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Sit back, release any tension in your body, and remember to deep breathe as you’re reading this Calm and Free review.
Giovanni Dienstmann, noted meditation teacher, life coach, and author, had me at the words, “calm” and “free.” I knew that I had to try out his meditation course, aptly titled, “Calm and Free” because I’ve always been desperate to experience these emotions — at least on a more consistent basis. Here is an honest review of the guide as I’m an actual student.
Calm and Free Review – Important Caveat
While this manual is a digital self-help primer, this course will only be meaningful to you if you are already practicing meditation, or want to begin to practice.
Giovanni Dienstmann’s course is designed for beginners, but you have to at least have an interest in meditation.
When I asked my wife to go through the course with me, she politely declined saying she has no interest in meditating. Her loss, but I want to make sure that you’re more open-minded about meditation than my myopic wife. (Sorry Honey.)
In addition, before enrolling as a student (and Calm and Free is affordably priced), think about how an anxious mind is manifesting itself in your life.
For example, my anxious mind keeps me from taking risks. In fact, I’m reluctant to do anything outside my comfort zone, and this zone seems to be narrowing with age.
My anxiousness also keeps me preoccupied with unhappy, fearful thoughts which compromise the quality of my life. I’m tired of seeing the proverbial black clouds, even on sunny days.
So I’m definitely motivated to transform myself into someone who is calm and free. Simultaneously, I have specific goals I want to accomplish, such as managing stress better.
Before beginning any transformative coaching course, you should also know what you would like to change about yourself, and have concrete objectives you hope to attain.
What is the Calm and Free Program?
In Giovanni Dienstmann’s course, he breaks up training into these essential components:
Meditation – There are many different forms and techniques of meditation. Here, Giovanni provides an important method called, “Boxed breathing.” This will serve as the first core lesson.
Inner work – Here, the student must let go of negative thoughts and narratives. The mindset begins to change when the student applies certain specific techniques. The second lesson of the Calm and Free program is the ROAR method. The name itself should embolden you.
Conscious living – In this third section, Giovanni Dienstmann wants his followers to manifest what they learn. Knowledge without implementation is meaningless. The comfort zone can then start to expand, limitless possibilities become more discernible, and mindfulness starts to take root.
Transcendence – In this fourth component, the student’s sense of optimism and purpose grows beyond measure. In fact, a new confident mindset has become apparent, evident in more self-actualizing thoughts and actions. The REAL SELF is no longer afraid to come out. Meditation practice becomes easier and more meaningful.
(The fourth component, Transcendence, is the most advanced, but far from impossible to master.)
The Calm and Free Course is well-organized, and includes an introduction, and even two special Coronavirus meditations.
Training is presented in all possible forms: Video, PDF, and even audio — perfect for any rushed student on the go. The only exception: the Coronavirus meditations which are accessible in audio form.
I found this training timely. I looked for particular meditations that would help to alleviate my health anxiety, exasperated by the possibility of catching this potentially deadly virus.
It took about 30 minutes to listen to both guided meditations, and I felt incredibly relaxed after following Giovanni’s directions. (My sense of equilibrium and calmness ended when my youngest son barged into the room afterwards. :))
These meditations rely on the following conditions: a) Getting the body completely relaxed; b) Taking long, deep, and even breaths; and c) Visualizing complete health, and affirming perfect health.
Mission accomplished! Giovanni’s wise words and tranquil calming music in the background (I felt as if I was on a retreat) helped me immeasurably. After following his guidance, each part of my body felt loose and my breathing became much less shallow.
He is a proponent of Pranayama (box breathing). Here, the student takes a long, deep breath through the nose for 4 seconds, holds it for 4 seconds, releases it for 4 seconds, and holds for 4 seconds before taking another breath, starting the cycle again.
In order to marshal our natural defenses, Giovanni then introduced a visualization technique, followed by positive affirmations. Here is one such powerful affirmation:
[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘My immune system is powerful and effective. No disease can touch me.’ – Giovanni Dienstmann” quote=”‘My immune system is powerful and effective. No disease can touch me.’ -Giovanni Dienstmann” theme=”style2″]
Of course, these meditations require more than one session. They must be practiced everyday. But I can see how they should prove helpful to thwart the dangerous potential of the Coronavirus, or any other disease for that matter.
Calm and Free Review – ROAR Through Anxiety
Giovanni Dienstmann understands that anxiety can surface, just about from any tangible threat (such as the Coronavirus), or imaginary threat (our raw fears, stemming from the “What ifs”).
As such, his Calm and Free program includes techniques to upend anxiety, once and for all.
He recommends the ROAR method, an acronym that stands for the following: recognize, observe, accept, and release.
His training goes into detail about each of these steps necessary to defeat fear and anxiety. My favorite takeaway is this comment:
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Anxiety is only a visitor in the present moment.’ – Giovanni Dienstmann” quote=”‘Anxiety is only a visitor in the present moment.’ -Giovanni Dienstmann” theme=”style2″]
Once we understand that anxiety is not who we are, or a fault of our personal makeup, we can better dispel it.
