Back at the end of 2009 I retired from my full time position at the Foundation I had built and created a big space in my life. It was clear the Foundation needed to move on from its founder and establish itself in its own right, and as for me, well I was open to whatever came next.
As it happened, I enjoyed some free time, then it became apparent I had what was virtually an aversion to computers. I retired from the Foundation without ever having a computer on my desk and before I left had asked my PA to help me send 3 emails so at least I could say I had actually managed to do that!
But then it occurred to me how useful computers can be and how maybe they could help address one of the big issues that troubled me at the time - How to help people establish and maintain a regular meditation practice?
So I began speaking with friends who were experts around computers - all of whom were rather bemused by my new interest (knowing as they did of my old aversion) - and they were very generous with their time and advice.
This line of enquiry led on to a pivotal meeting with Saurabh Mishra.
Saurabh is an entrepreneur based in Melbourne who has co-founded five e-health business ventures since 2000.
Three of these (eClinic, SamplesPlus and PalCare) were bought by some of the largest healthcare businesses in Australia between 2009-2010, and the fourth (Healthnotes) was bought in 2016 by MedAdvisor, a company listed on the Australian stock exchange.
But along with the world of IT, Saurabh’s real passion is meditation and helping others. His life has been one of seeking meaning and purpose.
So this week, an insight into the life and mind of a person intent on helping others through meditation and apps, along with news of me making a re-appearance at Ruth's next meditation retreat in December, but first
Thought for the day
Integrity is the inner sense of wholeness and strength
That arises out of our honesty with ourselves;
It is the ability to make the connections
And the proper sacrifices
To find a life that is both moral and spontaneous.
John Tarrant - Zen teacher and writer
Saurabh and I have become great friends and it has been an ongoing delight working together.
We have great fun, work hard, engage with some amazing people, and I have learnt heaps about apps and all things IT.
We created a new business, Imageryworks with the intention to make the learning and practice of meditation easier, with a vision of helping bring about a world in which everyone meditates every day.
Our creations - the My Meditation and Meditation Gateway apps are unique teaching and interactive practice tools.
Saurabh was born in India and is a dedicated practitioner of Kriya yoga, an ancient meditation technique. He also volunteers a significant amount of time for a number of not-for-profit organisations including Eastern Palliative Care, TiE Melbourne, Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society (he is an accomplished classical singer), and Friends of the Children’s Hospital.
Earlier this year, Saurabh was interviewed by a tech magazine about the new My Meditation app.
1. Did you have any prior development or coding experience?
I am not a programmer by training. However, having started up 5 software based businesses in the past 18 years, I am quite familiar with the development cycle and methodologies. We engaged a team of developers from Intellection Ltd. in Pune, India to develop the My Meditation app.
2. What was the most challenging aspect of developing this meditation app?
The most challenging aspect was the app's unique virtual group meditation feature as there were complexities around using many native app features and coordinating across multiple handsets and platforms.
3. Name a few of your favourite apps and reason you love them.
I frequently travel out of Melbourne, and so the Google Maps, Google Translate and Uber apps are handy indeed. I also find the Microsoft Teams app to be very useful to communicate with colleagues and keep up to date on collaborative projects. One other app I want to mention is a niche one called iTabla Pro for people who learn and perform Indian classical music. It has single-handedly replaced a number of background instruments, and made it possible for students like me to be able to practice anywhere, anytime.
4. How long have you been working on this app?
Since 2015.
5. What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?
Only a few of those who learn to meditate are able to establish a regular enough practice to truly benefit from it.
6. In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.
My Meditation is a comprehensive program for learning highly useful life-skills of relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, contemplation and imagery. It is based on authentic teachings transmitted over an unbroken lineage of thousands of years, and its founders have decades of experience of teaching and practicing these techniques.
Most importantly, it is unique in its emphasis on sustaining practice - with subscribers receiving daily messages of support, explanation and inspirations, able to join weekly virtual group practice sessions, and encouraged to keep track of their practice.
And what is more, it works. People who use this app do meditate much more frequently than before, and report significantly improved satisfaction with their practice.
7. What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?
We hope to make the virtual group practice sessions more interactive, with participants able to interact with the teacher and with each other before or after the sessions via the app.
We would also like to build bio-feedback features for users to see for themselves, the psycho-physiological changes in their mind and body from their practice.
8. Assuming new users of your app are reading this, what do you want to ask them to do?
Please sign up and make use of the 10-day free trial to sample the contents, features and benefits of this app. And if you like it, please subscribe!
Please do give us feedback
We are very happy with this new release and feedback from early users has been very positive, however, the app will continue to be upgraded based on feedback and new developments, so please do share with me any questions or feedback - via info@insighthealth.com.au.
