Andrew: Meditation Coach Finding Daily Relief and Building Healthy Habits

Can you tell us about yourself?

Well, I'm Andrew Johnson. I'm a therapist and meditation coach. I've been in business 25 years. And for the last, I think three weeks, I've had this beauty in the house with me, using it on a daily basis and really enjoying it.

What was your first experience like?

I have to say that the first time you use it, it feels really unusual. I love how the end of it raises to have your legs up and over, which straightens out the back. The feeling of it is strange, but only for about the first five minutes. And I have to tell you, I have fallen asleep on it, even during an intense routine.

What back issues were you experiencing?

The downside for me personally at the moment is that I'm doing a lot of sitting. I'm sitting very still. I'm aware of my surroundings, etc., etc., so I'm aware that when I stand up after a 30 minute meditation, I've got stiffness in my back even though I've been meditating. So this has come at the perfect time for me.

When did you start noticing the benefits?

The first time you use it is great and the second time you use it is great, and then you start to notice the benefits. So I guess it takes about a week for you to really notice that you're feeling a bit looser. You're feeling a bit better. What I've found is that the BackHug gets quicker and quicker to help. And it's sort of adding to itself on a daily basis.

How long does it take to build the habit?

It takes about three weeks to create a habit, whether that's a bad habit or a good habit. The BackHug helps hugely over a period of time. However, if you also don't take action as to how you're sitting and how you're holding yourself when you're working or on smartphones or tablets or laptops or whatever, then the problem will continue to remain.

You need to keep going for long enough that you miss it if you don't do it. And I think this is one of the beauties of having the BackHug for, you know, 2 or 3 weeks. There comes a point after, I think personally, after maybe ten days that I didn't use it. And I got up the next morning and I thought, actually, I should have used that yesterday. I feel different in a slightly more negative way, just my back and the flexibility of my back.

What changes did you notice over time?

But the funny thing is, after ten days, you think, I'm putting on my shoes a bit easier or I'm bending to pick up things a bit easier and you start to notice that. And it's these little things—the regularity over a period of time—these are the things that people pick up on, the natural things that are happening easier, maybe even helping with sleep.

How does BackHug complement your work as a meditation coach?

You see, the thing is, that there are so many links between how we think and how we feel physically. Everything from shoulder tightness, back tightness and stomach irritability, skin conditions, headaches, and so on and so forth. So the mind affects the body. The body affects the mind. But when you learn to relax physically and emotionally and energetically and mentally, you're ticking all the boxes.

If you can be on the BackHug and also go through a relaxation procedure for the mind, then tick, tick. In addition to the physical benefits of having the massage fingers work these different points—after the first initial surprise of that happening—it is intensely relaxing.