You’re not alone if you frequently find it difficult to remain still for the duration of a meditation session. Even fitting a mindfulness break into your busy day might be challenging. You might want to quit off trying altogether given all of these obstacles. But it’s worth persevering with this practice because it can do wonders for your physical and emotional wellbeing. Thankfully, there are now a ton of meditation applications available with guided sessions, chants and music, and tools to keep you motivated.
According to Pax Tandon, a leading expert on mindfulness and the author of Mindfulness Matters, “meditation apps are a terrific adjunct to a mindfulness practice since they enable you continue anytime, anywhere, putting the power of mindfulness in the palm of your hand.”
But why is meditation such a huge deal? According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, it can aid in stress reduction, blood pressure control, the management of various mental health issues, the cessation of smoking, and the reduction of chronic pain (such as headaches).
Wondering which applications professionals suggest for finding your meditation groove? Here are their top selections along with the reasons why each one would be the most suitable for you.
If meditation is new to you: Headspace
One of the most well-known meditation apps available is Headspace, and for good reason. It contains the appropriate guided practice for you, whether you’re trying to relax, need help falling asleep, or want to increase your productivity at work.
Many guided meditations, mini-meditations, sleep sounds, SOS meditations for crises, meditations for children, and animations are available to assist you comprehend meditation, according to pharmacist turned wellness expert Lindsey Elmore, PharmD. (her nickname is “The Farmicist”).
If you want several possibilities, remain calm
When Elmore wants to be selective about her meditation practice, she enjoys the Calm app. In any case, the app offers guided workouts that last three to 25 minutes. You can actually choose your emphasis because there are subjects on everything from reducing anxiety to practicing gratitude and mindfulness at work—as well as sleep sounds, nature sounds, and breathing exercises. Elmore notes that there are beginner-friendly seven-day and 21-day regimens, progress trackers, and daily meditations.
If you want to learn from the top experts, use Insight Timer.
All experts concur that Insight Timer is a top-notch meditation app. According to Tandon, “this app has some of the most skilled mindfulness teachers on it, and it gives you the freedom to pick and choose depending on how long you have to practice, what style you’d like (such as body scan, loving kindness, anxiety/stress reducing, etc.), or just set a timer and sit without guidance.”
Elmore uses the app frequently because in addition to offering a range of guided meditations, it also features a tracker that lets you keep track of your progress and collect badges to entice you to use it again and again.
For a tailored experience, use Aura.
The daily meditations, life coaching, natural sounds, stories, and music that Aura offers are adored by its users. These features are all customised using an algorithm based on the needs and interests you share with the app. As you customize your in-app experience, it continues to learn about your preferences.
You may also create reminders to breathe and take mindfulness breaks throughout the day, track your moods and evaluate patterns in how you feel, and review your mood history.
If you’re curious about the background of meditation, consider Sattva
Sattva takes its meditations from old Vedic ideas in order to deliver a genuine experience (FYI, the Vedic religion was one of the major traditions that shaped Hinduism). The app includes “holy sounds, chants, mantras and music from Sanskrit experts” in addition to the guided meditations that last for at least six minutes.
This is ideal for people who want to learn more about the background and origins of meditation as well as those who wish to begin their own practice.
If you wish to incorporate meditation with exercise: Glo
Yoga Medicine® founder and certified instructor Tiffany Cruikshank says she enjoys the Glo app because it offers “a wide choice of guided meditations to chose from well-respected experts.”
Cruikshank adds that the app is a perfect choice for both novice and seasoned meditators since it allows you to tailor your workout by selecting the length, teacher, and level you desire as well as a selection of subjects and focal points that can help you focus on particular meditation goals. Added benefit? Additionally, the app offers teacher-led yoga and pilates classes.
If you’re an expert at meditation: Ens
Ens isn’t always appropriate for newcomers. For individuals who are experienced with meditation, Cruikshank recommends the Ens app, which includes a straightforward timer that can be set with bells at various intervals to keep you aware and establish a calming finish to your practice.
Use buddhify if you wish to meditate while traveling.
With over 200 meditations available on buddhify to help with problems like anxiety, stress, sleep, pain, and difficult emotions, you can choose from a variety of teachers to choose one whose voice and teaching style appeals to you. The best feature of Buddhaify is that it offers really specific mindfulness exercises that you may perform anywhere (for traveling, at work, waking up, eating, and spending time online).
Smiling Mind is a science-based software to use.
Psychologists and educators created Smiling Mind to promote mindfulness practice as a cornerstone of wellness, similar to regular exercise, restful sleep, and a nutritious diet. Simple 10-minute daily meditations are available and are divided into groups according to age and environment. The best part is that all of the resources are free to use.
If you want to get more rest, adopt this simple habit.
Simple Habit is for you if you want quick meditations from Google’s finest mindfulness specialists and former monks. This meditation software offers coaching, motivating materials, bedtime stories, as well as traditional guided meditations.
If you’d want to engage in mindfulness training, try the Ten Percent Happier Meditation.
The Ten Percent Happier app, which is based on the book of the same name written by ABC news anchor Dan Harris, is ideal “for the skeptic who is not convinced that they want to meditate,” in Elmore’s words.
She explains that the app features meditations designed to aid users with anxiety and sleep, and that new content is added every week. She also mentions that the app has a free version as well as a paid edition with more than 500 videos and other content.
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