Deep breathing and meditation are proven techniques to aid in mental, physical, emotional, and even spiritual health. Practicing these techniques can reduce stress levels in your body, lower heart rate, blood pressure, reduce depression and anxiety, better manage chronic pain and help to regulate your body’s reaction to stress, fatigue, and fear. In addition, it can help detoxify the body, improve digestion and immunity, and correct posture. Studies show that deep breathing and meditation can change the structure of our brain and even increase neuroplasticity. I want to share some of my favorite apps for deep breathing and meditation.
Headspace - $12.99/month
Headspace is a pretty well-know guided meditation app that is very user friendly and has “something for everyone”. It features guided meditations, sleep sounds, mini-meditations, and meditations of emergencies. What I love about this app is that it is great for those who are just starting out or new to meditations. There are animations and explanations that make the whole thing a friendlier and more fun experience.
Headspace is free to download and has many mini-meditations that are free. In order to access more content, it is $12.99 per month.
Breathwrk - FREE
This app is my personal favorite right now. Breathwrk has many guided breathing exercises to improve focus, decrease anxiety, increase energy, and help you fall asleep. Personally, I use this app daily. I like to practice deep breathing for anxiety relief as well as high focus in the morning. I love that this app teaches me how to breathe, and there are visuals and music on the app that make it even easier for me.
Breathwrk is free to download!
Calm - $12.99/month
This is my favorite app to use when I can’t sleep. I play one of the stories and listen to rain sounds and I am usually able to fall asleep within 20 mins. This app features guided meditations, bedtime stories, and soothing music. This app is also great for beginners, as it is an introduction to mindfulness.
The Calm app is free to download and also features many bedtime stories and meditations. A monthly subscription costs about $12.99.
Rootd - FREE
This app is specifically useful for those of us who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. For those that have had a panic attack before, you know that it is quite scary. This app is so amazing because it literally walks you through a panic attack and reminds you that the feeling will not last. There is a deep breathing tool as well as a visualizer tool built in to the app to help keep you “rooted” when you are having a panic attack.
This app is free to download and offers in-app purchases.
Abide - $29.99/year
Abide is a Christian meditation app that explores God’s word while helping you deal with anxiety, fear, worry, or whatever you may be feeling in a practical way. This app was created by former Google employees who wanted to use their gifts to bring others closer to God, especially those struggling with mental health.
This app is free to download and offers a premium subscription for $29.99 per year.
Using these apps and practicing consistently is truly life-changing!
Wishing you peace and calm
With Love,
Sherin
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