Meditation has been proven to relieve stress, increase wellbeing, improve sleep, help with focus, and provide many other health benefits. With so many people talking about what meditation has to offer, if you haven’t already tried it you’ve probably thought about exploring it for yourself.
Starting — and maintaining — a meditation practice can be challenging, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Thankfully, there are many high-quality books, videos, courses and apps available that can show you how to get started and help you maintain a regular practice.
Whether you’ve been practicing for years or are just beginning to explore possibilities, here’s a sample of four meditation apps that can help guide and support your journey*.
The InsightTimer app features a handy meditation timer as well as a catalog of relaxing music, inspirational talks by well-known teachers, and guided meditations from a variety of disciplines. There are 60,000 meditations and music tracks available in the free version, or you can upgrade to a paid subscription which includes access to multi-day courses and other content.
Led by ABC news host Dan Harris, the Ten Percent Happier app and its eponymous podcast aim to make mindfulness meditation accessible to everyone. Featuring guided meditations and instruction from some of the world’s leading mindfulness teachers, this app is a great place to explore meditation for the first time. Free subscriptions are available for teachers, first responders and other frontline workers.
Touted as the #1 app for sleep, relaxation and meditation, this app offers subscribers a variety of music, meditation and relaxation modules to choose from. Calm’s website also offers free resources to support a healthy lifestyle, including a sleep journal, a stress management workbook and a Living Beyond Fear journal.
Headspace is the go-to meditation app for millions of users worldwide. With the recent addition of John Legend as its music director, Headspace offers subscribers an assortment of soundscapes, sleepcasts, stress-relievers, and guided meditations focused on work, stress, kids and more.
A longer list of tools and tips to help support your healing journey is available on our resources page.
About the author: Eva Bender is a results-focused coach with professional certifications in health and wellness, grief and end of life, mental performance, and executive leadership coaching. Her extensive knowledge and compassionate approach make her an ideal resource for people who are navigating the mental, physical and emotional challenges of chronic health conditions. Schedule a free consultation with Eva here.