And when worries and fear materialize, Giovanni Dienstmann encourages us to accept such uncomfortable emotions. In fact, he advises that we release all internal resistance to these feelings.
In this way, anxiety is more likely to dissipate. Indeed, for me and millions of others, meditation is an effective anti-anxiety regimen.
Here, Giovanni plays expert meditation teacher and insightful life coach, helping students to live less fearful lives.
Becoming More Calm and Free – Harnessing it Through Breathing and Inner Work
Much of the course, as you would expect, revolves around breathing. Giovanni explains the importance of belly breathing as opposed to chest breathing.
When you breathe long, deep, and even breaths, using proper diaphragmatic, belly breathing, it is almost impossible to be overwhelmed with anxiety.
These videos are effective as they combine meditation, visualization, positive affirmations, and psychology.
Again, the ROAR method is discussed at length, and a guided meditation goes along with it to ensure proper implementation of concepts.
I felt much more calm when I practiced each of the core precepts. I recognized the anxiety, labeled it to help it lose its strength, and observed its sensations from an outside perspective.
Afterwards, I accepted the emotion instead of my usual pattern of resistance.
With the help of breathing correctly, I then released it — much easier to do with Giovanni Dienstmann’s guidance.
Through subsequent visualization and affirmations, the anxiety virtually disappeared.
But such a favorable outcome may not always materialize. This strategy must be used consistently (Giovanni recommends three times a day) so that toxic emotions can be properly dispelled any time they surface.
Be a Lion and Roar – Live Your Life, Calm and Free, Like the King of Beasts
If you’re like me, you’re tired of living life as a rabbit or deer, constantly in flight mode whenever dangers (perceived or real) surface.
Giovanni dedicates another course module on how to become more like a lion, roaming the land with determination, confidence, and courage.
One of the methods he advocates is to face your fears. Avoidance becomes habitual, and becomes more pervasive whenever we run away from anxiety.
Living courageously and taking power back is the answer. You’re now at the helm, not the anxiety. As Giovanni points out, the fear overestimates the danger we’re confronting, and underestimates our ability to face it head on.
So when you practice the ROAR tactic, let the sleeping lion within you come out so that nervousness does not predominate your life, and you’re better able to control your destiny.
But in order to live courageously, Giovanni makes another great point: We have to accept, and even embrace, uncertainty. There will be aspects in life we can’t control.
All we can do is take control of what is within our auspices. And even when we feel fear, we can disarm it, and abolish self-imposed limits.
Your Next Steps Toward Tranquility and Freedom – Transcendence
It is not enough to win an emotional battle we have with anxiety now and then. Giovanni Dienstmann wants to ensure that we win the war.
Winning the war with negative emotions means that we don’t let such emotions compromise the quality of our lives. We can transcend obstacles, such as our own innate counterproductive feelings, to become our true, happier, and authentic selves.
To ensure that his Calm and Free program is a life-changer, Giovanni provides a checklist of what he wants his students to do going forward.
This includes a daily practice of meditation, applying the core principles of meditation in our lives, mastering the art of letting go, releasing toxic emotions, among several other crucial recommendations.
Calm and Free Review … But is Giovanni Dienstmann Worth Following?
I’ve given you a complete review of the Calm and Free program. The creator, Giovanni Dienstmann, provides powerful meditation and life guiding principles and techniques.
But is he worth following? Before I became a student, I researched Dienstmann’s credentials. These include the following
- He is the creator of the popular blog, Live and Dare. This blog consistently draws thousands of visitors a month.
- He is the creator of a number of acclaimed programs. Among his most followed include Master Your Mind, Limitless Life, Overcome Fear of Failure, and others.
- He is a great practitioner of meditation. He has devoted countless hours toward the practice of meditation, reading about it, and writing about it.
Calm and Free Review: The Pros of Calm and Free
Giovanni Dienstmann has distilled his knowledge and insight into clear and thought-provoking units. They are easily digestible, and can be learned in the course of an afternoon.
Moreover, the training can be followed and mastered as time passes. This course includes the synergistic meshing of meditation, visualization, affirmations, and psychology, working together to change lives.
The program includes novel methods of successfully tackling anxiety. The visualization recommendations and suggested positive affirmations help to calm and free the mind.
The program is also well-organized. One lesson builds on another, and there are tips on what to do next.
Giovanni’s calm delivery also contributes toward a state of relaxation, motivating students to go from one lesson to another.
Are There Any Negatives?
The training is so worthwhile, I didn’t want it to end. I wish there would have been another module or two, perhaps revealing another meditation technique or another one devoted toward getting the body fully relaxed.
But Calm and Free is meant to serve as a mini-course, whetting students’ appetites to enroll in the more comprehensive ones, listed above.
Final Words on Calm and Free
I do not regret becoming Giovanni’s student, devoting time to learn this introductory training. I want to rely on meditation and mindset to guide me toward my goals.
The program especially is devoted to getting rid of anxiety — an objective I have to attain if I’m going to become more calm, free, and happier.
I hope you found this Calm and Free review useful, and I sincerely wish you well in the quest to improve the quality of your life.
