Best meditation apps 2021 according to experts

"I'm bad at meditation!" If you have given this as a reason that you simply do not engage in meditation, then let us trust you with the following: being "bad" at meditation is practically impossible! Especially if they are available to you best meditation apps 2021!

Meditation simply means learning to be pay attention to this moment. Your mind will wander, thinking about the laundry you need to do, or wondering if that noise you're hearing means you need to change the battery in your smoke detector - when you notice this, you make progress, then gently return to the present. In other words: wandering your mind does not mean that your meditation is "bad". Our mind is what it is - it wanders. The fact that you notice this and keep coming back until it happens again (which it will!) means you are doing the meditation correctly.

That doesn't mean it can't be a challenge, especially if you're going through a tough time. dr. Elisha Goldstein, psychologist and founder of the Mindful Living Collective, compares learning to meditate to riding a bicycle. "It gets easier with practice,” he says. Just as you one day master the pedals on a bicycle, meditation, says Goldstein, with time "enables more self-confidence in managing stress and emotions".

Another key point to understand – meditation is not designed to completely clear your brain. "The idea that you can magically block your thoughts is not realistic," says Josephine Atluri, a certified meditation instructor. Instead, become aware of your thoughts, let them go, and return to your breathing. Atluri says that focusing on the breath will bring us back to the present moment, which eventually becomes second nature. That way, we'll be calmer and less reactive, no matter what craziness is going on around you. And you will with the help of our list Best meditation apps 2021 sure did it!

What are the benefits of meditation?

For starters, meditation is proven mitigates the impact of stress on our body and health. While research is still ongoing, different meditation techniques may help reduce pain, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety and depression, according to the US National Institutes of Health. A study from Harvard found that people who meditated for about 20 minutes showed "significant, beneficial results in as little as eight weeks". Already five minutes of controlled breathing "it can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn reduces stress symptoms and cortisol levels, elevates our mood and strengthens the immune system".

And right now, in the midst of a mega-stress pandemic and an unpredictable political and economic situation, research shows that they are "meditation and mindfulness practice that can provide support to healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers and the general public," wrote researcher C. Behan in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine in May 2020.

How to approach meditation as a beginner?

It's easy: with applications with guided meditations and/or peaceful music. "I strongly recommend that individuals starting meditation listen to guided meditations rather than practice in silence," says Josh Korda, podcaster and author of Unsubscribe. "Meditating in silence for beginners can cause the mind to wander and stress to increase rather than decrease."

They are in front of you best meditation apps 2021, which we will definitely try for them this year!

Insight Timer

"When I suggest it to clients, the fact is that it is free of charge, really great news for someone who is just starting out and doesn't want to commit to anything," explains Andrea Wachter, licensed therapist and author of several books. Meditation teacher Lodro Rinzler, author of Buddha Walks into Bar and Love Hurts: Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken, adds that "cultivates a sense of community". You actually can you send messages to other users and you read reviews 15,000 meditations of all styles. Insight Timer contains “really user-friendly ways to search for clips based on length and topics of interest,” says Watcher. There are also speeches and courses, some of which are free.

The application is available for free, you can upgrade it for 64.99 euros per year with a 7-day free trial of the Member Plus functionality.

Headspace

Headspace app filled with a calming, guided meditation – from breathing exercises to “body scans” – makes mindfulness practice very easy, especially if you're trying it for the first time. They are even available courses, which teach you what meditation is all about, with basic exercises that last from 3 to 5 minutes (you choose how long you want to stay)! Atluri says that she got her first experience with meditation with the help of the Headspace app. “I love how user-friendly it is,” he says. "When you have something so beautifully presented, it's much easier to try it out." The app also has fun graphics and clean aesthetics, making it truly unique compared to the competition.

You can try the application for free for up to two weeks, and then you can upgrade it for 12.99 euros per month or 57.99 euros per year.

Meditation Studio

Rinzler also swears by this meditation app because, in his opinion, they "really thoughtfully curated their teachers". There are approx 50 "veteran" instructors with different backgrounds (in addition to child psychologists and addiction treatment specialists, you'll also find Zen Buddhist monks). "In my experience, meditation becomes a daily practice when it seems important to our lives," says Chrissy Carter, a yoga and meditation instructor. S thematic groups (such as life-changing or compassion meditations) and with specific groups "you can practice in a way that suits you at this exact moment," says Carter. You can also use the function timer and you listen instrumental music or nature sounds. Meditations that you especially like to do, you can save and access them whenever you need them.

You can buy the application for 4.59 euros.

Ten Percent Happier

The tagline of this app is "Meditation for Skeptics." Rinzler likes them about this application full courses, so you can "you are traveling with a certain teacher", if you find one you like. This application created by successful positive psychology writer Dan Harris, is so much grounded and perfect for all skeptics. “There's also a 'coach' feature where you can ask a flesh-and-blood human any questions that come up during your meditation journey,” says Rinzler.

In the limited version, the app is available for free, but the upgraded version can be tried for free for 7 days, and then it costs US$ 99.99 per year.

Simple Habit

Whether you're interested in meditation or looking for a new app to try, Simple Habit is a wonderful choice. With the app is meditation extremely flexible, as it gives you meditations tailored to your interests with plans that focus on mastery stress, anxiety, sleep, positivity and even nutrition. One of our favorite features of the app are meditations on the way, which allow you a bit of peace during a break at work, while driving or just before bed. The app is also compatible with Apple Health.

There is a limited free version and you can upgrade the app for 64.99 euros per year.

MyLife

One of the biggest highlights of the MyLife app (formerly known as Stop, Breathe, and Think)? Awareness of your thoughts and feelings in the present moment. You can choose meditations with this app depending on your mood. Before receiving some recommended exercises, complete a short survey about how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. If you're short on time, don't worry: these meditations only take a few minutes, but they'll still leave you feeling calm enough to get back into your routine.

You can reward the application for 10.99 euros per month or 64.99 euros per year. There is even a lifetime membership available for 269.99 euros.