December is in full swing and my diary is filling up. With that comes the stress of shopping, working, having the right clothes to wear to holiday parties, trying to schedule in time for the gym, and eating good food to balance out the party fizz. Unfortunately, it doesn’t leave much time for relaxing.
When HoMedics reached out out to me about their new home Stretch mat, I was intrigued. My back is often “locked” (limited mobility, not a muscle spasm) when I see my physio at Function360 (probably from working at a desk and being a runner). He says I need to stretch out more. Because I teach spinning, have started lifting again, and run, that leaves little time for stretching or yoga. The busy holiday season means I have even less time to book a massage (even with Urban who come to your home. Get current offer using my referral code RMOLLI1A). The mat seemed like it was just what I needed to release and decompress without being too technical (technology and I don’t always get along) or taking up a lot of time.
It was so easy to set up. The hardest part was clearing a spot on my floor (we have too many dog beds and shoes). I simply pulled the mat out of the box, plugged it in and turned it on. There are four different settings: flow, stretch, twist and energize. The mat inflates itself during each program which last 7-10 minutes. All you need to do is close your eyes and lay there. There are three levels of intensity that allow people with injuries or pre-existing conditions to modify the stretch to a level that is comfortable to them. Most of the stretches are back extensions which are perfect for those who work at a desk all day or bend over at a counter or cash register. Personally, I would have liked the option for flexion too but understand that this would difficult to achieve laying supine on the ground.
The mat comes with a small pillow you can Velcro on to keep in place. It folds in half and Velcros shut for storage too. It would easily fit under a bed or in the back of the wardrobe when not in use. There is also a handle if you would like to carry the mat with you to and from the car when going on holiday.
I don’t think this mat will cure any long term back pains or conditions, but I do think it will help with relaxation while supplying a gentle massage and some guided mobilizing. In today’s crazy world, we never sit still and just be. This mat will allow you to do that when you have a few minutes at home. This month especially, please make a point to set aside time to relax. You just need 10-15 minutes with the mat and either silence or chilled out music. Leave the phone and any other distractions (pets, children, partners) in the other room. Focus on your breathing and reset your mental state.
I tried to make an unboxing video of myself setting up and using the mat. This one has a bit more info however:
The Stretch mat was provided to me to review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own. The affiliate link costs you, the buyer nothing additional but contributes to the running of this site.
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