I just purchased a new prop, and I love it!

My husband is a maximalist during Savasana; he likes a bolster under his knees and a pillow under his head. I’m not quite so high maintenance, but one thing I never compromise on is something to block the light from the room while I relax and perhaps meditate. In the past, I’ve simply draped a workout towel over my eyes, but no more. A spur-of-the-moment purchase on the Paper Source website resulted in a weighted eye mask being delivered to my doorstep, and so far I’ve found it to be a wonderful addition to my practice.

The concept behind weighted props? They provide gentle pressure on various parts of the body. The weight is said to prompt the production of serotonin and trigger the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Various Internet articles have connected weighted blankets to the production of oxytocin; scientist Temple Grandin has investigated their use for neuro-atypical people suffering from anxiety. Sandbags, pillows, extra weight on the feet and hands — there’s a great deal of hype out there about the relationship between weighted props, wellness, and general health.

In the March/April issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, a group of researchers published what’s called a “review of the literature.” In other words, these scientists went through a great number of articles, searching for the current state of knowledge regarding the supposed efficacy of weighted blankets. They found eight studies, which isn’t a great number; modern science requires that the results of studies be replicable in terms of repeated studies and various groups of people. While there isn’t enough information to connect weighted blankets to a decrease in insomnia, there is some suggestion that these items can indeed help to reduce anxiety. Of course, more studies are needed for this correlation to become scientific fact.

On a personal note, I’ve found the pressure of a pillow on my torso to be very relaxing if I’m too keyed up to sleep (although, to be honest, I haven’t tried this when fighting actual insomnia.) Pre-COVID, there were eye pillows available at my yoga studio, but I didn’t like putting a borrowed prop so close to my eyes. Now that I have one of my own, I’m starting to enjoy the benefits.

The mask feels good against my eyes, and I like that I can move the beads inside it to various places, such as my brows or the sinus cavities underneath my eyes. The stripes are visually pleasing, and for under twenty dollars I feel that I’m getting a great deal of joy out of the purchase. Of course, there are many places that sell eye masks and pillows at various price points, and by all means check around to find one that works well for you. I may graduate to a full-on blanket at some point, but for right now the eye pillow’s just enough to make a difference.

Disclaimer: I am not related to any of the sources cited here. I purchased my eye pillow with my own funds.