Most Effective Meditation Apps for De-stressing
MEDITATION APPS – These meditation applications can help you unwind, feel less worried, and sleep better whether you have a half-hour or two minutes to spare.
The realm of meditation apps has emerged as a readily accessible and convenient avenue for incorporating mindfulness into your routine. Whether you lean towards guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, or soothing sleep narratives, integrating mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance your daily wellness regimen.
Research indicates that meditation offers a range of advantages, including diminishing stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Check out these practices that are probably ruining your productivity. Beyond mental benefits, mindful meditation and deep breathing have the potential to lower blood pressure and enhance heart rate variability—an indicator of stress management. Moreover, numerous studies reveal that sleep meditation can quiet the mind and facilitate improved sleep quality.
For lots of people, dedicating time and effort to a consistent meditation practice can be challenging. While in-person visits to meditation studios for programs and guided sessions cater well to some, they might not be a viable option for maintaining meditation on a regular basis. By utilizing dependable meditation apps, achieving a state of tranquility could be as simple as setting aside three minutes. Presented below are the most commendable meditation app choices of 2020, designed to elevate your mindfulness routine and cultivate mental relaxation.
1. FitMind
Termed “CrossFit for the Mind,” FitMind was developed by Liam McClintock following his successful journey using meditation to discontinue medication and therapy for OCD and ADHD. McClintock envisions a realm of “mental fitness,” wherein the nurturing and training of our minds emerge as the subsequent groundbreaking health revolution—a vision that could hold substantial merit.
FitMind facilitates the mastery of meditation through a 30-day meditation exercise challenge focused on mental fitness. This iOS and Android app for mindful well-being incorporates daily challenges and standard meditation app features. However, what particularly captivates me about FitMind is its provision of straightforward scientific explanations that underpin the effectiveness of the meditative practices it offers. For those skeptical about meditation, FitMind might just prompt a constructive reassessment of their perspectives.
2. Unplug Meditation
Developed subsequent to the tremendous success of the immersive Unplug Meditation Studio in Los Angeles, the Unplug Meditation app boasts an extensive library of over 700 mindfulness and meditation videos. These offerings span from quick one-minute meditations to guided sessions that extend for nearly an hour. Users have the flexibility to filter these meditations based on their mood, desired outcomes, preferred duration, or the meditation instructor of their choice.
Distinguishing itself from some other guided meditation apps, the Unplug app exclusively showcases sessions filmed within the confines of the Los Angeles studio. This unique feature creates an authentic and immersive experience, akin to participating in a class led by an instructor in person. This app particularly caters to individuals who thrive on structured meditation practices and find value in visual elements accompanying the audio guidance.
Nevertheless, for those who prefer solitary meditation, Unplug offers a selection of ambient sounds, including nature-themed options, and provides the functionality to set personalized meditation timers.
3. Apollo Neuro
Apollo Neuro stands apart as it’s not merely a meditation app, and it’s not designed for idle use. Instead, Apollo offers a wearable solution aimed at counteracting stress and anxiety symptoms while reinstating bodily balance. Crafted by medical professionals and neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh, this stress reduction app grounded in mindfulness deploys subtle vibrations through touch to swiftly enhance heart rate variability and communicate safety signals.
The Apollo device is worn on your wrist or ankle. Using the app, select your desired outcome—be it energy, focus, mindfulness, sleep, relaxation, sociability, or recovery—and set a timer of up to 30 minutes. Apollo will generate vibrations attuned to aid your body in achieving the chosen outcome. You have the option to continue your activities or take a moment to tune into the vibrations.
4. Meditation Studio with Muse
Muse offers more than traditional meditation – it introduces EEG-guided meditation. Muse, a high-tech headband connecting to your smartphone via Bluetooth, gauges brainwaves, breathing, and pulse through seven sensors. The data is transformed into clear mental health insights.
Through the Muse headband and app, grasp your brain and body’s reactions to specific meditation tracks. Even seemingly minor factors like posture impact meditation quality. Muse converts pulse, breathing, and brainwaves into sounds that foster focus and relaxation.
