Nerves cells in our brain 'fire' in waves at distinct frequencies depending on what we are doing, how stressed we are and our mood. At any time during the day some areas of our brain will be very 'active' (firing more often - at higher frequencies) and others 'calm' (lower frequencies). As relaxation spreads over our body (and mind) more and more nerves tend to fire at lower frequencies. And when we enter deep sleep, our brain waves are at their lowest frequency (Delta), every synapse also fires in synchrony. A vital time for chemical re-balance and recovery.

You can enhance brainwave patterns by using rhythms and beats of the right frequency; listening to 14 - 30 Hz (same frequency as Beta brain waves - more 'active' synapses) tends to wake you up and stimulate, 13 - 19 Hz rhythm (Alpha waves) can help you relax and sharpen your perception, 4 - 8 Hz (Theta) help you relax further, meditate and lower anxiety, 1 - 3 Hz (Delta) enhances deep sleep.

Studies show that the effectiveness of enhancement is different for everyone so for each journey and soundscape we offer, you can choose the intensity of the enhancing rhythm that works best for you.

You can experience binaural rhythms using blossom app (and Flo) with head phones (or monaurally using Flo's in-built speaker). It's easy to test out which type of enhancement works best for you.

The amount of noise around us has increased dramatically and sometimes it's difficult to find sanctuary for sleep, relaxation, meditation and focus, especially in the city.

Noises with higher pitch or frequency are pretty well blocked out by windows, walls and doors, and even if they get through noise cancellation headphones and buds work well. But for lower frequencies (the base beat 'next door', drone and hum of aircraft, industry and trucks) cancellation doesn't work very well. And due to the shape and size of our rooms noise builds up forming a standing wave or hotspot of intense sound; often near walls, where most of us have our head boards.

This is wy we are building flo. It has an built-in (patented) low frequency city noise sensor that dynamically changes the structure and composition of soundscapes and rhythms, to best mask the effects; it's the base tones that can disturb us most.

flo is designed to help reduce the effects of noise in the city while you drift into sleep, wake up or need a peaceful refuge during your day.

The power of mindfulness, a core component of yoga and Tai Chi Chuan, has only recently been fully embraced by clinical science. Mindfulness uses the rhythm and sensation of breathing as an anchor, to bring our mind and awareness into the present; setting aside thoughts of the past or imagined future, which are often a source of anxiety, stress and pain.

Studies show that accepting and embracing the present; its sounds, smells and sensations, brings us into a deeply relaxed and focussed state of wellbeing. But it gets better... the more you do it, the more effective it becomes. Mindfulness changes the physiology of your brain.

Every journey developed by blossom begins with focussed breathing so that you are ready to be guided through a visualisation and natural soundscape.

Using Flo you can ditch your phone too! No more distractions while you relax.

The intensity and colour of light effects our sleep, well being, mood, memory and performance; dim light and (best of all) dark is conducive for sleep and brighter light wakes us up and keeps us focussed. That's one reason why using our phones or tablets near to bedtime can make us feel less tired (on top of the emails, messages and content that stimulates our minds too).

Colour of light can induce feelings; in a wakened state red and yellow arouse our senses and imagination whereas green and blue are calming. But when it comes to our circadian rhythm blue light (the sort that is emitted by tablets, screens, LEDs and phones) supresses melatonin over twice as much as green or red light, delaying sleep.

We've synchronised the light emissions from Flo's soft LEDs with your circadian rhythm, customisable and controllable; each journey and soundscape for sleep and wake up has it's own lightscape. You can choose to follow breathing pulses and soft glows to enhance natural visualisations helping you to drift to sleep, wake or follow life meditations.

Let's try and leave our phones and tablets for a while - Flo can help.

Aromatherapy has been used for mental, spiritual and physical healing since the beginning of recorded history; only over the last few decades has science 'caught-up' with studies proving that our mood, anxiety, pain, social behaviour and of course sleepiness is affected by the smells around us.

Most effective are natural oils, extracted from plants and their flowers, then concentrated.

Flo has a screen of Nepalese paper infused with essential oils. Gentle heat helps diffuse a subtle relaxing aroma; ethically sourced lavender or camomile grown with least environmental impact.