It was only a few weeks ago that a client of mine was telling me how she spent her Saturday night trying out her friend's new acupressure mat. She said after 20 minutes, she rolled herself off the mat and took herself to bed. It was the best sleep she had ever had! Knowing I was having a bit of trouble sleeping, she recommended I try it.

Acupressure mats were inspired by the traditional Indian bed of nails, a method used for more than 1,000 years by gurus in the practice of meditation and healing. Thankfully we have evolved from a bed as such! White Lotus has taken the world by storm with its amazing Euromat. A convenient sized mat covered in more than 6,000 tiny plastic spikes that are made from food grade plastic, 100% cotton and the fabric dye is non-allergenic. When you lay on the spikes, they act as acupressure points, increasing blood flow to your skin, easing muscle tension and stimulating the release of endorphins.

In a country where almost half of us experience back problems at some stage in our lives, it's no wonder this award winning mat is helping many relieve their back pain. Recent studies have shown that when you use an acupressure mat for 15 minutes a day for 3 weeks, the mat will significantly reduce peak levels of pain.

The bonus is, it's very simple to use. Simply lie flat on the mat. Try and prevent yourself from moving too much, just relax as much as you can. At first you may feel a bit of discomfort. I didn't as I regularly get acupuncture, however for those new to this ancient eastern therapy, you may feel a bit hesitant when lying down at first.

Once lying flat, relax your muscles, try not to tense them as it will defeat the purpose! Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. After a few minutes, you will become relaxed and you won't even notice the spikes in your back.

The Euromat has many more benefits than just relieving back pain and sleepless nights, it can also help with:

1. Stress: as it relaxes the body and mind.

2. Neck pain: the acupressure mat can be rolled up and placed as a pillow under your neck, relieving pain around the neck area.

3. Headaches: by placing the mat behind your neck, it will promote the release of endorphins and increase blood circulation, ultimately reducing muscle tension which is a common cause of many headaches.

The Euromat is the perfect gift to improve someone's wellbeing and health this Christmas.

To find out more info or to order your mat, click here.