As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, many turned to meditation apps to cope with the uncertainty. A beginner’s guide to meditation apps to help you get started in your journey to mental well-being.
By Anuja Venkatachalam
“The pandemic has made me stop, pause and reflect. I take my physical and mental health more seriously now”, remarked Anamika, a financial advisor whose 60-hour work week decelerated when travel restrictions and work-from-home policies were enforced in her city.
This mirrors the voices of many urban, upper-middle class, working youth whose lives have slowed down to more time spent alone or with family as many chose to return to their hometowns. For those with stable jobs and an easy transition to remote work, the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed for a renewed focus on the self.
Between March 29 and April 5, as countries went into lockdown, there was a 25 percent increase in the number of downloads of meditation apps from App stores. Internet search trends show peaked interest in topics related to meditation and well-being around this time.
A recent study that interviewed 23 participants who reported using a meditation app during the COVID-19 pandemic found that psychological stress, job-related stress, changes in lifestyle and the perceived outcomes of meditation were the strongest motivators for people to adopt meditation during this time of crisis.
Nandan, a financial advisor, began meditating to boost his creativity. “In a world of multitasking, I struggled to be creative. I used meditation as a form of visualization to be creative”. Meditation helped him cope with the lockdown, he said. “I realised that meditation and mental well being was important to compartmentalize life during a lockdown. In the absence of it, one’s mind could get into negative spirals”.
For those looking to cultivate a meditation habit, mobile apps can be a great starting point, but a word of caution! You will be spoilt for choice with over a thousand apps to choose from. Worry not! We are here to help you get started.
Getting started..
While there are different types of meditation practices, each working through different neural pathways; meditation, in essence, is the practice of stillness.
What meditation practice you must adopt largely depends on what works for you. Certain types of meditation such as Vipassana and Transcendental meditation require trained guidance, whereas other types of meditation can be practiced with music or mobile applications that provide audio guidance to navigate through the practice.
Most beginners start their meditation journey with basic mindfulness exercises. Researchers have, in fact, found that meditation resources on the internet are the preferred choice for beginners owing to its convenience, privacy, and scheduling flexibility.
Finding your Goldilocks zone
If you’ve decided to start your journey with a meditation app without waiting for slots to open up at meditation centres, you are still likely to go through a trial and error process before you find the right fit.
Pankhuri, a working professional and regular meditator describes the process as an “intimate and personal experience”. “There is no one sleeve fits all when it comes to meditating. What works for you might not work for me. I tried a meditation app but quickly shifted to guided meditation videos on YouTube. I don’t use meditation apps anymore but I know people who swear by them”.
Other meditators we interviewed voiced the same opinion.
Ankit, a musician by profession started with guided meditations, but switched to listening to instrumental music as he found it to have a more calming effect.
Almost everyone has used at least two apps before finding their “goldilocks” zone – the best fit for you. So if you aren’t satisfied with your current app, don’t fret. Try other platforms and you will find what works for you.
Free meditation apps to get you started..
At Health Analytics Asia, we put together a list of highly rated meditation apps with free access to get you started in your journey to mental well-being:
InsightTimer
With an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 and over 5 million downloads, InsightTimer is one of the most popular meditation applications there is. Available for free on Google Playstore, the app provides both guided meditations and music tracks for sleep, anxiety and mindfulness. What stands out about this app is its focus on community. You can join a community of meditators across the globe with a free account which allows you to participate in mindfulness challenges to meet your goals. InsightTimer also has meditation courses curated specifically for children. With its wide range of options from guided courses to music playlists to meditation for specific conditions, Insight timer has it all, and can be a great place to find a meditation practice that works for you.
Serenity: Guided Meditation & Mindfulness
If you want to adopt a more methodical approach to learning meditation, Serenity might be the right choice for you. The app has organized guided courses for meditation that allow you to progress through levels from basic to advanced in a paced, organized manner. It is also easy to get started with as it does not require users to create an account.
Atom: Build a habit of meditation (For Beginners)
One of the most highest reviewed meditation apps, Atom is designed for beginners. Free of a multitude of options, this app keeps the objective straight-forward – to inculcate a habit of meditation. Modules are built to gradually build a meditation practice starting with just a few minutes a day. If your goal is to be consistent in your meditation practice versus exploring different meditation practices, this might be a right fit for you.
Let’s meditate: Meditate, Relax and Sleep
Let’s meditate is specifically designed to calm anxiety and promote better sleep. However, its guided meditations are free and a great resource for beginners. This meditation app teaches breath work, and its features will help you stick to your meditation practice.
Medito: Free Meditation, Sleep and Mindfulness
Medito is a 100% free meditation app that includes guided meditation modules for your specific needs, whether it is to build a consistent habit or deal with specific conditions like anxiety or insomnia. It is an ideal app for beginners as it allows for a great level of customization that allows you to find what meditation practices work for you.
All of the above apps are available for free on the Apple and Android Play stores.
If you want to avoid downloading another application on your phone, and prefer podcasts or free online resources, you may find your match on Spotify or YouTube.
Spotify offers a range of playlists for meditation. There is a great variety of options to choose from, whether you prefer a specific instrument, nature sounds or guided meditations, it is all available on one platform.
YouTube also has a range of meditation music playlists as well as guided meditations. If you are interested in specific types of meditation, you are guaranteed to find resources from certified meditation institutes such as “Transcendental Meditation” and “Vipassana Meditation”.
Whatever your reason for taking up meditation, there is a range of free resources to get help you get started. Happy meditating!
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