It may come as a surprise to hear that as a yoga instructor, my meditation game has never been very strong. I have always loved a nice guided meditation and a good sound healing, but I find those classes are few and far between.
Typically, the meditation classes I enjoy are comprehensive workshops offered only a few times a year, and they are kind of expensive. I wanted to start a morning wellness practice that was affordable and something I could do every day. So I decided to try both a well known app (Calm) and a newcomer to the wellness scene (Othership).
Here’s how they compare and which one worked for me:
If meditation is too boring for you… Othership
During the pandemic, my oldest son invited me to join his meditation practice using the Calm app. I would sit there and try to quiet my mind, but I would always start ruminating and get distracted after a while. Not wanting to ruin his meditation, I would stay quiet, hoping it would end so I could get on with my day. At that point I decided meditation wasn’t for me.
I’ve heard a lot about breathwork lately and Othership has a free trial, so I tried the 10-minute “Rise and Shine” session by Harry. Holy cow! You notice the difference between Calm and Othership immediately. I was fully immersed in the session within 30-seconds and was surprised when it ended.
I really liked that the session was backed by music and guided me through different types of breathing. The breath holds were incredible, like my whole body was vibrating with energy..
If you need help focusing, sleeping, or getting pumped… Othership
Calm focuses on meditation sessions that calm your nervous system, which is good when I want to go to sleep, but doesn’t help if I want to get energized for the day.
Othership has over 500 sessions that are split into different categories. There’s up regulated breathing to get pumped for the day, down regulated to help manage stress, and all-around sessions that help cultivate things like self-love, gratitude, and energetic alignment. I love that I can pick a session tailored to each part of my day.
The sessions are all different lengths (from 3 minutes to 60 minutes) so I can fit a quick session in when I’m feeling stressed at work, or do a full reset with an all-around session over the weekend.
If cost is your main determining factor… Calm
The Calm app is less expensive than the Othership app. While both apps offer some free options, you need to subscribe to get the full experience. Othership can be paid monthly or yearly, and Calm can be paid monthly, yearly, or with a lifetime membership.
Personally, I prefer to spend a few extra dollars on Othership, as breathwork is my preference.
If you’re looking to build an everyday habit… Othership
As a yoga teacher, having a wellness routine is really important to me. I’ve tried to do morning meditation or journaling, but I always seem to fall off after a few days. Othership has been different. I use it whenever I’m feeling off balance or just not quite 100%. I still don’t have a consistent morning practice, but I am using the app every day (and sometimes multiple times a day).
My personal choice is… Othership
Guided breathwork has been a game changer for me. I’ve discovered I really need the active process of breathwork as opposed to the passive process of meditation. I have a type-a personality and breathwork just makes more sense for me. Othership was my first step into breathwork and it’s unlocked a whole new perspective on breathing.
Othership has a free 2-week trial, so you don’t have to believe me…you can try it yourself.
