It’s 2019. We already know that meditation reduces stress, improves concentration, helps you sleep better, boosts your immune system, and makes you a generally happier person, many of us don’t know the first place to start.
The questions begin to pile up. “How long should I meditate?” “Do I have to sit on the floor?” “Can I listen to music during meditation?” “What’s a ‘mantra?”‘ “Do I just sit there and think about not thinking?” “What do I do with my hands?” It’s enough to trigger that near-nervous breakdown that brought you to thinking about meditating in the first place – or maybe that’s just me.
I already knew sitting in silence with my thoughts wasn’t going to cut it, so, like a good millennial, I enlisted the powers that be in the iTunes app store. I was lucky to find a meditation app I enjoyed right away but I feel like I would have made the jump sooner if I had a little more confidence knowing what I was getting myself into ahead of time.
After reflecting on the positive impact a consistent practice has had on me over the last year, I wanted to do my part to help bring this goodness to you and yours, whoever and wherever you are, by (hopefully) helping you find the best meditation app for you.
Take a deep breath in, deep breath out. Sit up straight. Let’s begin.
CALM
Named Apple’s App of the Year 2017 and Google Play’s Editors’ Choice 2018, Calm is one of the most well-known meditation apps. Calm was founded in 2012 with the intention to become the “Nike for the mind” and after being named Whether you take 10 minutes out of your day to listen to their ever-changing daily meditations or take a more customized approach with topics like “7 Days of Gratitude” or a “Relationship with Self Series,” you’re sure to come out of your practice – well, calm.
The Meditation
Your 10 minute daily session begins with an introduction to that day’s particular theme and a practice in mindfulness. Tamara Levitt, Calm’s Head of Mindfulness, walks you through various breathing and sensory exercises that start to quiet your mind focused in on the present moment. After a couple minutes of instruction, you’re left for a few more to continue breathing on your own.
This silence seems scary at first but Levitt’s soothing voice chimes in another time or too to help pull you back in to focus on your breathing. You’re also not in total silence. Calm offers a variety of sounds and background music tracks to help get you in an extra relaxed space.
After around the 8 minute mark, Levitt pulls you back in to cover the topic for that day. It’s incredible how much more receptive you are to words of wisdom after you’ve only heard water trickling from a babbling brook and the sound of your own breathing – and no, your breathing isn’t abnormally loud.
Differentiators
For my fellow insomniacs, Calm offers soothing Sleep Stories to “help you fall in a deep and natural sleep.” Like falling asleep with the tv on (minus the bright lights negatively impacting your sleep), sometimes it’s just nice to let someone else’s thoughts replace your own while you doze off.
Finally, Masterclasses from world-renowned doctors, authors, and wellness experts alike help you take this new-found mindfulness and deep-dive further into topics like, “The Power of Rest,” “Breaking Bad Habits,” and “Creative Living Beyond Fear” in longer, more TEDTalk-esque formats.
Who is this app best for?
Calm is a great app for the average person truly looking for more peace, tranquility and, you guessed it, calm in their lives. The slightly longer pauses here truly help quiet your mind but can also be a bit of a deterrent if you have trouble settling in. If not, Calm’s where it’s at for your daily dose of zen.
Features:
Meditation Timer: Yes
Music: Yes
Voice Selection: No
Offline Availability: Yes (with Premium)
Free Version: Yes
Premium Cost: $12.99/monthly, $59.99/year (that breaks down to $4.99/mo), or $299.99 for a lifetime subscription
Don’t just take my word for it, get started with 25% off your Calm subscription here.
Doesn’t sound like the meditation app for you? That’s okay! Check back for more meditation and mindfulness app reviews coming soon.
-
Masterclasses in Calm -
One of the possible screens in meditation -
Sleep Stories and sounds to help you drift off -
Options for more custom meditations. -
Stretching exercises, because a calm mind needs a calm body.
