Looking For Inclusive Meditations? Meditones Are A Great Option

In the last few years, the lack of diversity in the wellness industry has become clear.

Wellness has a diversity problem

Whether it’s the overwhelming majority of White people represented. Or the lack of diverse voices.

The ableism present in many classes and venues. Or the premium prices targeted at the affluent.

The wellness industry has a diversity problem.

But wellness should be for everyone.

The barriers that prevent people from accessing wellness products & services need to be dismantled.

And at Restful we’re committed to upholding diversity, equity and inclusion.

So we want to show the difference between our meditones and traditional guided meditations.

3 reasons why guided meditations aren’t inclusive enough

Guided meditations can be helpful for beginners looking to start a meditation practice.

They’re great for when you need some extra support with a particular issue.

Or for when you’d like to practice a more traditional form of meditation such as mindfulness.

Unfortunately, there are also some drawbacks

1. Guided meditations are often in English

Some large meditation apps such as Calm and Headspace have diversified their languages.

But many smaller apps and meditation channels on YouTube are often spoken by White people or native English speakers.

This lack of diversity and inclusivity makes guided meditation a barrier.

How can you access the benefits of meditation if you don’t speak the language they’re in?

Thankfully, some guided meditation apps that have been designed with diversity in mind.

Liberate is a meditation app for the Black community.
Wellemental is a meditation app for diverse kids.
Insight Timer hosts a global community of meditation teachers & languages.

2. Meditation isn’t suitable for everyone

White woman with long brown hair in a pale jumper holds her hands up in a traditional meditation pose while looking confused. Two spiky illustrated lines sit above her shoulders

If you found meditation really stressful, you’re not alone.

One study of 1,232 people found a quarter of them experienced particularly unpleasant meditation-related experiences. Such as anxiety, fear and distorted emotions.

More research is needed. But these findings suggest that meditation may not suit everyone.

Especially if you’re recovering from trauma, are neurodivergent or have a mental illness.

3. Meditation takes effort

Traditional meditation styles take practice. Which can be frustrating when it feels like meditation isn’t working. Especially for beginners.

Plus, meditation can be difficult when you’re neurodivergent, are in pain, tired or overwhelmed.

And when your nervous system is on high alert?

It may be almost impossible to practice the focus required to go into deep meditative states.

Why meditones are more inclusive than guided meditations

A ginger kitten sleeps on top of a pale yellow puppy. Green illustrated hearts float above them

If you’re looking for an inclusive alternative to guided meditation, meditones are a great option.

Meditones are binaural beats combined with beautiful ambient music.

On the Restful app, there are hours of meditones to help you feel focused, calm, and restful.

Here are three reasons why meditones can be more inclusive than tradition forms of meditation.

1. Meditones work for beginners

Most meditones tracks on the Restful app are music only.

You can easily filter for vocal music or instrumentals on the Explore page.

Screenshot of the Restful app with the Vocal music & Instrumental filters applied

Because there’s no particular journey dictated to you? You’re free to go at your own pace.

Plus, you don’t need to listen to anyone talking to gain benefits.

This is helpful if you don’t like the voice of a particular guided instructor.

You can sit back, relax and let meditones do the deep work for you.

2. Meditones work immediately

Meditones help you naturally produce relaxed brainwaves. So you’re able to experience deep calm. Effortlessly.

You don’t have to do a thing. Your parasympathetic nervous system switches on automatically.

This makes meditones perfect for beginners. Or for when you can’t meditate because you’re too tired, in pain, or distressed.

Meditones are also fantastic for people who struggle with traditional forms of meditation.

Meditones are also a soothing option for people healing from trauma, or neurodivergent people who may find self-regulation difficult.

3. Meditones work for experts too

Many tracks on the Restful app don’t contain guided vocals.

So meditones can deepen your existing meditation practice.

Meditones help enhance breathwork or focused forms of meditation, like:

vipassana
pranayam
mindfulness, and
Transcendental Meditation.

You can meditate as you normally would, and feel the depth that meditones can bring to your practice.

Takeaway

Guided meditations aren’t alway inclusive. But we think meditones make a great alternative.

All tracks inside the Restful app contain meditones for effortless calm.

There are a few tracks that include guided meditations and affirmations. These tracks are spoken in English by our CEO, Tahlee, who is a White cis-gendered woman.

However, most tracks are pure music. And you can filter for vocal music or instrumental tracks on the Explore page inside our app.

Start feeling calm straight away with the Restful app. Download for free on Google Play or the App Store today!