If you’ve been keeping up with singers Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello on Instagram, you likely have heard them raving about Calm meditation app. As someone who is always keen to add new segments into my wellness routine, I decided to take Mendes and Cabello’s advice and give the app a go. I’m now on day 15 of the app’s “How to Meditate” course and I can honestly say it’s the first meditation of any kind that I’ve been able to consistently stick with.
How It Started
Early on in the 30-day “How to Meditate” course, Jeff Warren, Calm’s creator, explains what led him to create the app. A self-proclaimed “dysregulated party animal” in his late teens and twenties, Jeff says meditation is one of the things that saved his life. This led him to be a meditation teacher and writer. What’s unique about his meditation course is his realistic, humorous, and understanding approach. There’s no pressure to be perfect at meditation. These are the primary factors that led me to, for the first time, spend money on a meditation app.
What The App Includes
The app includes sections to suit every time of day – and if there is any meditation that you especially connect with, you can save it to your favorites. Firstly, there’s the “for you” section of the app. Here, you’ll find recommendations tailored to suit you. This includes your 30-day “How to Meditate” course, other longer meditations that you might like to try, as well as music and sleep stories. There’s a sleep section complete with calming music, dreamy stories, and nature sounds. The meditation section allows you to choose from a wide variety of options to suit your needs, including meditation for anxiety and meditation for beginners. There’s a very chill music section and, within each section, there are short programs specifically designed for kids. This is particularly great for any stay-at-home parents who are needing a bit of calm while in quarantine.
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The Benefits
I’ve dipped my toes into meditation a few times, but I firmly consider myself a beginner. For me, the app has provided me with a gentle and friendly introduction to meditation. With Calm, I feel no pressure to become a yogi or to be an expert. It has simply been a great tool to help me start the day on a positive note, de-stress on busy days, and serves as a prompt for my brain to let go of the day and ease into a good night’s sleep.
Calm offers an initial free trial, so if it turns out it’s not for you, there’s no loss. I honestly thought that I’d give the app a try and then unsubscribe after a few days. However, here I am on day 15 – and I totally get why Mendes and Cabello wanted to get the word out!