The Calm app is actually surprising my way beyond my expectations. I tried Headspace a few years ago and liked it but never got around to paying for it beyond the trial. With Calm, I got it with the intention of just using the trial and then cancelling (as we all do) but forgot. It charged me £35 for the year. I was originally going to contact Apple but they've refunded me a few things in the past few months and it was looking a little scammy. So I decided to get my money's worth and use it.
The guided meditations are across so many broad categories and within each so many sub-topics, all well narrated and with enough instruction to 'keep your mind occupied' for beginners, anyway. But it was beyond that main reason why I'm impressed. It doubles as like a white noise app, able to run on timer in the background. It also has a little timed breathing animation you can set to help you defuse a panic attack with the breath. Lately I discovered this 'Calm Body' section which is like having a beginners yoga class in your pocket, left me feeling great after some stretches.
As someone who worries about a sedentary lifestyle at an office, driving places in rural N. Ireland, looking at a screen and overthinking for the majority of the day, for £35 this is really some value. Especially compared to some classes near me charging £6 a session for meditation, yoga classes also costing a lot and being run at poor times that don't fit my schedule ... this is a really practical, useful app for me. It's like a gym for my mind / point of refuge. And wherever I am, a set of headphones is all I need to avail of it.
It does more too, but this isn't an ad. This is just why I find it so good. I really recommend you guys try it out, even the trial if you're into the whole mindfulness thing in a non SJW / blogger kind of way, but as a real solution to needing some clarity in your mind. Anybody else had this experience or got any suggestions about it?
The guided meditations are across so many broad categories and within each so many sub-topics, all well narrated and with enough instruction to 'keep your mind occupied' for beginners, anyway. But it was beyond that main reason why I'm impressed. It doubles as like a white noise app, able to run on timer in the background. It also has a little timed breathing animation you can set to help you defuse a panic attack with the breath. Lately I discovered this 'Calm Body' section which is like having a beginners yoga class in your pocket, left me feeling great after some stretches.
As someone who worries about a sedentary lifestyle at an office, driving places in rural N. Ireland, looking at a screen and overthinking for the majority of the day, for £35 this is really some value. Especially compared to some classes near me charging £6 a session for meditation, yoga classes also costing a lot and being run at poor times that don't fit my schedule ... this is a really practical, useful app for me. It's like a gym for my mind / point of refuge. And wherever I am, a set of headphones is all I need to avail of it.
It does more too, but this isn't an ad. This is just why I find it so good. I really recommend you guys try it out, even the trial if you're into the whole mindfulness thing in a non SJW / blogger kind of way, but as a real solution to needing some clarity in your mind. Anybody else had this experience or got any suggestions about it?
