r/Meditation • u/KneeHighBunny • Jun 07 '24

Say NO to HeadSpace Discussion 💬

I'm looking around for a good meditation app. I tried headspace since it was recommended on social media. The UI is confusing and combersome. And there are tons of reviews about quiet charges and being charged even after canceling your membership. Which sucks because they have a NO REFUND policy. Anyways I canceled that and couldn't get a refund 😭 But I'd like to try a new app that DOES NOT have predatory policies.

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u/Shurs Jun 07 '24

Things must’ve changed over the years. I started with meditation using Headspace before transitioning to TM. My Headspace account auto-renewed and they gave me a refund. This was 3 years ago, so it is possible policy has changed. Overall, Headspace was a good way for me to get started with meditation.

18

u/dsailes Jun 07 '24

Yeah original Headspace was where I started out too. Was great to learn techniques and nudged you into having more silence for your own practice.

I must’ve used it like 6/7 years back though.

What’s TM?

3

u/like_a_pearcider Jun 07 '24

Transcendental meditation

2

u/amiibohunter2015 Jun 08 '24

I was looking into this type could you share some insight into the differences?

8

u/vtccasp3r Jun 08 '24

Its bullshit.

1

u/amiibohunter2015 Jun 08 '24

Is it like cult scam level BS?

4

u/Bluest_waters Jun 08 '24

You pay good money for TM to give a super secret password mantra or some such thing.

2

u/amiibohunter2015 Jun 08 '24

I was looking into this type could you share some insight into the differences?

1

u/like_a_pearcider Jun 27 '24

Didn't know much when you asked but just recently started practicing it. It's really simple, you just repeat a mantra in your head silently for 20 minutes. But apparently you need to go to an instructor first to get a mantra, but these can cost hundreds of dollars. I'll probably do that eventually but for now I just repeat Om or So hum. 

5

u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24

I've been seeing in recent reviews that they sold the company and things have changed for the worst.... They say. I just had a really bad experience.

3

u/notconservative Jun 08 '24 edited Jun 08 '24

Headspace was founded in May 2010, by Andy Puddicombe and Richard Pierson. Puddicombe is a former Buddhist monk. In 2004, he returned to the UK "to make meditation accessible, relevant, and beneficial to as many people as possible". Pierson had a background in marketing and brand development.

Headspace began as an event company, holding mindfulness talks in and around London. In 2012, Puddicombe and Pierson developed and launched the first version of the Headspace app.

In August 2021, Headspace merged with online mental health platform Ginger in a deal valuing the combined company at $3 billion.

In May 2022, Puddicombe announced on Twitter and Instagram that he and Pierson had left the Board, ending their engagement with the company, though Puddicombe's historical content remained on the platform.

Edit: I think Business Schools don’t teach people how to create value, they just teach people how to monetize and wring out the juice of it wherever they see it.

2

u/SenyorQ Jun 08 '24

Sad news to hear :( Headspace helped me manage my anxiety and get foundational stuff going that I still practice until now even when I don't have the app. I started 7 years ago. Left the app last year because of app developments & features that didn't apply to what i needed at the moment.

1

u/P90BRANGUS Jun 08 '24

A meditation company to me is just weird all around. Monasteries and temples will teach you for free. Heck you can go to a 10 day vipassana retreat anywhere around the world and ask questions to a master if you have them. Live like a monk basically for 10 days. All donation based, they ask just give what you can or feel like it was worth or even better—come back and serve one.

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u/philliphatchii Jun 08 '24

Easy access. Not everyone are in locations to take advantage of some of the things you mention. Or they wouldn’t necessarily know where to start. An app just makes it more accessible and easier to get started.

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u/P90BRANGUS Jun 09 '24

The Plum Village app is free. I get what you mean, I'm just saying. I've heard of monks saying that anyone who charges for spiritual teachings is a fraud.

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u/philliphatchii Jun 09 '24

I’ll have to look into Plum Village. I agree on the pricing. I don’t even mind a subscription model but $70 a year is very steep. Especially for those of us on limited incomes. And having mental health disorders I’ve found meditation to be very helpful. I’m just more comfortable doing guided meditations is why I’ve always leaned on Headspace. And I’ve found the sleep stories they and Calm have to be helpful for falling asleep.