Acupressure for mental health

World Mental Heath Day

Life is full of highs and lows. On one hand, hitting goals, expanding your knowledge, and making time for family and friends brightens your life. But on the other, when the pressure of keeping up gets overwhelming, it can lead to a decline in mental health.

Just like physical health, your top two inches need regular maintenance and care too. If you’re always on the go and you neglect emotional and psychological needs, your mental health and wellbeing can take a hit.

Lying on spikes might seem like the last thing that helps. But aside from the its physical benefits, doing things that we know are difficult (think cold plunge, exercise, or meeting tight deadlines) can be incredibly positive in the long run.

Acupressure has been known to improve mental health by relieving symptoms of mild and temporary stress, anxiety, and low moods. This article explains signs of poor and good mental health, how acupressure can help, and daily practices for mental well-being.

Please note: This article covers mental health with regard to the symptoms of mild and temporary anxiety, sadness, and stress. It also aims to reduce some of the stigmas around mental health. If long-term, moderate-severe mental health issues are a concern, it’s crucial to see a doctor, counselor, or other mental health professional for the support you need.

What does mental health mean?

Broadly speaking, mental health refers to your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Physical health focuses on how your body functions through nutrition, exercise, and sleep, while mental wellness is how you think, feel, and act.

When things get out of balance, symptoms can arise, and conditions can form. There are many different types of mental health disorders, but common mental conditions include depression and anxiety. It’s essential to consult a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms. However, mental health also refers to stress levels and temporary feelings of sadness, worry, or any other challenging emotions.

There is some overlap between mental and physical health as they impact one another. Nurturing both can come from the same activity (getting exercise, for example). However, nurturing mental health solely differs from looking after yourself physically.

5 signs of good mental heath

The list below indicates overall good mental health. However, it’s essential to remember that healthy mental wellness doesn’t mean zero stress or challenging emotions. Lying on a Shakti Mat is all about taking on the challenge for the reward, remember? With that in mind, here are the general signs of positive mental health:

High-quality sleep:Falling asleep within 10-20 minutes, rarely waking up, and feeling refreshed in the morning indicates good mental health.

Overall feelings of contentment, happiness, and peace: It’s unrealistic to be happy 100% of the time, and emotions like anger and sadness are normal even with good mental health. However, general feelings of contentment and satisfaction show you have a healthy mental well-being.

Stress resilience: A sign of positive mental health is bouncing back from setbacks and challenges and managing stressful situations without feeling overwhelmed.

Focus and concentration: When your mental health is good, you can focus on tasks without getting distracted.

Positive self-talk: A sign of good mental well-being is believing in your abilities, showing yourself compassion, and wanting to be a better person for yourself and others.

5 signs of poor mental health

Mental health is a spectrum, and you can feel generally in control and positive while still experiencing an occasional dip in mental wellness. At times like this, it’s important to implement techniques to improve your mental health (find more on daily mental health practices later in the article). However, if you are regularly and consistently experiencing the following symptoms, please seek medical attention from a doctor.

Struggling to sleep: You might find it hard to drift off or wake up at 3 a.m. with your mind buzzing. You may also wake up too early before you’re fully rested.

Feeling low, anxious, or irritable: You feel down, sad, worried, angry, or irritable. These emotions can also manifest physically—for example, a racing heart.

You’re overwhelmed: Everything feels like too much, and you wish the world would pause for a moment so you could rest and catch up. Decision fatigue becomes a real strain and daily chores are tiring.

Brain fog: Concentrating and completing a task feels like dragging yourself through mud. You’re distracted, can’t remember specific things, or read the same sentence repeatedly.

Negative self-talk: Your internal dialogue mainly consists of ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’m not good enough’. You struggle with your self-esteem, including your capabilities and overall confidence.

Please note: Although occasional negative self-talk and lack of confidence are normal, persistent dialogue such as, ‘I’m a failure’ or ‘I’m worthless’ may be signs of depression. If you are experiencing this internal dialogue and/or thoughts of suicide, please seek a doctor immediately.

How can acupressure help mental health?

Acupressure is an ancient practice that uses sharp spikes to stimulate pressure points on the body. Unlike acupuncture, which uses needles to puncture the skin, acupressure targets multiple pressure points with thousands of small spikes.

Acupressure has ancient roots in India and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). By stimulating tiny points with targeted pressure, you can promote a healthy flow of qi or prana, which is essentially your life force.

When your life force is stagnant, it can impact your physical and mental well-being. But lying on a bed of spikes (as weird as it sounds) stimulates your energy flow, helping to clear blockages.

In fact, yogis would use their practice as a way to facilitate relaxation through deep contemplation. The process of leaning into discomfort brought them into the present in an instant, but it also let them go deep inside themselves to release tension, clear blockages, and ultimately restore their wellness.

