If meditation seems difficult for you, it might be time to put these newb-friendly guided programs to good use.
If you feel like you’re the absolute worst at meditating, don’t despair. Firstly, a lot of people feel that way. Switching off takes practice and there’s no real “right way” to do it.
And secondly, we did some research, and it turns out the internet is abundant with guided meditation programs.
Whether you prefer to listen on Spotify, watch on YouTube, or take instructions from that pocket robot you call a smartphone, there’s a meditation program out there to fit your needs. To get you started, here’s seven of our favorites.
Welzen
Welzen provides users with hundreds of 10 minute guided meditations, plus coaching sessions, and a daily dose of inspiration. Some of Welzen’s sessions are geared toward helping users manage stress and anxiety, but others deal with creativity and focus.
The app even offers guided meditations specifically for people in relationships, so you should definitely check it out the next time you have 10 minutes to spare. You can get started with the app for free, but you’ll pay up to $9.99 monthly if you decide to make Welzen part of your daily life.
Headspace
“Meditation made simple” is literally the Headspace tagline, so if you’re new to meditation, this app might be for you.
Headspace offers hundreds of themed sessions for meditators of every skill level, plus “bite-sized” meditations for busy schedules. Since Headspace is all about mental health, the app even offers SOS exercises in case you find yourself experiencing an emotional meltdown out of nowhere.
You can sign up for free, but you’ll pay anywhere from $6.99 to $12.99 monthly, depending on which payment plan you choose.
Calm
Calm aims to teach its users how to meditate, breathe properly, get more restful sleep, and relax from literally anywhere. Calm is currently the number one app for meditation, and it offers guided meditations that can last anywhere from three minutes to 25.
The only downside to using Calm is you’ll have to pay about $60 annually to use the app, but if Calm’s consistently high ratings mean anything, then you probably won’t regret it.
Stop, Breathe & Think
Like Calm, The Stop, Breathe & Think app comes with a self-explanatory title. This guided meditation app works by having users check in with themselves throughout the day to monitor their moods, thoughts, and breathing patterns.
As Stop, Breathe & Think gets to knows users’ needs, the app provides personalized meditations and activities to help Android and Apple fans alike live more peaceful lives.
On top of all that goodness, Stop, Breathe & Think donates 10 percent of their profits to Tools for Peace, a nonprofit dedicated to helping at-risk youth experience the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
Meditation Minis
We’ve written about Meditation Minis before, but let’s mention this top-rated podcast again because it’s an amazing one for newbies and experienced meditators, both.
Each week, host Chel Hamilton leads listeners through 10 minutes of guided meditation that can focus on everything from anxiety to insomnia to self-doubt.
Meditation Minis is non-dogmatic as well, which makes it an excellent choice for anyone who shies away from the institutional approaches to meditation.
TheHonestGuys
Based out of the UK, TheHonestGuys are quite literally just two honest guys, and one honest woman, who write, record, and produce guided meditations that are meant to help listeners conquer their anxiety and sleep better.
TheHonestGuys YouTube channel was originally created as a place where Honest Guys, Rick and Keven could give “honest opinions and reviews on various self-improvement methods and systems,” but it’s developed into a guided meditation channel over time.
You can listen to TheHonestGuys on Spotify if YouTube isn’t your thing. But no matter where you choose to listen, everything TheHonestGuys create is 100 percent free.
Relax For Awhile With Joanne D’amico
As a non-practicing registered nurse and a licensed massage therapist, Joanne D’amico offers guided meditations that are meant to help listeners deal with both mental and physical woes.
D’amico’s guided meditations confront everything from social anxiety to muscle tension—and she’s even created a video for viewers seeking headache relief.
D’amico also dabbles in ASMR, and some of her ASMR role play focuses on helping viewers with PTSD feel safe. You can explore D’amico’s work on her YouTube channel, or have a listen on Spotify.
