Muse S Headband Gen 2: The Ultimate Tool for Enhanced Meditation and Brain Fitness

After the launch of the second-generation Muse S, I was able try it out and discover what this “digital sleeping pill” was all for. To find the inner peace we all seek, I tried out the MuseS headband’s sleep support. Here’s what it looked like.

The Muse brand

Museis a Toronto-based neurotechnology brand under the Interaxon Inc. umbrella specializing in using Electroencephalography (EEG) technology to support healthy sleep and meditation practices.

Already, the company has more than 500,000 “Musers” across the globe. It has also delivered more than 100 million meditation sessions using its products. Muse’s team includes meditation teachers, neuroscientists and engineers. They have brought to market two products: the Muse 2 meditation headband, and the Muse S for sleep support.

The second generation of the Muse S headband

The company’s second-generation Muse S sleeping headband was launched last October. It features an updated plush band with real-time brain biofeedback to help you fall and stay asleep.

The company’s “Digital Sleep Pills” (DSPs) are what makes the Muse S work. These DSPs respond to the rhythms of your brain to start a natural wind down process.

I had the opportunity to be a “Muser”, and share my thoughts about the Muse S headband.

Installation

The Muse S Headband is ready to use, as you can see from the video below. The charging process is quick and you could go days without having to recharge the device depending on how frequently or long you used it.

The Muse S functions by itself, but you will need to download the Muse app to complete the setup and use its functions. You can download it free of charge from the Android and iOS stores to your phone.

You must turn on the device to start a session. The headband’s sensors must be flush with your forehead, and the areas above your ears for the device to work properly.

It was a little difficult to get the sensors above my ears to align correctly for the Muse module to register them when I first started. My long hair could have caused it, but I eventually found the right position.

The Muse app displays a visual representation of all sensors, including your heart rate. This allows you to see what’s being registered and what’s not. Muse won’t let you choose a meditation or slumber session until all sensors are functioning correctly. This may require some fidgeting, especially for the first time.

Next, connect your headphones and your smartphone to select a program. Instant zen… well sort of.

Content from The Muse S Headband

Particularly the second generation of Muse S headbands offers much in terms of relaxation, mediation, and overall clearing of a racing brain (a major issue for mys truly).

The Muse app is a meditation tool that can help you focus on key areas of your body (mind, body, and lungs). It also offers guided meditations, timed sessions, and guided meditations to help those who need some help getting settled.

You can choose the length of the meditation (from 3 to 45 minutes), a soundtrack (rainforest or river, birds, campfire, etc.) and an exercise (if applicable). The guided meditations were my preferred method of starting because they allowed me to target certain inhibitors in my life, such as stress, or promote calm. From there I went into my own meditations, such as lungs. I was able to focus on my breathing and find my inner peace.

Morning meditations were the best because my mind was clear after slumber, and I didn’t start to race from my to-do list or the messages waiting for me when I glanced at my phone. The Muse S Headband I wore from the previous night’s sleep session helped me too.

The Muse S Headband is a great choice for sleeping.

The “digital Sleep Pill” technology, which I found to be a non-pharmaceutical option to effective sleep, was a major reason why I wanted to test this device.

This is why I wanted to write a review about this product. Sleep is as important to your overall health as cardio or other forms of exercise. The Muse S Headband is therefore a product that promotes health and fitness.

I will admit that I was initially skeptical about this device and felt silly when I first put it on. After a five-minute introduction, I was hooked. To experience the DSP’s feeling, I did a “Gentle River” sleep journey that night.

As a patient receiving anesthesia, I was lying on the bed and thought I wouldn’t feel it. I was wide awake. It was morning, and I was awake again. Eight hours had passed and I have the data to show it: 46 minutes deep sleep, 25 minutes REM and 6.5 hours light sleep.

Other metrics such as my heart rate, sleep position, and stillness were measured by the Muse S Headband. It gave me a score of 42/100. It was clear that I needed to work harder.

Although the DSPs are impressive, I found the next day’s data and its averages to be the most helpful in tracking my sleeping patterns. Although the headband worked most of the time for me, it wasn’t always as effective.

Both pros and cons

Although the Muse S Headband has impressed me greatly, it isn’t a perfect product. It is not the best for me. I had originally believed that the headphones were specifically made for sleeping.

You must instead use your headphones. It’s not a problem but my earbuds aren’t comfortable enough for sleep. This is a minor problem, but it made it difficult to focus on the headphones when I was. Find a pair that is comfortable!

Although the Muse S has been able to take me to dreamland many times, it hasn’t always been that way. There have been nights when my mind wanders over a million different things, with three different songs playing at the same time. I’ve used the Muse S to help me get my thoughts out of my head.

The sleep soundscapes added noise to my brain’s turmoil and didn’t help me relax as much. The volume would decrease as I settled down, which was nice. But, any movement to shift or readjust the volume would cause it to go back up, which could lead to more distractions.

These nights, Sleep Journeys with someone speaking to me and guiding my towards sleep proved much more beneficial. I discovered that I was able to focus solely on the speaker and his directions, and all other distractions could be lost in my mind.

Finally, the price of $399.99 for this device may be deterrent to some consumers, particularly those who aren’t sure if it is right for them. However, spending a lot of money each month on prescription sleep pills or melatonin chewables can be costly and could have a negative impact on your health.

Although the upfront cost of this device is higher, you can still update your content through the app.

Get the second generation Muse S Headband now

Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you looking to start a daily meditation practice to improve your mental health? Or perhaps just curious about the effects of a digital sleeping pill?

The second-generation Muse S Headband is now available for you to try. Let us know your thoughts. The price starts at $399.99, for the only. You can also get the bundle which includes an annual premium subscription and unlock additional content within the Muse app for $10 more