Hey guys, I am using spotify in Germany and I am not able to get free access to Headspace premium. Spotify says on their website that I should get that. Does it only work in the UK or what is wrong? Spotify (NO) Go Premium. Get Headspace free for 3 months. Unlimited music, plus the app that makes meditation simple. Just kr109,00 a month for both. Use Spotify to create account. Already have an account? Spotify is looking to make people better, as well as more entertained. The company has launched a new partnership with Headspace, an app meant to help people live 'healthier and happier lives'. Login to your Spotify account there. Head here to subscribe for the bundled offer and follow through the instructions. If you've already had Premium, the new price will kick in at the next billing date. If you are already paying for a Headspace subscription, you will need to cancel it first before trying these steps however.
The prospect of finding the right headspace to deal with your problems is an enticing one.
Especially if it can be attained through an app on your phone.
Cofounded by Andy Puddicombe and Richard Pierson in 2010, Headspace originally started out as an events company before the app of the same name launched in 2012. Since then, it has become one of the most popular meditation apps on the market with over 1 million subscribed users worldwide.
Puddicombe, who serves as your guide within the app, is a former Buddhist Monk and has penned several books on the topic of meditation. Headspace also claims to have clinically validated research behind their product that sets them apart from other meditation apps.
So Puddicombe is clearly a meditation expert and the app is well-marketed. But is it worth paying a substantial annual subscription for?
As someone who is new to meditation but could definitely use a dose of mental serenity, I decided to find out.
Headspace App Overview
The free version of the app is extremely limited, with only access to the “Meditation Basics” practice which consists of ten 3-10 minute lessons. In order to really get a feel for what Headspace is about and unlock its core features, you need to pay a fee.
Like many subscriptions, there is a monthly plan available for those who would rather not commit to an annual payment. But if you have any intention of using the app for the long term, you will save more by going with the annual plan.
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Once subscribed, you get full access to everything Headspace has to offer, which is quite a lot.
The paid app includes:
Initial Impression
The app has a clean, polished style and a user-friendly interface. There are so many lessons and features that it was a little overwhelming at first. I spent about twenty minutes just exploring the menus.
There’s a profile section with two tabs called “My Stats” and “My Journey” One tallies up how much time you’ve spent meditating with the app, and the other lists the lessons completed and milestones reached.
Although vaguely perturbed by the avatar that portrayed me as a sock puppet with lumpy green hair, I got started with my first lesson.
The Basics
The app recommends you start with the “Basics” course of meditation, and encourages you to schedule a time every day for the app to ping you as a reminder to meditate.
Each lesson comes with three different session lengths ranging between 3-10 minutes. With such short sessions, the app provides no excuses to miss a session.
The lessons put special emphasis on building the habit of meditation rather than focusing too much on “getting it right”.
The Basics course was great for beginners like me, as it helped me understand the concepts behind meditation. For example, it’s not about stopping thoughts from happening, but about being aware of them and gaining a new perspective of them.
Puddicombe has a great voice for guided meditation. His directions are simple, clear and soothing to listen to. He explains techniques using helpful visualizations and analogies that make the concepts easier to understand.
For example, when noticing you’re distracted by thoughts, he suggests bringing your attention back to the breath gently “like a feather on glass” instead of beating them back like a Whack-a-Mole.
Three minutes of being alone with my thoughts seemed like a long time at first but I was surprised by how quickly it went. The ten-minute meditations ended up feeling a tad too long, and the five-minute sessions became my go-to.
Is Headspace Free With Spotify Subscription
Many of the lessons are preceded by cartoon videos which starring more sock-puppet looking people that illustrate various concepts in ways that make them easy to understand.
The Basics course is followed by two companion courses “Basics 2” and “Basics 3”. But by the end of lesson 10, I was ready to dig into some of the other app’s features.
Meditation Courses
I was impressed by how many meditation courses the app offers. There are courses for anxiety, grief, productivity, relationships, self-esteem, sleep, compassion, personal growth, and much more.
As someone who has a lot on the go and only so much time to do it in, I went straight to the productivity course. These sessions tended to be longer, between 10-20 minutes. (I noticed that none of the lessons from any course seemed to exceed 20 minutes, which might be seen as a drawback for some.)
The course focuses on the “noting technique” which is about being aware of and identifying distractions, then letting them go. Over time, this helps you realize when you’re being distracted and in turn helps you be more productive.
Each lesson generally starts with Puddicombe talking about what to expect in the session and a reminder not to get discouraged if your mind wanders.
Did the course help my productivity? It’s hard to say for sure. I still experience far too many instances when I suddenly realize I’ve been watching Bat Dad on YouTube for twenty minutes instead of working on a project.
But I can tell you that I did feel calmer and more focused whenever I finished a productivity meditation.
I expect it’s a practice I would need to continue in order to really reap the benefits from it. (Like so many other skills, right?)
