Uber teams up with meditation startup Calm to bring some peace to UK passengers

Uber has launched a partnership with meditation startup Calm to offer in-app mindfulness exercises to passengers, in a bid to make us all slow down a little more.

From today, Uber riders across the UK will be able to access a range of guided meditation and breathing exercises during a trip in one of its cars.

Uber said this is to help its passengers to relax or improve focus, after a survey suggested 37 per cent of us are already exhausted by the prospect of the year ahead.

There are four exercises available, each one ranging from three minutes to 30 minutes in length. Drivers will also be able to view a special three-minute video in their Uber app, in case they need some mindfulness between trips too.

An Uber spokesperson said around 54 per cent of its riders use their time in an Uber to scroll through emails, social media and the news on their smartphones. Instead, it wants to encourage passengers to use that time to unwind.

"In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to lose balance," said Calm's head of mindfulness Tamara Levitt. 

"For many of us, our hectic lifestyle leaves us anxious and exhausted. So if we can carve out a bit of time in our day to meditate, we’ll feel more relaxed, focused, and productive."

The partnership is only set to last for the next month, at which point users are invited to try out Calm's services for themselves.