Diana Winston, UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center director (MARC), says that mindfulness is well researched and is why many apps are mindfulness-based. Calm and Headspace are two of the most popular apps. Winston and his MARC team also lead UCLA Mindful.How to choose and use your meditation appOnline meditation can help you achieve your goals, whether you are looking to lower anxiety, be more mindful of your daily activities, or just to improve your meditation skills.Concentrate on one Meditation Technique at a timeHow can you determine which meditation technique will work best for you, when there are many. Apps can be very helpful in this regard, since they allow you to access many different techniques from one place. Zeidan says that you don't want to do too much in too little time. For example, you shouldn't do three types of meditation within a fifteen-minute time span.Zeidan states that one way to determine the effectiveness of an app is by how many techniques it introduces to you in a short time. This is not what you want. You want to learn one thing, then move on. Although we have the tendency to try many things, I believe that focusing on the breath and your body is the best way to begin.Mindfulness meditation is gaining popularity. It can be done through many practices, including breathwork, body scan meditation and walking meditation. However, it may take some trial and error to find the one that works for you. Winston says that it all depends on what your goals are. Winston says that it all depends on what type of practice you are seeking. There are many apps available to help you learn mindfulness. It can be overwhelming. People tend to go to the most popular apps, such as Headspace. These are great apps. Finding something you feel connected to is the problem.Find the right app for youIt will be nearly impossible to connect to your meditation app if you don't have an internet connection. Winston suggests that something as simple and straightforward as finding an instructor's voice annoying can be enough to make you want to find a different instructor or get a completely new app.Valdes says to trust your intuition and listen carefully to how you react to an instructor or person. It can be difficult to focus if you don't feel connected to the instructor, app or class. You don't have to stick with one app or technique. There are many options if you don't feel attracted by the vibrations offered by the technique or person.Important to remember that meditation techniques such as Vipsannaa Buddhism practice that focuses inwardly on the self are rooted in ancient practices. This is something that is often forgotten in the modernization of the wellness area. Valdes recommends that anyone who is interested in starting a meditation program seek out teachers that are familiar with it. Apps include Plum Village, which was created by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist visionary, and Liberate, which is a meditation app for the Black community. It features BIPOC instructors.Look for Apps with an Education ComponentYou should look for apps that offer guided meditations and exercises to help you become a better meditator. Waking Up, for example, has lessons and discussions about meditation theory.Winston points out that many apps offer courses that are a week long, to help you get started with meditation. Many educators recommend that you study meditation one-on-one. This is because experienced meditators can often get individualized instruction, or even travel to attend retreats. If you have any questions during your practice, it is worth looking for an app that offers access to a professional. Ten Percent Happier, which offers subscribers access to a meditation coach, is one example of such an app. Zeidan says that meditation can bring up some personal issues. There is also awareness of side effects such as feeling floating or seeing spots. Clear thinking can help you keep your mind focused on the present.Do it!And in other words: Use the app. Winston recommends that you use the app as often as you can. While a daily practice is preferred, it's less about how long you meditate each day than about consistency. Research shows that meditation can have long-term positive effects on the brain.You must continue practicing to become a proficient meditator, according to Zeidan. When I was showing him my research, I asked the Dalai Lama how much training it took to become a great meditator. He replied that it would take a lifetime.
