Top 9 Meditation Apps, According to Medical News Today
In the bustling world we live in, finding moments of peace and tranquility can be a challenge. However, technology has made it easier than ever to incorporate meditation into our daily lives, with a plethora of meditation apps available at our fingertips.
Meditation, a practice used for relaxation, mind training, and thought redirecting, has been employed by people for centuries to improve psychological balance, cope with illness, and enhance overall health [1]. Today, meditation apps offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative to classes or seminars, providing access to meditations at any time [2].
One of the most popular meditation apps, Simple Habit, offers more than 2,000 meditation sessions that can be downloaded for offline listening [3]. These sessions target a variety of needs, including short meditations for those wanting to overcome panic attacks and reduce symptoms of stress.
Another noteworthy app, Breethe, offers guided meditations, music pieces, and sleep tracks, as well as a program to help beginners learn to meditate [4]. With a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the Apple app store, Breethe has garnered more than 48,000 ratings [5].
Headspace, another top app, offers guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, led by Andy Puddicombe [6]. The app offers a 7-day and 14-day trial, and monthly and yearly subscriptions [7]. Unplug, another meditation app, offers a 7-day free trial, and features various meditation techniques, including breath work, sound baths, and guided imagery [8].
Buddhify is a meditation app that offers on-the-go meditations for specific events or situations [9]. Calm, another popular app, offers sleep stories, meditation sessions, and relaxing music pieces [1]. Sattva takes a traditional Vedic approach to meditation, with Sanskrit scholars narrating the mantras, chants, and meditations [10].
Aura is a meditation app that offers meditation tracks, music pieces, stories, and life coaching to improve emotional health [11]. Happier is a meditation app that offers guided meditations, talks, and videos to improve happiness, relationships, sleep, and well-being [12].
The effectiveness of these apps is enhanced by features such as personalized meditation plans, customizable session lengths, and additional tools like biofeedback [1][3][5]. For instance, the Balance app tailors sessions based on user input, while the Muse app provides biofeedback during meditation sessions.
Among popular apps, Headspace is noted for its structured programs and beginner-friendly interface, Calm for its broad and soothing library with extensive sleep-focused content, Insight Timer as a robust free option with a huge variety of meditations, and Breethe or Breathwrk for breath-focused practices [1][3][4].
In summary, the most effective types of meditation offered by popular meditation apps generally include guided meditations, mindfulness meditation, sleep-focused meditation, breathwork, body scans, and loving-kindness meditation. Different apps emphasize various types depending on their focus and user needs. Whether you're a beginner looking to reduce stress or an experienced meditator seeking a specific type of meditation, there's a meditation app out there to suit your needs.
- Incorporating meditation into our busy lives can lead to improvements in overall health and mental health, as demonstrated by the numerous scientific studies and the wide array of meditation apps available.
- Meditation apps like Simple Habit, Breethe, Headspace, and Aura offer various types of guided meditations, such as breathwork, body scans, and loving-kindness meditation, tailored to meet different needs, from reducing stress to improving emotional health.
- For those seeking alternative therapies for their health and wellness, meditation apps provide a convenient, cost-effective, and accessible means to practice mindfulness and meditation, at any time and anywhere, contributing positively to their emotional and mental health.