The result is harmonious positive and negative energy that balances the body and mind. So, how does acupressure work for mental health?

Targets acupressure points to relieve mild and temporary anxiety

The therapeutic potential of acupressure mats includes relieving symptoms of mild and temporary anxiety. There are many causes of anxiety, ranging from stress in your home life to worrying about an upcoming meeting.

TCM shows a connection between anxiety and the heart because the heart houses your spirit and mind. The vital organ is also responsible for joy, which is imbalanced by understimulation (depression/low mood) or overstimulation (anxiety/worry).

Physical symptoms of an overly stimulated heart can manifest as heart palpitations and trouble sleeping. Mentally, you could feel restless, nervous, and prone to overthinking.

Acupressure may help restore the imbalance by stimulating pressure points to clear the heart pathway and relieve mild and temporary anxiety symptoms.

Acupressure points for anxiety:

Hall of Impression Point (EX-HN3): Also known as your third eye or ajna chakra, this pressure point is between your eyebrows. We recommend wrapping our Acupressure Headband across your forehead and adjusting the band until the spikes knead the pressure point for temporary anxiety relief.

Shoulder Well Point (GB 21):The Shoulder Well acupressure points are located on the back of both shoulders near the base of your neck. Target them by lying on the Shakti Acupressure Mat or nestling our Acupressure Pillow between your shoulder blades. Melt your muscles into the spikes for just 20 minutes to unlock deep release.

Great Surge Point (LV3): Each foot has a pressure point in the muscles between the big toe and the second toe. The point is about two to three finger widths below the base of the big and second toes, in the depression between the bones. Kneel on your Acupressure Mat or Pillow with bare feet. Then, sit back on your heels to press down into the spikes to stimulate the pressure point.

Activate your rest and digest response to induce feelings of calm and contentment

The parasympathetic nervous system triggers the rest and digest response. It activates when you feel safe to lower your heart rate and calm the body.

Acupressure can stimulate your rest and digest response in as little as 20 minutes. The sharp points push into multiple acupressure points, boosting blood circulation and spreading a relaxing warmth.

In TCM, the prickly feeling from acupressure is your life energy (qi) flowing through the body’s channels to your parasympathetic nervous system. The soothing feelings that follow signify a healthy energy flow as you release blocked energy into the serenity of spikes.

In modern-day science, this may be considered as enhanced blood flow, lowering the stress hormone cortisol. As stress levels drop, your body releases dopamine, which induces tranquil feelings of peace and contentment.

Stimulate your liver to reduce sadness and a low mood

In TCM, a low mood or depression is caused by stagnant energy, particularly in the liver. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body and circulating blood flow, so a disrupted liver affects the entire digestive system. You may experience feelings of lethargy, anger, resentment, and a low mood, including depression.

Acupressure can be used as a complementary therapy to modern medicine to help stimulate the liver and release blockages.

A 2014 study paired acupressure with hemodialysis treatment (a machine that cleanses the liver). Researchers discovered that hemodialysis treatment alongside 15 minutes of acupressure lowered symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. A more recent 2022 study found acupressure significantly reduced depressive symptoms in participants with mild-to-moderate depression.

Please note:Although acupressure can be combined with modern medicine, it’s not a replacement. If a low mood persists for more than 2 weeks, seek professional support.

Relieves muscle tension to lower stress

Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, commonly called the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. It’s when the body switches to high alert because it thinks it’s in danger. Your muscles then reflexively contract to defend the body against pain or injury.

A long time ago, danger meant fighting or running from predators. While this is still true, modern-day stressors—for example, tight deadlines or overwhelming workloads—also trigger the response. Your brain may think, ‘If I don’t finish this task in time, I might lose my job,’ which threatens your safety.

Although the worst-case scenario isn’t necessarily true, your body doesn’t know the difference between a lion chasing you and the pressure of running a business. In short, the physical response is the same.

However, unlike when you escape a lion and breathe a sigh of relief, the household chores or incoming emails don’t stop. So, your muscles continue to tense, leading to aches and pains.

You can combat daily stressors by stimulating your parasympathetic system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation. The precision-engineered spikes on Shakti Acupressure Mats help activate your relaxation response. The sharpness kneads knotted muscles to melt away tension, encourage circulation, and promote internal relaxation.

How to look after your mental health every day

A one-off day caring for your mental health can help temporarily, but it isn’t effective in the long run. It’s important to consistently look after your mental health with time-friendly practices that reduce stress and increase relaxation.

Practice acupressure when you can

One key to achieving the mental health benefits from acupressure is a consistent practice. It's not the end of the world if you miss a day, but 20 minutes is all it takes.

