
Guided meditation is a form of meditation that is led by a teacher, either in person or via audio or video. It is a great way to relax and calm the mind and can be done in as little as 10 minutes a day. There are many different types of guided meditations available, from apps to in-person classes, and they can be tailored to different needs, such as relaxation, sleep, or walking. The best part about guided meditation is that it is safe, accessible, and easily fits into your day.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Format | Video, audio, or both |
Length | 3 minutes to 3 hours |
Cost | Free, $11-$18, $69.99/year, $12.99/month, $399.99/lifetime membership |
Instructor | Yoga instructor, religious guide, clinical psychologist, former Buddhist monk, etc. |
Platform | YouTube, independent websites, apps |
Type | Walking, chakra, breathing, mindfulness, etc. |
What You'll Learn
Guided meditation apps
There are many guided meditation apps available, with a variety of features and functionalities. Some of the most popular apps include:
- Headspace: This app offers guided meditations for all levels, from beginners to experts. It has a user-friendly interface and provides meditations for better sleep, reduced stress, and more. Headspace also offers one-on-one mental health coaching and mood-boosting mindfulness exercises.
- Calm: This app is well-known for its calming background sounds, short meditations, and sleep stories. It offers guided meditations and unguided meditations to help you relax and keep calm in tough times. Calm also has a dedicated section for kids, called Calm Kids.
- Buddhify: This app specializes in guided meditations that address anxiety, stress, sleep, and more. It has over 200 targeted guided meditations and a simple, intuitive interface.
- Insight Timer: This app offers a large library of free meditations, with over 150,000 options. It also has a community feature that allows users to connect and interact with other meditators.
- Smiling Mind: This app is designed specifically for children and young adults, offering guided meditations and activities to help them develop their mindfulness practice. It has a simple and engaging interface, making it easy for younger users to navigate.
These apps can be a great way to bring meditation into your daily life, with a variety of options to suit different needs and preferences. They can help you reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance your overall well-being.
The Benefits of Combining Tai Chi and Meditation
You may want to see also
Guided meditation videos on YouTube
YouTube is a great resource for guided meditation videos. There are many benefits to guided meditation, especially for beginners. Having an expert guide you through the basic steps of your meditation practice can help you understand what you're trying to achieve through meditation before you embark on your journey. An instructor can lead you through the intricacies and subtleties of the mind and how it's likely to behave during meditation. They may also explain meditation techniques and how to integrate these techniques into your everyday life.
For example, the channel "UCLA Mindful | UCLA Health" offers a range of guided meditations in multiple languages, such as their "Breathing Meditation" and "Loving Kindness Meditation." Another channel, "Tara Brach", provides a library of guided meditations with various themes, including "Meeting Fear with a Healing Breath" and "Awareness and Flow."
Additionally, some meditation apps, like Headspace, also have a presence on YouTube. Headspace's co-founder and former Buddhist monk, Andy Puddicombe, often leads meditations that incorporate elements of both insight and calming techniques.
With the abundance of guided meditation videos on YouTube, you can explore different instructors and styles to find what resonates with you and supports your meditation practice.
Deep Meditation: How to Know
You may want to see also
Guided meditation websites
Insight Timer
Insight Timer is a popular choice, offering a basic meditation timer that allows users to set the length, background music and chimes. It also has a huge library of free guided meditations, including work from renowned teachers such as Tara Brach. The app also features mood tracking, sleep stories, meditation music, and live yoga classes.
UCLA Mindful
UCLA Mindful is another free resource, developed by researchers at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. It offers basic meditations in English and Spanish, as well as special wellness meditations for people with challenging health conditions. They also host a weekly podcast and free online live events.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a website that offers evidence-based meditation and mindfulness exercises for both adults and children. Their goal is to alleviate stress and improve focus, and they have a particular focus on schools and education. They also have a weekly podcast available on Spotify.
Mindfulness Exercises
This website offers a broad selection of mindfulness exercises, with over 2,000 free meditations, worksheets, videos, and e-books. It has content for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users, and covers a range of topics such as short meditations, online courses, and applied mindfulness.
University of California, San Diego Center for Mindfulness
The University of California, San Diego, offers free live events and guided meditation sessions, as well as recordings on Soundcloud. They also provide additional resources, such as supporting youth and family members, or healthcare workers.
Yogi Approved
Yogi Approved is a paid subscription service with a variety of HD yoga, fitness, and meditation videos for all levels. They also add new programs weekly and offer offline viewing. They have a blog with tips and tricks, and healthy recipes.
