Although yoga, meditation and mindfulness are some of the most ancient health practices out there, thanks to technology we can incorporate them easily into our modern lives. There are a number of apps you can download to your smartphone or tablet that are designed to help you focus, re-center, relax — even get a quick yoga practice in — any time of day, no matter where you are. Here are our picks for the top five mind/body apps.
Stop, Breathe & Think
We love this app! Stop, Breathe & Think offers instructions for a variety of different types of meditation, including body scans, loving-kindness meditations and mindfulness meditations, in a variety of different lengths. All are appropriate for beginners.
A great feature of this app is that it asks you to check in with and then input your emotions before you start your meditation. Based on your current state of mind, the app then recommends a few customized meditations for you.
The app is also very accessible and fun to use! The only downside is that although the app provides a good number of free meditations, there are some that require a small fee to access.
Operating system: Apple and Android
Price: The majority of the app is free, but you can pay between $0.99 and $2.99 for more specialized In-App Purchases.
Yoga Studio
There are a ton of good yoga apps out there, but we chose to include Yoga Studio on this list for a few reasons: It has the largest number of classes, the classes are customizable based on your own needs and preferences, and it features an in-app calendar that allows you to schedule your classes throughout the day and week so that you stick to your practice and reach your goals.
The app also offers a library of 280 poses with photos, detailed instructions and advice. This app is perfect for both beginners and more experienced yogis.
Operating system: Apple and Windows
Price: There is a $3.99 one-time fee.
Headspace
Created by a former Buddhist monk, Headspace is probably the best meditation app out there. The app offers a wide variety of 10-minute meditation sessions, which guide you through meditation techniques, such as staying with the breath and reducing negative thoughts. The meditations are clear, accessible and easy to follow.
The only downside of the app is that you only get 10 sessions free of charge. After that you’ll need to sign up for a subscription, which starts at $6.24 per month. However, for the amount of peace this app will bring you, we say it’s worth it!
Operating system: Apple and Android
Price: Subscriptions range from $6.24 to $12.95 per month.
Gratitude Journal 365
Trying to be more thankful for what you have in life? Gratitude Journal 365 is the perfect app for you! This app encourages you to write down something you’re thankful for every day and to upload a picture to match.
It then organizes the entries into a calendar so that you can look back over the week, month and eventually year, and see all of the people, events and things you’ve been thankful for. It’s truly a great app.
Operating system: Apple and Android
Price: The first seven days are free, after that it costs $1.99 per month.
Calm
This app aims to transport your mind away from your hectic life to a place of serenity and bliss. It allows you to choose between different backgrounds of gorgeous, natural scenery and relaxing background sounds so you can zone out and relax for a few minutes any time of day.
It also offers a seven-day guided meditation course, but the instructions are not as clear as some other meditation apps out there. This is an especially good app for the urbanites who need a bit more nature in their lives.
Operating system: Apple and Android
Price: Offers a limited number of free backgrounds and a much wider variety for purchase.
What apps do you use to support your healthy lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!
—Teresa Manring
Teresa is a freelance writer and yoga teacher currently living in Sri Lanka. She loves to write about policies, ideas, and practices that promote a healthy planet and create healthy people.
Sources:
http://stopbreathethink.org
http://yogastudioapp.com
https://www.headspace.com
http://getgratitude.co
http://www.calm.com
