Meditation—defined as a mind-body practice in which you focus your attention on something to minimize stressful or distracting thoughts or feelings—can be more than just relaxing; it touts a slew of health benefits, too, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Whether you’re concerned about a crisis out of your control, or just need to clear your head, mediating may be a good place to start.
To help you on your hunt for the best meditation app, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on over 35 apps, looking at an array of metrics including cost, types of meditations offered, added features and more. Star rankings were assigned solely by the editorial team. Here are our top picks for the best meditation apps. Note: Prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change. All apps are available for iOS and Android.
There is much more to meditation than sitting on the floor with crossed legs and closed eyes. Aside from providing the needed forum to ease your mind and refocus your energy, taking time out for yourself and quieting your thoughts could lead to all sorts of other health benefits. It’s the process of shutting out mental distractions, like thinking about work emails, and focusing your energy in the present moment. The goal is to increase calmness and psychological balance.
The practice has a long history of increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with certain illnesses and enhancing overall mindfulness and well-being, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)[1].
There are several ways to meditate and target different goals, the NCCIH says, but most have four elements: a quiet location, comfortable posture, focus of attention and breath, and openness to the process. However it’s done, the end goal is a clear and calm mental state.
People searching for peace of mind are good candidates for mediating. But taking time to re-center could also boost your physical health, explains the NCCIH. In some cases, practicing meditation can reduce blood pressure, alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and can also help with:
Research in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine even notes that structural and functional brain changes have been observed in people with a long-term meditation practice[2]. And, a research analysis published in AYU shows consistent mediation can improve memory, reduce heart rate and even blood pressure[3].
When you are ready for a meditation session, start by following these simple steps:
Meditation is generally considered safe and helpful in improving some health conditions, but it isn’t a substitute for therapy or medication. Be sure to speak with your doctor about whether meditation might be good for you, or whether you require treatment that goes beyond meditating.
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To determine our best meditation apps of 2022 ranking, Forbes Health analyzed data across factors like:
All star rankings are determined solely by the editorial team.
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