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By Lebohang Mosia<\/p>\n
In the wake of the pandemic, guided meditation became a staple for mental health, as we moved towards practising mindfulness in an effort to keep sane in the current fast-paced world we live in today.<\/p>\n
Stress is rampant, so it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise that there was a surge of mindfulness apps in 2020 when the pandemic changed the course of our lives forever. <\/p>\n
According to the Wall Street Journal, between 2015 and 2018, more that 2 000 new guided meditation apps were launched globally.<\/p>\n
We can\u2019t deny how demanding lives are \u2013 it demands our time and our mind and this requires that we actually make a concerted effort to be still for a moment, and most importantly, breathe, and exercise awareness to achieve mental clarity and emotional stability.<\/p>\n
You may already have a meditation routine tailored to your spiritual needs, or you may be a beginner who has never heard or practised meditation before and you\u2019re looking to inform yourself about the value meditation can bring to your everyday life. <\/p>\n
Regardless, guided meditation is wonderful and well worth delving into.<\/p>\n
Naomi Marshak, professional Yogi at The Shala Cape Town Yoga School said, \u201cThere are two types of mindfulness meditation: silent meditation and guided meditation. <\/p>\n
\u201cSilent meditation is done by yourself, as you look inwardly to find inner peace. Guided meditation involves listening to a trained professional as they calmly lead you though your practice. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis might feel like an invasion of privacy at first, considering people associate meditation with silence and stillness, but once you grapple with the power of meditation, having a guide becomes very important to your spiritual growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are five free guided meditation apps that can help cultivate true inner peace:<\/p>\n
Ten Percent Happier Meditation<\/strong><\/p>\n This guided meditation app is perfect for beginners looking to master the art of concentration. <\/p>\n The app even has a podcast entitled \u201cMore Than A Feeling\u201d, where the host, Saleem Reshamwala, goes on a mindfulness adventure to find answers about the nature of meditation. <\/p>\n He interviews neuroscientists, esoteric historians, psychologists and philosophers alike, to see how ordinary people navigate their emotions. <\/p>\n Reshamwala interrogates the human condition and helps listeners define their feelings in relation to others.<\/p>\n Calm<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are looking to improve the quality of your sleep, then you should download award-winning mindfulness meditation app Calm, whether you\u2019re a meditation enthusiast or not. <\/p>\n It offers meditation master-classes, relaxing guided meditations and even stories to help you sleep. <\/p>\n Not only is it available on iOS and Android but it is also available on desktop, and according to Healthline, has seen more that 100 million downloads worldwide.<\/p>\n Breathwrk<\/strong><\/p>\n A large part of the practice of mindfulness involves breathing \u2013 and Breathwrk is the best meditation app for learning and practising breathing techniques. <\/p>\n It has a user-friendly interface with a calming layout that reflects the focus that people who mediate want to emulate. You will learn how to take breathing from a passive act, to a mindful act.<\/p>\n Smiling Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n Smiling Mind is a meditation app developed by psychologists and educators, specifically for children aged 7 years old and up, in several daily routines like school, sports etc. <\/p>\n Although guided meditation uses technical jargon, the meditation lessons are simple and easy to follow.<\/p>\n Headspace<\/strong><\/p>\n Headspace has been heralded as the people\u2019s choice in mindfulness and guided meditation. <\/p>\n The app guides listeners through eight supportive meditation techniques taken from Tibetan Buddhist and Burmese ancient tradition. All the guided meditations are narrated by Andy Puddicombe, a world-renowned writer and TV presenter, with expertise in mindfulness and meditation. <\/p>\n If you want to start your mental health journey towards a tranquil, clear mind, familiarising yourself with the basics of guided meditation, Headspace is ideal. <\/p>\n The success of the app has led to the development of an interactive Netflix series that personalises the listener\u2019s experience according to their mindset or mood.<\/p>\n Read the latest issue of IOL Health digital magazine here.<\/p>\n