Who hasn't had those nights when you just can't get to sleep? You lie awake, trying everything - a book that should be boring, relaxing music that gets annoying after the third round, or the infamous hot milk with honey. But no matter how hard you try, you can't sleep and you start to think that the night just isn't meant for you.
If you feel the same way: Welcome to the club! Sleep problems are now so common that you could almost think that we humans have completely forgotten how to sleep. And when nothing else works, many people resort to the last resort: sleeping pills. Sure, they promise quick relief, but what is often overlooked is that they force the body into a kind of artificial rest, and that has as much to do with real relaxation as frozen pizza has to do with Michelin-starred cuisine.
A look to the East: What to do when counting sheep fails?
If traditional home remedies fail and chemical treatments are not a permanent solution, it is worth looking to East Asia. There, sleep disorders are seen less as an enemy that must be fought and more as a sign that the body is out of balance. The aim is to restore this balance - and this is where acupressure comes into play.
Particularly popular: the acupressure mat. Sounds harmless? Well, at first glance it looks more like an instrument of torture. Hundreds of small spikes are supposed to help release blockages in the so-called meridians - the body's energy channels. That sounds painful at first, but don't worry: the initial prick is usually quickly forgotten and then the magic begins.
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As soon as you lie down on the mat, your body starts working. Blood circulation is stimulated, muscles relax, and the stimulation of the acupressure points releases feel-good hormones. Yes, you read that right - your body thanks you with a dose of endorphins. Within 10 to 20 minutes, everything feels a little lighter, stress subsides, and you are finally ready to switch to sleep mode.
Of course, the first contact with the mat takes some getting used to. At first you might think to yourself: "Why am I even doing this?" But with a little patience you will notice that the unpleasant tingling turns into pleasant warmth and deep relaxation.
This is how the mat becomes part of your evening routine
To get the most out of the acupressure mat, you should use it about 20 to 30 minutes before going to bed. At first, you can lie on the mat with a shirt on if the spikes are too much for you. The important thing is that you stick with it - as with any good ritual.
Your new evening routine could look like this: wash your face, brush your teeth, put the mat in bed, lie down on it - done. Sounds simple, right? And the best thing is: you don't have to count sheep anymore. The mat does it for you by calming your body and mind.
Say goodbye to hot milk tricks and blanket rigidity. The acupressure mat is waiting for you - prickly, yes, but also incredibly effective. Who would have thought that a little prick here and there could be the key to restful nights?
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