Getting started
For iPhone/iPad users
1. If you are viewing this on your device. Tap here
2. If you are viewing this on your computer, you will need to use your device - iPhone, iPad etc - and go to the App Store. Search for mymeditationapp (all as one word). (Note: Ours is a new app, and you may need to scroll down the list to find it. It is called My Meditation and the title features Imageryworks - our business name. Persevere and you will find it!) Download the app, sign up, and off you go.
For Android users
1. If you are viewing this on your device – Tap here
2. If you are viewing this on your computer, you will need to use your phone etc and go into Playstore. Search for My Meditation app. Download it, sign up, and off you go.
To visit the related website, go to www.meditationapp.net
Some extra clarity
Some of you may have been using, or heard of the Meditation Gateway app, which is a precursor of the My Meditation app. With very similar features, we made Meditation Gateway app an open platform where any meditation teacher can upload their own material and offer their programs to their students. We are also looking to offer this platform to corporations like Health Insurance funds, who are happier to endorse a multi-teacher platform so their members can have a choice of programs that suit their particular requirements.
RELATED POST
Ian Gawler My Meditation App - with all the details of what the app offers
BIG NEWS
I AM TO JOIN RUTH FOR HER NEXT MEDITATION RETREAT
Ruth was expecting Kimberly Poppe to join her from Amsterdam for this retreat, however, Kimberly is unable to make the trip. So Ruth asked me to come out of retirement from leading retreats and fill the space. I have agreed and am really looking forward to this encore.
Definitely a one off, so maybe you would like to join us amidst whatever images of Johnny Farnham or Dame Nellie Melba you may wis this summon :)
As it happened, I enjoyed some free time, then it became apparent I had what was virtually an aversion to computers. I retired from the Foundation without ever having a computer on my desk and before I left had asked my PA to help me send 3 emails so at least I could say I had actually managed to do that!
But then it occurred to me how useful computers can be and how maybe they could help address one of the big issues that troubled me at the time - How to help people establish and maintain a regular meditation practice?
So I began speaking with friends who were experts around computers - all of whom were rather bemused by my new interest (knowing as they did of my old aversion) - and they were very generous with their time and advice.
This line of enquiry led on to a pivotal meeting with Saurabh Mishra.
Saurabh is an entrepreneur based in Melbourne who has co-founded five e-health business ventures since 2000.
Three of these (eClinic, SamplesPlus and PalCare) were bought by some of the largest healthcare businesses in Australia between 2009-2010, and the fourth (Healthnotes) was bought in 2016 by MedAdvisor, a company listed on the Australian stock exchange.
But along with the world of IT, Saurabh’s real passion is meditation and helping others. His life has been one of seeking meaning and purpose.
So this week, an insight into the life and mind of a person intent on helping others through meditation and apps, along with news of me making a re-appearance at Ruth's next meditation retreat in December, but first
Thought for the day
Integrity is the inner sense of wholeness and strength
That arises out of our honesty with ourselves;
It is the ability to make the connections
And the proper sacrifices
To find a life that is both moral and spontaneous.
John Tarrant - Zen teacher and writer
Saurabh and I have become great friends and it has been an ongoing delight working together.
We created a new business, Imageryworks with the intention to make the learning and practice of meditation easier, with a vision of helping bring about a world in which everyone meditates every day.
Our creations - the My Meditation and Meditation Gateway apps are unique teaching and interactive practice tools.
Saurabh was born in India and is a dedicated practitioner of Kriya yoga, an ancient meditation technique. He also volunteers a significant amount of time for a number of not-for-profit organisations including Eastern Palliative Care, TiE Melbourne, Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society (he is an accomplished classical singer), and Friends of the Children’s Hospital.
Earlier this year, Saurabh was interviewed by a tech magazine about the new My Meditation app.
1. Did you have any prior development or coding experience?
I am not a programmer by training. However, having started up 5 software based businesses in the past 18 years, I am quite familiar with the development cycle and methodologies. We engaged a team of developers from Intellection Ltd. in Pune, India to develop the My Meditation app.
2. What was the most challenging aspect of developing this meditation app?
The most challenging aspect was the app's unique virtual group meditation feature as there were complexities around using many native app features and coordinating across multiple handsets and platforms.
3. Name a few of your favourite apps and reason you love them.
I frequently travel out of Melbourne, and so the Google Maps, Google Translate and Uber apps are handy indeed. I also find the Microsoft Teams app to be very useful to communicate with colleagues and keep up to date on collaborative projects. One other app I want to mention is a niche one called iTabla Pro for people who learn and perform Indian classical music. It has single-handedly replaced a number of background instruments, and made it possible for students like me to be able to practice anywhere, anytime.
4. How long have you been working on this app?
Since 2015.
