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Calm is a short pause for the whole room. The screen fills with a soft colour and a circle that slowly grows and shrinks, with the cues Breathe in, Hold and Breathe out, while everyone breathes along. Nothing is scored and nobody votes: on their phones, participants only see the same colour and a line asking them to look up at the main screen.

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Calm at a glance

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How to run Calm

  1. In the editor, click New slide and choose Calm. A new slide is already ready to run, so you can skip the settings.
  2. Optionally open the slide settings and choose how long the moment lasts, the colour, and which sounds play (see Calm settings).
  3. Click Present when the room needs a reset. The slide waits for you, so you decide when it starts.
  4. Click Begin (or press Space) to start. The circle breathes for the length you chose, then settles and shows Session complete.
  5. Use Pause and Resume (or press Enter) to stop and continue, Restart (or press R) to start over, or Replay once it has finished. Then move on to your next slide.

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Calm settings

Sound plays from the presenter’s screen only; participants’ phones stay silent. If you mute sound in the presentation, Calm stays silent too.

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Ideas for using Calm

  • Start of a session — open with a minute of breathing so people arrive and settle.
  • Between intense activities — reset the room after a loud game or a quick-fire quiz.
  • Before a quiz or exam — give nervous learners a moment to steady themselves.
  • After a heavy discussion — close a difficult topic gently before you move on.
  • Neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive audiences — a predictable, quiet moment with no interaction can help people refocus.

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Calm vs. other slide types

  • Not a check-in — to ask how people feel, use a poll or rating scale.
  • Not a break slide with a message — Calm shows no text of its own. For a title or break message, use a Content slide.

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Frequently asked questions

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Do participants need to do anything?

No. Their phones show the Calm colour and a line asking them to look up at the main screen. Nothing is collected, so there is nothing to see in your report.

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Can I run Calm without any sound?

Yes. Switch Sound off for no background sound or breathing sound, and Voice guidance off for no voice.

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Will the audience hear the sound on their phones?

No. All sound plays from your presenting screen, so play it through your speakers or share your computer audio if you present online. Browsers sometimes wait for a first click before playing audio. If you see a prompt to click, click anywhere on the slide.

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Does Calm count towards any limit?

No. It collects no answers, so it is uncounted and unlimited.

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Can I change the cues or add my own text?

No. The circle, the cues and the closing line are fixed, and the slide shows no text of its own. Have a question? Contact our support team — if you’re logged in, use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of your dashboard; otherwise contact us here or email hi@ahaslides.com. Want to connect with other users? Join the AhaSlides community to share tips, request features, and see how others engage their audiences.