Although technology is known as a great distracter, it also has allowed for the creation of some terrific tools to help fine-tune your mindfulness. If you’re looking for a way to become more mindful, here are a few apps designed to help:
Insight Timer
Available for both Android and iOS users, the Insight Timer is a combination meditation timer and mindfulness guide. Enjoy guided meditations by gurus like Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield, and find others in your area who are meditating. This one uses a guided meditation as well as Tibetan singing bowls to create the meditation experience that’s right for you. Free.
The Mindfulness Training App
Designed for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, the Mindfulness Training App walks you through a number of practices and styles, all presented by experts like Dr. Andrew Weill and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. Whether you’re looking for a basic introduction to mindfulness and meditation, want to cultivate spiritual awareness and physical well-being or find-tune your deep breathing skills, this robust app covers all the bases with a full library of resources that are designed to be shared with friends. Free. In-app purchases available.
Stillness Buddy
Who doesn’t need a friend to remind us to take a break, take a breath and re-center ourselves? That’s the role that Stillness Buddy plays. This desktop application can be customized to your schedule, and at the chosen time, you’ll get a message on your screen that reminds you to take a moment of stillness. You can also choose what exercise you prefer to be guided through during that moment, and can choose from meditations by spiritual teachers including Thich Nhat Hanh, His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama and Barry Long; there are also programs on mindfulness-based stress reduction and stretching. Free 14-day trial; after that, user licenses provide access to content for about $15 a month.
