Hey, screens aren't so bad!
You might think, mindfulness and screens? you gotta be kidding me. Well, not really! Meditation apps are an engaging (not to forget high-tech) way of getting your mindfulness practices down pat. So, grab your coffee and iPhone (or Samsung?) and become the next Dalai Lama! Well ok, that's a bit far fetched but you get the idea
So welcome to the rundown of the best apps out there in the market. Excited? Let's go!
So you a techie? Like the I gotta open my mac at starbucks kinda techy? I got you covered FAM
Check out the awesomeness!
So, what can these apps offer me?
Guided meditations
Guided meditation is a practice where your meditation is led by a real live guide. The voice of another person helps drown out the distractions and build focus, as well as relaxes one into the practice. Generally, the author will ask the person to calm their minds, visualize peaceful scenery like a garden, birds, fountains etc and just let go of thoughts. If you haven't tried it, I promise you you'll be taken to bliss like never before
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Nature sounds
Nature sounds consist of audio clips of birds, trees rustling, a water stream, etc. These are super helpful in relaxing an agitated mind.
Sleep music
Sleep music consists of dreamy tones, which consist of a soothing baseline of sound without too much variation, which can help you fall asleep quickly and easily.
What's on the market?
With various offerings in the market, catering to different kinds of needs such as meditation, sleep, anxiety and sometimes even a combination of the above, it can be hard to know where to start. Headspace and Calm are 2 of the best offerings on the market today. Check out this quick video.
CALM
Calm is a mindfulness and meditation based app which focuses on Mindfulness based stress reduction (MSBR). Here are the key features in a nutshell.
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Sleep stories by famous celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Harry Styles and Cillian Murphy
Guided sleep meditations by Tamara Lewitt, a popular Canadian mindfulness author and instructor, and Jay Shetty, award winning podcaster and life author.
Hundreds of curated soundtracks to help you sleep. 6 categories of music - focus, lullabies, relax, sleep, soundscapes, and nature melodies.
Breathing exercises focused on 6 categories - Relax, balance, restore, focus, energize and rewind.
Calm masterclass by renowned experts like Shawn Achor, Elizabeth Gilbert and Ryan Holiday
Calm kids, with sleep meditations, stories focused on children.
Check out a quick sneak peek,
on the calm app below
HEADSPACE
Headspace is another app which is focused on mindfulness based meditations. According to their official website, they provide meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movements and focus
Sleepcasts for winding down at the end of a busy day.
Meditations to manage various emotions such as work stress, anxiety, loneliness and anger, recited by Andy Puddicombe, founder of Headspace.
A Move section, consisting of mindful breathing, yoga, cardio sessions, and light exercises, between 10-30 minutes.
Choose from 2 options - $12.99 USD / month or $69.99 / year.
4.9 star rating, 70 million downloads across all platforms, users in 190 countries.