What I’m using after days of too much sitting — Perhaps five years ago, I injured my shoulder and lat in handstand training. This needle pad was recommended to me by Cirque du Soleil performer and freak of nature Andrii Bondarenko (here’s one example of his astonishing skill and strength) as one means to speed recovery. In the Ukraine, he used this type of mat daily after strenuous acrobatics practice, particularly for back pain. I’ve found 6–10 minutes per session, 1–2 times per day, to have a near-miraculous effect on mid-back issues (and thoracic mobility, oddly). It could be placebo, of course, but after five years of use, I’ve found it consistently helpful. Most recently, I’ve been using it after too much sitting and before exercise. Important caveat: start slow, my eager little friends. The “thorns” are sharp. There are also many different brands available, as this has become a commodity product.