trying one out for yourself, you can buy yours here. This link gives you 10% off any Shakti product AND it also stacks with any other offers they’re running. So that means if they’re still running their 20% off promo with their code RELAX, you can combine it with my code ‘LAURA10’ for even more discount! (UK stores only but Shakti ships internationally).
P.S. if you decide to try it, start with level 1, gently ease yourself into it if you’ve never done something like this before. I also wouldn’t recommend doing it on your thighs straight away—it honestly felt like I had sunburn afterwards! But the back and sometimes feet (when I’m brave enough) feel bloody good after! Listen to your body and remember that you’re in control of the experience.