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10. Sensory Walking Mats

Sensory Walking Mats provide a walking foot massage through their various textures and terrains. They massage your feet, supporting your sensory processing, integration and awareness of your body. Walking on these mats relaxes you, calms down your nervous system, supports emotional processing and whole body regulation. 

If you frequently go barefoot inside and outside, or walk around in socks, then this practice may be a reminder of the importance of walking barefoot and embracing all the bumps, lumps, textures and senses your feet experience. 

If you are new to being barefoot, then using these mats are a great way to reintroduce your feet to the ground. Remember to incrementally experience walking on these mats, try with socks on first or place a towel over the mat to soften the sensation. 

 

Browse the following 5 Sensory Walking Mats or optionally use your testing technique to determine what mat is best for you right now. 

 

  1. This mat is made of dense foam. It is recommended if you are new to barefoot bumpy experiences. 
  2. This mat is more firm and is said to be better at stimulating the acupressure points in the feet. This is an easy mat to place in the bathroom when getting ready and can be combined with more to make a longer walking mat or area mat. 
  3. This mat has different textures and can be used in a variety of ways. 
  4. Plastic firm standing mat. Consider placing a towel over the mat when initially using it to ease your experience.
  5. Plastic firm walking mat. Consider placing a towel over the mat when initially using it to ease your experience.

 

Instructions

Use the mat of your choice 1-3x/day for at least 3 minutes or more as desired. *Unless otherwise directed

  • Optionally, use your testing technique to determine what mat is best and your optimal frequency and duration to perform.
  • Bring your awareness to being barefoot and the felt sense through your feet.
  • If you have trouble tolerating it, try with socks on or place a towel over the mat to soften the sensation. 

 

Bonus Journal Prompt:

Reflect on:

  1. How it feels on the different parts and sides of your feet
  2. Where your feet contact the ground
  3. The nature of the texture or sensation are you experiencing
  4. The difference between your right and the left feet
  5. Where there tender spots in your feet which may reflect where you might subconsciously avoid touching the ground

 

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