I had to do something to deal with my ongoing chronic back pain. Travel was becoming so difficult I was canceling trips, I could no longer do yard work I enjoyed and – frankly – the boundaries around me started to get bigger and bigger.

I knew I had relief from lying on the floor and putting my legs up on a couch for a minute, but it bothered my back in other ways. I had tried an old style Slant Board but internet searches showed that no one was making them anymore.

Hey, I will make one myself, I thought!

It seemed so easy and obvious when we started the Gravity Pal project in 2014. We would hire a craftsman and tell him what we wanted and, spending very little money (we thought), would have one in no time.

After a couple of years, over 50 prototypes and dozens of refinements and false starts we finally figured it out.

But we still often hear from skeptics: “Oh, that’s so simple, I could make one of those in my garage in a weekend.”

When I first started hearing that my reaction had been to smugly say, “Sure, knock yourself out and go ahead and try.”

Frankly, I was – and still am – very skeptical anyone would be able to figure out the MULTIPLE “secret sauces” that make a Gravity Pal special and unique.

And then this thought, “OK, I’ll at least put them in the right direction.”

And, with that, here is how I would suggest you do it.

First, deeply study human physiology, biomechanics and ergonomics and how our Central Nervous System functions. And then – especially – how our human physiology remodels itself based on its plasticity and how it reacts to different forces, with Gravity in particular.

Second, you would need to purchase the following items (while accepting you will go through a lengthy and expensive Trial & Error process):

• 2 ½ yards of vinyl upholstery. Keep in mind that out of dozens and dozens of options you must find the right thickness and slip-resistant surface or you will slide off of it – or it will bunch up on you.
• Foam thick enough to your liking – Note: there are many kinds and thicknesses to choose from. Some are very hard and some so soft you won’t feel them at all.
• Pick a plywood as a base. How thick you use will determine how heavy and strong it is. Some are super heavy and some are so cheaply made that the out-gassing will give you headaches. Oh, and know that some of them, like Baltic Birch, are beautiful and superb but super expensive.
• Bracing wood so that the span of plywood does not bend in the middle and create a hammock effect when you lay on it. This is critical; otherwise you create BAD pressure points along the spine and neck that will become overloaded with pressure. This will create the opposite effect you want and add more stress to your spine.
• Supporting Legs so you can elevate – and keep stable – the finished board to a desired angle. You will want to experiment most with the leg height and angle because that is where the “body meets the slant” so to speak. Small increments testing takes time but is worth it. We adjusted heights in 1/4″ to 1/2″ increments starting with “too high” to “too low” in order to find our “Sweet Spot.”
• You will need to obtain: upholstering equipment, MANY specialty tools and Unique parts, like hard to find Amish Draw Latches (hard to find because the Amish don’t have internet sites and you have A) hear about, then B) send away for a catalogue, and then C) Mail them a check and see if what they send is what you want or not.
• And don’t forget the custom made metal legs and other metal parts – and the custom jigs to make them. And you’ll need to find an aluminum specialist who can bend, hand drill, punch and hammer (without it collapsing) and then weld the aluminum to iron (without it “floating”) in small affordable quantities – which at least around here in Southern Iowa, was very hard to find.
• And, finally, superior furniture assembly skills (a special kind of Know How)

The above list is a good start, BUT IT IS ONLY A START.

If you are handy and persistent (or obsessed with a vision like we are) we predict that, because of the help we have provided above, you should probably spend no more than a few tens of thousands of dollars – and a couple of devoted years of Trial, Error & Refinement – to figure it out.

OK, I’ll Stop Kidding Now…

I know there will always be people who insist on making their own things, some for fun and some because they truly need to try to spend less money.

It is important to look beyond this.

For those who enjoy the building process we invite you to please enjoy and go ahead, make your own Slanting Board. If you’re OK with something rough and rustic or you’re looking for a project you think you will enjoy, you may get what you are looking for. Heck, if you make something better, please let us know!

But if you are looking for relief from back pain or are looking for a Self-Care Wellness Tool then you will want more.

You will want to benefit from the time, attention and dedication of two licensed massage therapists who have devoted years of study of the physiology and how the angle and physical materials interface with the body negatively and positively.

*** UPDATE AUGUST 2026 ***

Now that we have sold all our inventory and can no longer manufacture Gravity Pal we would love for someone to continue to make them. If you have a passion to help other people and would like to purchase Gravity Pal as a business please contact me at 641-814-6698 and leave a message. PLEASE! Serious Inquiries Only. 

FIND OUT WHY SO MANY PEOPLE SAY ….