Teaming up with Meditation Studio, Muse provides guided sessions by meditation experts, including activity-based exercises like “falling asleep” and “morning intentions.” Meditation Studio is Alexa-compatible. While the wearable Muse headband and Meditation Studio offer stand-alone excellence, combined they deliver an unmatched meditation experience.
5. Headspace
A compilation of the “top guided meditation apps” would be incomplete without mentioning Headspace, the mindfulness app conceived by Andy Puddicombe, a former sports scientist turned Buddhist monk. Originally established as an events company, Headspace has evolved to provide a comprehensive range of resources, including guided meditations, animations, articles, and videos, catering to individuals of all meditation expertise levels. Over time, it has garnered significant recognition and popularity within the meditation app category.
For those interested, Headspace offers a free introductory experience through its Basics course, which comprises ten meditation sessions aimed at instilling the fundamental principles of meditation and fostering a mindful routine. Additionally, the app provides complimentary meditation sessions from various collections of guided meditations.
6. Calm
The Calm app primarily focuses on aiding relaxation, setting it apart from other meditation apps that target deep thinking or creativity.
Meditation durations range from 3 to 25 minutes. To establish a daily meditation habit, explore “Daily Calm,” a 10-minute program ideal for starting or concluding your day. Calm is known for engaging partnerships with celebrities; their “Train Your Mind” series, featuring LeBron James, emphasizes mental fitness.
Calm provides breathing exercises, bedtime stories, and soothing background sounds to enhance sleep quality. The premium subscription extends these features and more, including Calm Body programs, monthly Masterclasses, and exclusive music. This app is especially beneficial for newcomers seeking relaxation, stress reduction, and improved sleep.
7. Wave
Wave offers an immersive meditation approach, utilizing music beats to enhance the practice. The patented Wave Bolster, a memory foam cushion for head and back support, incorporates technology that translates soundtracks into vibrations felt by the user. Coupled with over-ear headphones, it connects to the Wave app via Bluetooth. Distinct from typical meditation apps, the Wave app boasts a subscription-based model, resembling a music app more than a meditation tool.
With over 80 music-infused meditation tracks, the Wave app aims to make you experience meditation through sensation, not just sound. The vibration intensity is customizable to match your mood and sensitivity. This app and pillow combo is ideal for individuals seeking a less metaphysical approach to meditation.
8. The Breathing App
As its name suggests, The Breathing App centers exclusively on breathwork and its physiological advantages derived from slowing down your breathing pace. These advantages encompass improved pulmonary function, reduced stress, and anxiety, lowered blood pressure, and enhanced emotional equilibrium, among other benefits that contribute to overall health and better sleep patterns.
Crafted by Eddie Stern and author Deepak Chopra, The Breathing App is straightforward and ideal for individuals seeking mindfulness benefits without an intense spiritual focus. The app allows adjustments to only two settings within the meditation program: the practice duration and the breath ratio.
9. Simple Habit
Burnout is a genuine concern – the World Health Organization formally recognized it as a medical diagnosis in May 2019. Simple Habit’s meditation sessions concentrate on alleviating daily stress. Recognizing your busy lifestyle, the app encourages quick, five-minute meditation breaks. Notably, it includes a dedicated playlist tailored to addressing burnout symptoms, with topics like “managing a hectic schedule” and “easing morning anxiety.” The app even provides a guided meditation program specifically for commuting.
10. Declutter the Mind
Declutter the Mind is a straightforward meditation app with a singular focus: Quieting unnecessary, incessant thoughts. The familiar sensation of drifting between various thoughts, making it challenging to concentrate on tasks or be present in the moment, is a common experience for many.
The app, Declutter the Mind, is designed to guide you in redirecting your attention to the specific task at hand. Its goal is to train your mind to avoid constant mental hopping. You have the option to explore guided meditations categorized by topics, which encompass a wide range, including stress, anxiety, body scan, depression, sleep, relaxation, concentration, clarity, and cravings, among others.