Soundscapes
Soundscapes are one of my favorite parts of the app and will be greatly appreciated by those who have a hard time turning their brain off at bedtime. These are different than the sleep courses which are guided meditations.
Soundscapes are more like white noise and visualization exercises.
There is a wide selection of locales to choose from, each featuring their own soothing sounds. There’s an old antique shop on a rainy day, a sunny beach, a cat-filled marina, and more.
You can use the soundscapes to serve as white noise by turning down the narration, or you can listen to the voice that soothingly describes your journey through the imaginary landscape.
The first one I tried was called “Compass Gardens” which promised to slow a racing mind. Sure enough, I did find myself drifting off to sleep after about twenty minutes.
For some reason, the Sleepcasts don’t show how long they are but appear to last between 45 minutes to an hour.
In addition to Sleepcasts, there is an assortment of “Sleep Sounds”. These are less white noise than ambient music, with soothing long-tones that help you drift off to sleep over the course of ten minutes to an hour.
Day-to-Day Exercises for Mindfulness
As someone who is big on exercise, I was excited to try the walking meditations. Of course, it’s currently -20 degrees outside where I live. Luckily there’s an exercise specifically for this circumstance called “Walking at Home.”
The exercise consisted of walking 10-20 steps in one direction and then turning around to walk back, slowing down a little each time until going at a snail’s pace.
I may not have made my step count goals that day, but it was an enjoyable way to practice mindfulness while stretching my legs.
The cooking exercise is another example of bringing mindfulness to everyday activity. This session prompted me to present with the act of cooking, making it more enjoyable and less of a chore.
The Verdict on Headspace
They don’t have meditations for everything you could use some fresh perspective on. I could definitely use a meditation lesson to prepare me for doing my taxes or when it’s time to bathe my cat.
But they seem to have just about everything else covered.
I’m still very much a novice at meditation, but I have a different view of meditation now and more clearly understand it’s concepts. I think this app is perfect for those who want to learn how to meditate but aren’t sure how to start or even what meditation is.
For beginners who are serious about starting a meditation practice, you can’t go too far wrong with Headspace.
Pros
ConsIs Headspace Free For Teachers
Also, don’t forget to check out our review of the Calm meditation app!
© Westend61 - Getty Images If you've downloaded the Headspace app, you probably want to know how to use it to its fullest potential. Here, co-founder Andy Puddicombe tells you everything.
https://leaserenew.weebly.com/blog/mac-miller-spotify-web-player. Living through a global health pandemic is anxiety-inducing. Living through a global health pandemic and losing your job? That's a whole other level of stress. In the UK, the latest data shows that over 600,000 workers were made redundant between March and May 2020. 2.8M people are now seeking work-related benefits – a climb of 126%. Many people have been furloughed, but, with the scheme set to end in October, further unemployment is expected.
Managing this harsh reality is no easy task. One small thing that might help? The Headspace app is offering a free year-long subscription to its library of guided meditations to anyone who is without a role, right now. This includes people who are on furlough. Typically, this would cost £49.99.
Prior to COVID-19, WH caught up with Andy Puddicombe, the co-founder (and voice) of Headspace. Here's his insider tips on getting the most out of your time spent tuning in.
Andy Puddicombe – co-founder of Headspace – is not affecting that lilting inflection that draws you into his mindfulness app and keeps you parked until 20 minutes have elapsed and you feel like a milk-drunk baby who's had her head stroked and is now sufficiently soothed.
Is Headspace Free With Spotify App
No, that's just how he talks. The 46-year-old Bristol native, who now resides in California – the home of Headspace's HQ – spent 10 years living and teaching as an ordained member of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, in a period characterised by silent retreats and endless hours in in reflection.
One legacy of this? A calmness in his speech, that's, doubtless, one reason for the app's astounding popularity (and we mean popularity. Over 42 million people in 190 countries use Headspace. Yeah.)
WH is chatting to Puddicombe thanks to the launch of the app in Germany, an event that's brought him to Europe. Curious as to how he thinks that you can get the most out of the tech, we sat down to tap up his advice.
First off, let's dive into the basics of using the app. Then scroll through for his and WH's pointers.
What you need to know about Headspace, and 9 ways to get more out of the app![]() Is Headspace free?
Yes. But only up to a point. Gratis, you have access to three basic packages, all of which are comprised of 10 sessions. The first has meditations which you can choose to run from three to 10 minutes, 'basics 2' lets you choose from between 10 to 15 minutes, while 'basics 3' goes from 10 to 20.
You can download and use these as many times as you like. But, to unlock the full library of meditations you'll need to pay £9.99 a month.
There's also a family plan, in which you pay £14.99 a month for up to six people.
Headspace and Spotify: the details
Headspace and music streaming service Spotify have jumped into bed with one another, with a bundle that gives you full access to both the former and the latter. So, fully unlocked Headspace, plus ad-free Spotify. You pay £9.99 a month for the first three, then £14.99 a month after that.