5. What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?
Only a few of those who learn to meditate are able to establish a regular enough practice to truly benefit from it.
6. In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.My Meditation is a comprehensive program for learning highly useful life-skills of relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, contemplation and imagery. It is based on authentic teachings transmitted over an unbroken lineage of thousands of years, and its founders have decades of experience of teaching and practicing these techniques.
Most importantly, it is unique in its emphasis on sustaining practice - with subscribers receiving daily messages of support, explanation and inspirations, able to join weekly virtual group practice sessions, and encouraged to keep track of their practice.
And what is more, it works. People who use this app do meditate much more frequently than before, and report significantly improved satisfaction with their practice.
7. What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?
We hope to make the virtual group practice sessions more interactive, with participants able to interact with the teacher and with each other before or after the sessions via the app.
We would also like to build bio-feedback features for users to see for themselves, the psycho-physiological changes in their mind and body from their practice.
8. Assuming new users of your app are reading this, what do you want to ask them to do?
Please sign up and make use of the 10-day free trial to sample the contents, features and benefits of this app. And if you like it, please subscribe!
Please do give us feedback
We are very happy with this new release and feedback from early users has been very positive, however, the app will continue to be upgraded based on feedback and new developments, so please do share with me any questions or feedback - via info@insighthealth.com.au.
Getting started
For iPhone/iPad users
1. If you are viewing this on your device. Tap here
2. If you are viewing this on your computer, you will need to use your device - iPhone, iPad etc - and go to the App Store. Search for mymeditationapp (all as one word). (Note: Ours is a new app, and you may need to scroll down the list to find it. It is called My Meditation and the title features Imageryworks - our business name. Persevere and you will find it!) Download the app, sign up, and off you go.
For Android users
1. If you are viewing this on your device – Tap here
2. If you are viewing this on your computer, you will need to use your phone etc and go into Playstore. Search for My Meditation app. Download it, sign up, and off you go.
To visit the related website, go to www.meditationapp.net
Some extra clarity
Some of you may have been using, or heard of the Meditation Gateway app, which is a precursor of the My Meditation app. With very similar features, we made Meditation Gateway app an open platform where any meditation teacher can upload their own material and offer their programs to their students. We are also looking to offer this platform to corporations like Health Insurance funds, who are happier to endorse a multi-teacher platform so their members can have a choice of programs that suit their particular requirements.
RELATED POST
Ian Gawler My Meditation App - with all the details of what the app offers
BIG NEWS
I AM TO JOIN RUTH FOR HER NEXT MEDITATION RETREAT
Ruth was expecting Kimberly Poppe to join her from Amsterdam for this retreat, however, Kimberly is unable to make the trip. So Ruth asked me to come out of retirement from leading retreats and fill the space. I have agreed and am really looking forward to this encore.
Definitely a one off, so maybe you would like to join us amidst whatever images of Johnny Farnham or Dame Nellie Melba you may wis this summon :)
RUTH'S NEXT MEDITATION RETREAT
COMING SOON - with Ian Gawler
Reconnecting to Ourselves
3rd - 9th December 2018
Yarra Valley Living Centre, Victoria
Enjoy gentle movement, delicious vegetarian meals made with love, and time and space to relax in a beautiful, natural environment.
Reconnecting to Ourselves
3rd - 9th December 2018
Yarra Valley Living Centre, Victoria
This is an opportunity to take time out and deeply reconnect with your self through a nourishing and rejuvenating week of meditation and self compassion practices.
Enjoy gentle movement, delicious vegetarian meals made with love, and time and space to relax in a beautiful, natural environment.
Very highly recommended. This will be a wonderful, wonderful week...
Details - Click here
Thanks for your blog, I always love it. My comment today is that I feel your aversion to
ReplyDeletecomputers was well grounded, unbeknowns to you. The effects of Electromagnetic Frequency and Radiation, have become well known and researched, having been found to be dangerous to the body. I still am puzzled that mediations are put on cell phones, even on computers, for people to place themselves in close proximity in order to gain peace of mind and good health, sometimes in bed and falling asleep with their cell phone, turned on, right next to them.... so so dangerous. I have to download from youtube onto a CD and listen that way, with the player at least 3 feet from my head. That's what I had to say,
not to spoil things, but to alert people. Do the research. Have a look at http://www.emraustralia.com.au. They are honest and dedicated. I am in no ways
affiliated with them business wise.
I hope you have a wonderful time on the Retreat. Sincerely Billie
Thanks Billie. What you say is part of the challenge of modern living. More people die in cars than many things we take for granted, yet we all seem to agree the risks in driving are worth it. Same with computers and phones. Best to limit them to what is really useful and certainly do not take them for granted as being completely safe or without risk :)
Delete