Shine, an online and mobile app that offers inspirational content, has added a new feature to its brand: bedtime stories designed to lull you to sleep.
According to the company, the “Sleep Stories” are softly spoken retellings of “nostalgic” 1990s and 2000s movies. With each story, the plots of classic films such as “Clueless,” “She’s All That,” and “Love And Basketball” are combined with breathing exercises and meditation.
In a statement emailed to Mattress Clarity, Shine cofounders Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi explained how they hope these audio tracks will be an enjoyable soporific. “They’re just fun enough you’ll want to listen — and just boring enough, you’ll fall asleep,” they said.
How It Works
Each Sleep Story is a 30-minute track. Before the story begins, the narrator takes the listener through a guided “body scan meditation.” This style of meditation involves moving attention down the body and focusing on specific sensations such as weight and warmth.
After the scan is complete, the story begins. The narrator tells a familiar rom-com story with a slow cadence and says, “The comfort of ’90s nostalgia melts the muscles in your face.”
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For Lidey and Hirabayashi, the Sleep Stories are a worthy addition to their already popular brand. “Our 2 million members have told us loud and clear: they’re sleepy,” they said. “They are busy, ambitious, and come bedtime? They’re struggling to find rest in the midst of their anxious thoughts.”
When it came to helping their members get to sleep, Lidey and Hirabayashi said they immediately landed on the cheesy movies of their youth. “When we thought of what we love falling asleep to, it was *those* movies we’ve seen 100 [times],” they said. “Those ’90s and early 2000s hits play on our nostalgia, keeping us cozy and sometimes lulling us to sleep.”
The cofounders launched Shine in 2016 as a way to lead “the shift from self-help to self-care” among millennials. According to the company, members can opt to receive an inspirational morning text, listen to Shine Talks, or participate in daily Shine challenges.
The app can be purchased on iTunes, and Sleep Text is available through SMS, Facebook Messenger, or KiK. There are also plans to offer Shine for Android in the future.
Featured image: Lopolo/Shutterstock