It's all available via the Spotify website.
How does Headspace work?
So. Like we say, you've got your basics, which is a three part pack of meditations. You can then pay to unlock further 'packs.'
These are collections of 30 day meditation courses, which are clustered into specific themes, like 'stress and anxiety', 'personal growth,' and 'movement and sport.'
Said 30 day meditation courses are then more specific. Think: 'managing anxiety,' 'connect with the world' and 'self-esteem.'
Beyond that, there are 'pro packs,' which you can find by tapping into 'meditation essentials' on the navigation bar. Here, you can find challenges, such as how to get comfortable with silence and how to step back from your ego and identity.
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Move into the 'day to day exercises' tab, and you'll find one minute snippets on how to engage your senses when you eat, a guide to walking in nature with more mindfulness and lessons in calming yourself down in a stressful moment.
How to get more out of your HeadspaceSet your reminders
Before you get going, head into your 'settings' tab then 'notifications' and then tap into 'reminders.'
Here, you can set little alarms to go off at a set time, each day. If you're serious about getting down with zen on the daily, get them in. You'll find it a lot harder to ignore.
If you plan to do your meditation while you're at work, you can also set these reminders to come through to whatever calendar you have installed on your smartphone. Say this is Google Calendar, this can also come through to your desktop, if you're working from one.
Sync up with Apple Health
If you want to see your meditation practice in the context of your wider health and fitness efforts, then accept when the app asks you if you'd like to sync it with Apple Health. You'll be able to see your meditation data alongside your running and your healthy eating regime – spurring you on to keep going.
Pace yourself
'Start with basics,' says Puddicombe. 'There's three levels to basics and each level is 10 sessions long. To start, you can choose three, five or 10 minute meditations. Maybe try 10 days of three minutes, if you're a total beginner, and then move onto 10 days of five minutes and then 10 days of 10 minutes.
'It's easy to do 10 days, and then think you've got the basics and to move on,' he explains. 'But I feel really confident that your results will be considerably enhanced if you take time to do basics 2 and basics 3.
'Think of it like fitness: we don't just do four weeks of exercise and say 'I'm done for the rest of my life.' Don't rush.'
Tell Siri
If you're using an iPhone, then this is a nifty trick. In the 'settings' bar of your Headspace app, click onto 'Siri shortcuts.' From here, you can give your phone an instruction to respond to a personalised voice command, such as 'let's meditate', by directly starting a fresh meditation exercise.
Repeat your packs
'I really encourage people to repeat packs,' says Puddicombe. 'In the monastery, we were taught to learn, practice and master.
'The first time you do something your intellect is engaged, the next time, you're more familiar and the third time, you can do it while thinking, less.' The upshot? Don't feel like you're not using the app to its full potential, or whatever, if you go back and experience some of those early meditations again. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Think about your strategy
Not to make this overly clinical, but it's worth reflecting on how best to move through the app. If you do pay to unlock the next set of meditations, then don't get caught up in the 'progression trap.'
'I like idea of doing the basics, then a 30 day pack, [such as 'managing anxiety' or 'movement and sport'] then a pro pack [such as 'getting comfortable with silence'] then another 30 day pack, then another pro pack.
'This allows you to slowly get more comfortable with hard things, like sitting in silence, as well as learning technique,' Puddicombe elaborates.
Make it a routine
Daily meditation is great – and where you're going to see the most juice. But Puddicombe says that 10 minutes, four days a week, is enough to see 'considerable positive results.'
The best way to do this? Being flexible. 'We tend to be very black and white about things,' says Puddicombe. 'And, say we oversleep, we beat ourselves up and then think we've missed out chance to meditate that day.'
A better way to think about it is this. https://leaserenew.weebly.com/blog/import-spotify-playlist-to-amazon-music-free. 'Say you were going to do 20 minutes first thing. Getting in 10 minutes in the evening is better than nothing,' – plus, it keeps you on a regular practice rhythm. It's not all or nothing.
Try not to conflate meditation with sleep
Listening to the gentle lull of Puddicombe's voice can be enough to tip you over the edge, if you're meditating in bed at the end of a hard day. There are 'sleep' options in the app, designed to get you to nod off –use those, rather being wildly optimistic about your ability to stay awake. How do you change your profile picture on spotify app.
'You can still get benefits if you fall asleep,' says Puddicombe. 'But being present is more beneficial. I'd say that you're better off getting up 20 minutes earlier and using that time to meditate.. keeping sleep and meditation separate.'
Carry your meditation into the rest of your life
'The point of meditation is not so that you get good at sitting still with your eyes closed,' says Puddicombe. 'It's about carrying that state forward into the rest of your life.' Applying calmness in your relationships, when you sit down to eat, in your interactions with your colleagues – that's what this is really about.
Be nice.
Find out more, at headspace.com
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