I always have a lot of muscle tension in my neck and upper back. After laying on the pillow and mat for 20 minutes, it feels better and cheaper than a massage! The first time I used it, I couldn’t lay comfortably on the pillow for more than a couple of minutes; I had to keep shifting my head. But then, after that, the next time I used it, It took me a little while again to be able to lay on it. With consistent use, I don’t notice it anymore. I let my parents try it when they were visiting and they ended up buying one each!