Self Quarantine Essentials: Top 5 Meditation Apps for Beginners
It’s a weird and uncertain time right now. I’m still processing. One minute, I am concentrating on the small positive aspects during this painful time (like no smog in LA). The next minute, I’m paranoid, nervous and scared for loved ones. I know everyone is handling it differently but if you feel anxious and paranoid like me, you’re not alone. Meditation has been helping me to combat my COVID19 anxiety. I hope the Top 5 Meditation Apps for Beginners blog post will help you too.
How do you meditate?
Meditation is the practice of thinking deeply or focusing one’s mind for a period of time. There are different ways to meditate. If you are a beginner, you will want to start by lying down or sitting comfortably on a cushion or a chair. Put on relaxing music and breathe normally through your nose, with your mouth closed. As a beginner, I would suggest starting with a guided meditation app. Meditation apps can help and can teach you how to meditate or introduce you to new techniques. Meditation apps can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. You can pick one of the best meditation apps for beginners that suits you best.
How many types of meditation are there?
There are 5 main meditation types. Mantra Meditation and Yoga Meditation are the easiest meditation for beginners.
- Zen meditation: A breathing technique, moving breath in and out of the belly, and letting the mind “just be” to get present and alert.
- Mantra meditation. A mindset technique that you focus on a mantra repeatedly.
- Yoga meditation. There many styles of yoga mediation such as — Kundalini yoga and Yin Yan Yoga — that are aimed to relax the body and relieve tension.
- Chakra meditation. This meditation technique is aimed at keeping the body’s core chakras — centers of energy — to open and align the body and mind.
- Sound bath meditation. This technique uses gongs or other instruments to create sound vibrations that help focus the mind and bring it into a more relaxed state.
When is the best time to meditate?
Meditation can be done at any time but the ideal time are after you wake up and before you go to bed.
How much is a meditation class vs a meditation app?
Meditation classes in Los Angeles are $22 and up per class while mediation apps are $70/year and some have free options.
Self Quarantine Essentials: Top 5 Meditation Apps for Beginners
01. Headspace
Headspace has more structured courses, which gives you the experience of taking an in-person class. There’s a free option with only a few sessions but the paid option has more than 100 sessions to choose from. Price: $12.99/month or $69.99/year.
02. Calm – One of the best meditation and sleep apps for beginners
Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. It’s a perfect app for beginners. The guided meditation sessions are a few minutes to 25 minutes. The sleep stories are narrated by celebrities. Price: $12.99/month, $59.99/year and $299.99 for a lifetime subscription.
03. Smiling Mind
This meditation app is entirely free. It is a great intro if you are not ready to invest in meditation practice just yet. Smiling Mind is a non-for-profit web and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life. When each meditation finishes, the app prompts you to respond and gauge how you feel, offering a fun, easy way to track your progress and meditation’s impact over time.
04. Mindbliss
Mindbliss will also help you discover new meditations based on your needs. ou can choose your favorite tools from seven different categories and Mindbliss’ will help you discover meditation sessions and journeys that best fit the needs of your practice.
05. Unplug
This app offers guided meditation videos led by Unplug Meditation studio’s famous teachers. It has a range of categories with meditations for every situation. Whether you need better sleep, less stress, and anxiety, a quick break at work, or meditation for kids, Unplug has it!
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What self-care techniques are you using while in quarantine? Comment and let me know.
With gratitude,
Liz
April 7, 2020 @ 3:26 am
want to find a good routine thank you