Learning to Meditate: Apps and Beyond

Today's podcast episode is about learning to meditate, and the pros and cons of using meditation apps. I'll talk about how I think the apps are best used, and what else you might want to look for to support your growing meditation practice. These days many people are getting interested in learning mindfulness or other forms of meditation. We've been hearing about the many documented benefits to physical and mental health, and many of us turn to meditation to get to know ourselves better. Lots of new meditators dip their toes in to practice through one of the many popular meditation apps that you can download onto your phone (like Calm, Headspace, or Insight Timer). Personally, I think these apps have some great features, and I wish I'd had access to them when I first started my practice. On an app, it's easy to find guided meditations, it's not intimidating, and it's available day or night. That said, there's more to learning mindfulness beyond listening to guided meditation tracks online. To really benefit from your practice, you'll want to learn more about the context. Each meditation technique exists within a bigger picture, and it helps to understand more about that framework, as well as the philosophies and wisdom teachings go along with them.  And, meditation apps cannot provide a clear pathway for progressing your practice. After you've done the same meditation for a while, how will you know what the next steps are? You'll hear about a few of the roadblocks I've experienced in my practice, and how having a teacher and community helped me move past those moments of confusion and frustration. I'll also talk about the role of guided vs. silent meditations, having a meditation coach or mindfulness mentor, and some resources for expanding your practice. -- For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast. Or, for accessible guided practices that align with these podcast topics, check out my Moved To Meditate Class Library at movedtomeditate.com. Find more insightful podcast episodes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast. And, I'm on Instagram at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, yoga, and pictures of PNW nature and my adorable kitty, Mustache).