Sattva
Sattva is another paid subscription service, with a comprehensive collection of guided meditations, ancient chants, mudras, and mantras delivered by Sanskrit scholars. They offer a variety of playlists curated based on mood, desire, or time of day.
There are many other guided meditation websites and apps available, with new ones being created all the time. These seven are a great place to start for anyone interested in exploring the benefits of meditation.
Meditation's Benefits: My Personal Growth and Peace Journey
You may want to see also
Guided meditation classes
Guided meditation is led by a teacher, either in person or via audio or video. The teacher will explain the dynamics of the mind and how it behaves during meditation, as well as meditation techniques. They will also explain how to integrate these techniques into your everyday life.
There are many places to experience guided meditation classes. Local meditation groups and classes are often easily accessible and led by experienced teachers. These groups can be a great way to meet like-minded people and build a meditation habit.
Digital apps, such as Headspace, Calm, and The Mindfulness App, also offer guided meditations with experts. These apps can be a convenient way to fit meditation into your schedule and allow you to practice anywhere. Some apps offer both guided and non-guided options, so you can continue your practice as your skills progress.
When choosing a guided meditation class, it is important to consider your own preferences and goals. The style of meditation may differ depending on the teacher and the type of meditation practiced. Common types of meditation classes include visualization, loving-kindness, reflection, Zen, transcendental, chakra, gazing, breathing, yoga, mindfulness, and walking meditations.
Guided meditation is an excellent tool to help you find peace and calm in your daily life, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve your overall well-being.
Meditate to Sleep: A Beginner's Guide
You may want to see also
Guided meditation for beginners
Guided meditation is a great way to begin a meditation practice. It involves a teacher guiding a student through a meditation session using oral instructions. It is particularly useful for keeping beginners on track and can also benefit more seasoned meditators. Guided meditation can include instructions on posture, breath, body scanning techniques, guided imagery, reciting mantras, and more.
Where to Find Guided Meditations for Beginners
There are many places to find guided meditations for beginners. Here are some suggestions:
- YouTube has many guided meditations for beginners, such as those by Adyashanti, Sam Harris, Alan Watts, and Michael Sealey. Be careful to choose a video without advertisements interrupting the meditation.
- Apps such as Headspace, Aware, and Insight Timer offer hundreds of guided meditations for beginners.
- Websites such as Mindful.org, PositivePsychology.com, and Jodiettenberg.com offer free guided meditations and meditation courses for beginners.
- Books such as Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff can be a great resource for guided meditations.
Tips for Beginners
- Consistency is key. Try to meditate a few times a week or daily, even if it's just for a few minutes.
- Schedule your meditation sessions like an appointment, or tack them onto an existing routine, such as brushing your teeth.
- Time-wise, start with short meditations of 5-10 minutes and slowly increase the time as you build your practice.
- Noise is okay! You don't need total silence to meditate. In fact, too much silence can make it harder to focus. It's normal to hear noises during your meditation and simply notice them and then return your focus to your breath.
- Posture-wise, sit however feels comfortable, as long as your back is straight and your neck and shoulders are relaxed. You can sit on a couch, a chair, propped up in bed, or on a cushion.
- Clothing should be loose and comfortable. Remove any accessories that you might fidget with.
- Location-wise, find a place that feels calm and quiet to you. This could be somewhere in nature, like a park, or a quiet room in your home.
- Don't worry if your mind wanders during meditation. This is normal, even for experienced meditators. Simply notice the thought and then gently bring your focus back to your breath.
- Be kind to yourself. Meditation is a practice, and it takes time to get comfortable with it. Don't judge yourself or your thoughts.
Guru Meditation Error: What Does It Mean?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Guided meditation is a form of meditation where an expert leads you through the basic steps of your meditation practice. It can be done in person or via audio or video.
Guided meditations can be found on apps such as Calm, Headspace, and The Mindfulness App, or on websites such as Mindful.org and UCLA Mindful. They can also be found on YouTube.
Many guided meditation classes are available for free. However, apps like Headspace and Calm offer memberships in addition to free trials, and in-person classes can range from $20 to $150 per class, with an average of around $55 to $60.
Guided meditations are an excellent starting point for beginners, as they provide direction and focus. The narrator or teacher walks you through how to meditate, what to expect, and how to apply what you've learned to your life. Regular meditation, on the other hand, is done without any external guidance.