Meditation does not have to come with incense, hours of doing nothing, and an enlightened guru guiding us through it… In fact just 10 minutes of meditation a day is enough for you to gain the benefits of this practice. You don’t even have to sit in a lotus position. It’s enough to have a comfortable space where you can either lie down (if you don’t fall asleep) or sit comfortably on a chair or if you prefer, sit cross-legged on the floor. Meditation has proven to be beneficial and is no longer only something spiritual people do. And now thanks to technology, if you want to meditate, there’s an app for that. Here are the top 5 meditation apps out there right now:
This is a beautifully designed app, created by former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe. Download the app for free and get a 10-day starter program for beginners where you learn how to meditate. To continue your journey, it’s just US$5.99 a month and you’ll be guided by Andy himself through a new meditation everyday. Great for those who are just starting out and also for those who want to create a mindfulness practice through daily meditation. Check out his TED talk and learn why just 10 minutes a day is great for you. (iOS and Android)
Created by Stephan Bodian, renowned psychotherapist and author of Meditation for Dummies this best-selling app is great for both beginners and for the more advanced. They’re simple guided meditations and you can set if you want it to be as short at five minutes or as long as 40 minutes. It’s great for those on the go or if you have more time and wish to go deeper into your practice. (US$1; iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry)
This is a great app that gets you into the habit of breathing in a natural, relaxed way. For the most part, many of us don’t breathe right into our bellies and tend to hold our breath when stressed. Here you will find short, guided exercises that remind you to just breathe. Simple, yet so important. (US$0.99 iOS and Android)
This is for the more advanced meditator, someone who doesn’t need to be guided but rather needs a timer to help track progress. Meditate is a simple timer app that helps to ease you into your meditation, time your meditation, restart after an interruption and much more. It’s great for someone who wants to get serious about meditation. (US$3.99 iOS)
A fun way to look at mindfulness, with this app you can customize sessions based on location or activity. Bring it along with you and select tailored guided tracks to follow in the gym, on the train or more. (US$2.99 iOS and Android)
I hope that these few apps will help build your meditation practice. Let me know how it goes in the comments below.