Roll out your acupressure mat first thing in the morning, before bed, or during your afternoon slump. Some days it may feel more like torture than treat, that initial discomfort will melt into deep release, easing stress and boosting your mood.

Establish a blissful bedtime routine

Relaxing before bed helps your mind switch off and promotes a peaceful sleep. Avoid the blue light of screens an hour before bed to avoid disrupting melatonin (your natural sleep hormone). It's also worth steering clear of stimulating activities. In-depth discussions with your partner and true-crime podcasts might not be the greatest ways to turn your mind down.

Instead, try something more restorative. Have a gentle stretch, drink some peppermint or chamomile tea, and have a go with meditating. Acupressure is also an excellent calming activity to de-stress your body and mind before bed. Unroll your acupressure mat on the floor for an intense muscle massage or on your bed for a softer practice.

How to use an acupressure mat before bed: If you have an acupressure pillow, place it at the head of the mat and lie back onto the spikes with bare skin. Deepen your breath, allowing the spikes to nestle into the curves of your body for 20 minutes (longer if you want). The Shakti Shala meditation app will guide you through each acupressure session, helping you let go and unlock deep release.

Try gentle yoga

Yoga pairs beautifully with acupressure to rebalance your nervous system and enhance mental health. While invigorating yoga taps into the Fire element to energize, gentle yoga invites in the Earth and Air elements for restoration—ideal for soothing the body and mind.

You can practice soft yoga poses on our acupressure mat using Shakti Shala to guide you. Engage in energetic yoga practices to encourage alertness and focus or grounding practices to slow down the busy pace of life.

Relax with meditation

Mental health is regularly connected to thoughts. If you constantly worry about your to-do list, your mind is in the future. If you’re thinking about events that have already happened, you’re living in the past. These ways of thinking can manifest as worry, fear, anger, or sadness.

Meditation is the practice of staying present with the here and now to reduce stress and improve your mood. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t about ‘not thinking.’ Meditation focuses on being aware of your thoughts and feelings. When they arise, you can acknowledge them and use your breath or the sensation of acupressure points to return to the present.

How to use an acupressure mat for meditation:You can meditate sitting or lying on the Shakti Acupressure Mat. The sharp spikes help you focus to reduce a wandering mind. You get the bonus benefits of intense release as the points nestle into deep tissue and muscles. The Shakti Shala app is a helpful tool to guide you through a series of meditation acupressure sessions.

Alternatively, try meditating on our Yoga Mat, which is ideal if you prefer a softer practice that concentrates on the breath. Sit on the yoga mat in a comfortable position, rest your palms on your knees, and breathe in and out.

Both acupressure meditation and traditional meditation have benefits; the important thing is to choose the one that’s right for you.

Learn stress reduction techniques

Avoiding stress is impossible, so implementing techniques to lower stress levels is essential for good mental health.

Spend time outside: Nature can make melting daily tension and reconnecting easy sometimes. Put your phone away. Go for a walk, and clear your head with the help of some fresh air (it works).

Socialize: It’s easy to isolate yourself when you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Although it’s important not to overexert yourself by attending every event, spending quality time with your family and friends is also vital. Catch up with a coffee, take a day trip somewhere peaceful, or invite friends over to dinner.

Yoga, meditation, and acupressure: We’ve already mentioned these three practices to improve mental health, and for good reason. They’re like cousins from the same family of ancient practices, and combining them creates a powerful mind-body connection to relieve stress.

Make space for things you enjoy

Whether you’re a workaholic, a busy parent, or both, it’s crucial to take a step back and make space for yourself. Putting others first is an admirable trait, but if you don’t take time out, you can become drained and irritable. If you struggle to take breaks, consider how caring for yourself will positively impact those around you.

Try exercise that makes you feel good: Whether it’s hitting the gym, a sweaty Pilates class, or gentle yoga, exercise is an incredible way to boost your endorphins. Rather than exercising because you think you ‘should,’ choose something you genuinely enjoy.

Relax on your acupressure mat: 20 minutes on the acupressure mat is all it takes to unwind and lessen stress. Use our soothing Shakti Shala meditation app to guide you through the sessions, listen to your favorite audiobook, or relish in peace and quiet.

Pick up your hobbies: What do you like doing outside work and family time? It could be surfing on a sunny weekend, tending to the garden, or learning a new language. Make time to do things that feel good and nourish your mental health.

Boost your mental health and retreat into serenity with Shakti

The business of life can make mental well-being seem like a chore instead of a treat. That’s why we’ve worked hard to craft sharp, precision-engineered spikes that surpass other acupressure mats on the market and work their magic in as little as 20 minutes.

Surrender to the spikes and let the skin-tingling warmth disperse tension and lift your mood. You can also combine acupressure with other practices, like yoga and meditation for peaceful rejuvenation. Make caring for your mental health the new normal with Shakti.

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