Inimitable, outrageous, scandalous Japanese dancer Shakti makes her West End debut for 9 performances of her production, The Pillow Book at the Arts Theatre from 29th Aug to 7th Sep 02. The Mat isn't exactly a targeted approach, but provided you can use it safely (several medical conditions preclude you from using it, and it's off the cards if you're pregnant), Hooti believes it can work. "If you press on any point for long enough, it will have an effect. Anything that stimulates your nerve endings and makes you feel better can only be a good thing." Is a Shakti Mat painful? She added, "Maybe it's a placebo effect or the fact that being on the mat forced me to put my phone down for a while, and just lie still – a rarity these days – but either way, I can confirm that I felt better following my Shakti experience than I did before. That burning sensation could easily become quite addictive." Another plus point? The Shakti Mat can easily be rolled up afterwards and stored without taking up too much space. Is a Shakti Mat good for muscle tension?

A celebration of women's sexuality, Shakti ends up completely naked, her body a canvas for beautiful day-glo painted images, whipping herself into an almost-demonic, explosive finale of passion and fire. We noticed that when our muscles were more relaxed before bed, sleep quality was upped, and that added to our sense of wellbeing the next day. Using it also acted as a little punctuation to the afternoon at our desk almost as a cup of coffee would, giving us more energy with which to carry on the day. How do you use it? It is based on the works of 11th century Japanese poet Sei Shonagon, whose writings of love and liberation also inspired Peter Greenaway's film The Pillow Book, starring Euan McGregor. Written at a time when women were not supposed to express their feelings, sexual or otherwise, this is a passionate piece, made even more so by Shakti's highly-charged performance.The general idea behind a Shakti Mat (and its competitors) is that the multiple spikes attached to each mat are specially designed to target your muscles in the most relaxing way. Now, we realise that 'multiple spikes' and 'relaxing' don't exactly sound like they naturally work together in a sentence, but the pain isn't actually all that bad (we'll get into that properly in a minute...). Harvard Medical School reveals deep breathing disengages you from "distracting thoughts and sensations," and details how to practice breath focus perfectly. First, you must breathe in slowly through your nose, and allow your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Then, let the abdomen fully expand before breathing out slowly through your mouth or nose - whichever one feels more natural.

There's no harm in trying out more self-care methods - on top of the Shakti Mat if you're keen to try - to improve things like stress and anxiety. In fact, it's actively encouraged, we'd say. If you've still got a spare couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon and you're really craving that ultimate zen, there are numerous other techniques you can try - both with and without your new Shakti Mat...

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There are loads of them and of course, it’s a holistic treatment, but more specific benefits include anything from switching off to upping circulation to helping to clear the mind to trigger the mind-body connection. It can also help target niggling areas of tension and release tense areas in the fascia (the connective tissue lying beneath the skin that attaches and encloses muscles and internal organs). Others have recommended the mat as being beneficial for Restless Leg Syndrome and as a good way to soothe muscles after exercise or playing sports (one rugby player we chatted to while researching the mats couldn't stop singing its praises on that front). Is a Shakti Mat good for anxiety and stress?

While it's natural to produce some cortisol, the stresses of modern life can cause excess production," says Hooti. "The needles stimulate a nerve response that triggers the brain region that produces endorphins and serotonin, which are natural painkillers and help balance cortisol levels. This causes your anxiety levels to drop and your sleep to improve."

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Like our writer said, some deep breaths were required before she got used to the mat and began to feel its results. But certain breathing techniques are certified wellness tactics and are often used in other practices like meditation and yoga to relieve stress and help you relax. Once in place, you’re aiming for 20+ minutes of time on it. We found it’s a good idea to either take the Shakti Mat to bed to read while on it, or to lie on it when ruminating or watching TV. If you are standing on it, two–five minutes is enough – but more doesn’t do any harm, and we drifted off a few times when on it.