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The 10 Best meditation apps
Meditating is proven to reduce stress, help us keep calm and sleep better too. Want to master the art? There are a range of apps that help you live a more ‘mindful’ life, wherever you happen to be. Here’s our pick of the best.
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Your support makes all the difference.1. Buddhify
This nicely-designed UK-created app is aimed at busy urbanites. You tell it whether you’re at the gym, walking, commuting or home. You can then pick a track “flavour” or style of meditation and choose from male or female voices. There’s a two-player meditation mode so you can get someone else involved. Buddhify 2’s coming out in December with a redesign- expect more scenarios and tracks to choose from.
2. Sleep Easily Meditation
According to the Great British Sleep Survey, over 51% of us find it hard to nod off. Stress and burnout expert Jayne Morris recommends this app to help. There’s a 25-minute guided meditation that combines soothing music with talking you through the relaxation process. The female voice is surprisingly calming – I was out for the count within 10 minutes.
Free
3. Calm – meditation and relaxation
This simple to use app presents the 7 Steps of Calm. There are seven guided sessions running from 2-20 minutes with a range of background scenes and sounds to choose from (think beaches, meadows and pouring rain). The voice on the guided sessions is a bit spacey but the music by Kip Mazuy – a big name in the music meditation world - is a cut above other offerings.
Free for iphone and ipad
4. Smiling Mind
Adults aren’t the only ones who are stressed. Sometimes you need to think of the kids too. Smiling Mind was created in Australia and is aimed at helping young people de-stress and stay calm. There are tailored programmes for different age groups, all delivered in relaxing Aussie tones. There’s one for adults too so you don’t have to miss out.
Free, available on iPhone, iPad and Android
5. Simply Being Guided Meditation
Good for beginners, this easy-to-use app talks you through the basic skills in sessions ranging from 5-20 minutes. Choose your sound preference –the likes of ocean, rain and stream – and sit back and relax. It comes loaded with meditation tips too.
Available for iPhone, iPad and Android
6. Headspace
Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe is a former Buddhist monk aiming to make meditation accessible. He delivers the directed 10-minute sessions in his relaxed style - no hippy talk here, he strips it down to basics and throws in the odd joke. Emma Watson’s a fan so you’re in good company with this one.
http://www.getsomeheadspace.com
7. Walking Meditations
Do you spend all day desk-bound? Jayne Morris recommends this app for busy people who want to mediate when they can fit it in. There’s a choice of three short tracks, each with a different focus - ideal for a mindfulness fix on your lunch-break.
0.69, Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
8. Meditation helper
Once you’ve got underway with your meditation you might want to set yourself goals. Use this handy app to set a target for the length of time you want to meditate each day. It lets you know when you’ve hit your target each day so it’s a good motivator to make sure you stick to your guns.
Free, available for iPhone, iPad and Android
9. Room to Breathe Meditation
Nailing your breathing is key in helping you keep calm and switch off. This app can help anyone who has had problems meditating. There’s a step-by-step-guide to breathing techniques with music options to choose from too.
Available on iPad, iPhone and Android
10. Relax Melodies
Want to learn the art of power napping but can’t switch off? This app can help. Choose from a library of relaxing tracks with different themes – Jane Morris’s favourite is ‘Celtic Ride’, “It takes me back to childhood memories of living in Scotland, surrounded by rolling green hills,” she says. There’s a timer and alarm function to stop the nap becoming a deeper sleep.
Free. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android
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All the apps are available to buy from the Amazon app store, Apple store or Google Play.