What are the Best Meditation Apps?

Madonna does it. Clint Eastwood does it. We know Oprah does it. Even Hugh Jackman has joined in on the positive vibes. Meditation is sweeping the nation with a wellspring of light and hope, promising relief from stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches, depression and even chronic pain. 

Many people are opting to add the rewarding practice to their life, but it can be difficult to get started. The trick is to add it to your daily routine and manifest it into a habit, much like washing your face or working out. Don't let this be daunting - You can start out with short meditations of only 3-6 minutes then work your way up each day or each week. 

• Aur

  • Price: Free for the daily shorter meditations. Users have the option to subscribe for a fee, which gives access to more meditations.

  • Great for beginners and people who like guided meditations. Gives first timers the tips they need to start out, while keeping sessions short, yet effective.

  • The app asks how you are feeling before and after the meditation, helping users tune into their emotions and determine what works well for them. 

• Insight Timer

  • Price: Free. This organization accurately boasts being the top free meditation app on the iOS and Android stores.

  • The app has thousands of guided meditations as well as "the timer" - a feature which allows users to time themselves. The timer function even offers a choices of sound for the starting and ending bell, interval sounds and an ambient sound.

  • A map proudly displays many other people around the world meditating at the same time as you. Knowing that there is a large community of meditators finding peace and solace with you can be encouraging. 

• Smiling Mind

  • Price: Free. A non-profit organization helping to make meditation accessible for everyone.

  • Originally created for children and teens, this app separates meditations by age demographic. Teens may find topics based on school and adapting to life changes while adults will enjoy options like mindful eating, communications skills or sleep improvement.

  • A unique feature is the app's Workplace Program, which reduces stress resulting in increased performance at the office.

• Headspace

  • Price: $7.99 per month. Free 10 day trial offered to new users.

  • Headspace is easily the most talked about meditation app right now because it is newer and has pushed out a lot of advertising.

  • Calm seekers have the option to choose from 2 minute to 1 hour long guided meditations. There are also specific topics like relationships, anxiety, motivation and focus. The app also has a section for children.

Go get your ommm on!