I’ve seen this thing posted off and on for some years now, these “acupressure” (spiky) mats, they’re like little cushions with dozens of kind of sharp (but not too sharp and usually plastic) “spikes” clusters on them, and people lay on them or push them in to their skin.

It seems to create a painful sensation, like stepping on a LEGO toy, but surprisingly then creates a feeling of release when you adapt to it or remove yourself from the tension. It reminds me of the idea of cold showers that can feel kind of uncomfortable but then have supposed benefits, or how weightlifting destroys people’s muscles but then the muscles grow back stronger.

Here’s a 3d print design for these acupressure “rosettes”: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3619377

Anyone tried these or have any thought on them?

(edit: wanted to add that I find these to be an interesting possible religious kind of “mortification”, like flagellation was up to medieval times… I think that practice was abused so was discouraged and mostly abandoned)