The DoSensePro pad comes with a mat that’s 29 inches in length and a semicircular neck pillow, which together have hundreds of rubber-like plastic “spikes” that target acupressure points. As you lay on them, the points gently press into the muscles to draw blood flow to tense areas and release knots and tension, and I must admit—when you first try it, it can feel slightly intense. But once the blood starts flowing to your muscles, they begin to relax, and then that feeling of relief comes rushing in. To buy: $41 with coupon (was $50); amazon.com. I always feel calm and relaxed after spending anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes on the mat. I love to use it before bed because it helps me wind down after a busy day, especially whenever I have a knot. You can also use it intermittently throughout the day—sometimes, if I’m teaching yoga or coming back from hiking the Lanikai Pillbox on O’ahu, I like to stand on the pad for five to 10 minutes to bring a little relief to my taxed feet. And since picking up this genius acupressure pad two years ago, I’ve noticed results that go beyond instantaneous shoulder and neck pain relief: Using it consistently has reduced the number of stiff neck occurrences and pinched nerves in my back, all while helping me find peaceful sleep again. Another person wrote that, like for me, the mat helps them unwind. “I was surprised at how relaxed I felt when I laid on it. I fell asleep once for about 20 minutes,” they said. If you suffer from chronic pain or a tense back—or are simply looking for a way to wind down and get better sleep at night—give this at-home acupressure pad a try. To buy: $42; amazon.com. To buy: $45 with coupon (was $54); amazon.com.
