Mind Body Entrepreneurs

Are you interested in trying meditation but find that you have difficulty focusing for extended periods of time? These mindfulness apps can help you to find the focus that you need for an effective meditation practice. If you are seeking a greater sense of focus in your life, mindfulness can help you to reach your goals. The guides provide a number of different methods from simple breathing exercises to body scans you can begin to train your mind and reach a deeper level of meditation.  Headspace - one of the most widely used, this app launched in 2012 and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. The app utilizes three tracks: Minis, Packs, and Singles all with a different time commitment and aim. The variety allows you to use just the one app for most all of your needs: 1-3 minute meditations to give you a quick respite during a hectic day, deep guided meditations for when you have more time to dedicate to your practice, and Singles which will help you to fold everything you have learned into your daily routine.  Stop, Breathe, and Think - started as a way to raise funds for underserved children in the Tools for Peace program, this app is great for kids and teenagers, as well as adults. We really liked the intro that runs you through a little test to discover more about your current level of consciousness. There are tracks that guide you through mindfulness and others that will work with you to cultivate your sense of compassion. There are both free and subscription levels available for iOS users.  Simple Habit - created by an ex-Wall Streeter, Simple Habit is geared toward professionals with busy lives and not a lot of downtime, and perhaps with some unhealthy habits. These guided exercises last for an average of five minutes and work well for go-getters that don't have much time to stop and think. There are also a lot of graphics that can jump-start your consciousness as you try to become more in touch with your quiet, inner self.  Choose from a variety of different teachers to find the guide who works best for your needs.  5 Minute Meditation - choose between Mindfulness and Quick Awareness as you cycle through the 28-day programs geared to absolute beginners who are just beginning their journey. Without any sign up necessary, this is the perfect app to pull up when you need a short break from your hectic day. The programs will guide you through awareness exercises and help to calm your senses.  Aware - there 21 days of mindfulness exercises contained on the app as well as a full series of breathing exercises. These guided practices can help you to begin a mindful journey and go further in depth in the process than many of the other options. You can practice guided meditation during a walk, commute, or even while you are cooking. The app is quite effective in teaching you how to weave meditation practices into many different daily activities. It also has a pretty comprehensive section on breathing techniques that are geared toward specific results such as reducing your anxiety and stress. These practices and guide you through very stressful moments and help you to reduce the physical reactions that you experience. These five apps are among the highest rated by consumers and have been found to be quite helpful for many people who are beginning a meditation practice and those who are looking to go deeper. Give them a try and see how they can help your mindfulness, focus, and meditation practice.