The ancient art of meditation and today’s world of sophisticated technology – can they really coexist? Absolutely. Accepting and using the benefits of technology for meditation can open your mind to a deeper practice.
Bringing tech into the world of meditation opens doors. It enhances the practice of those who have been long immersed in seeking peace of mind and expanding consciousness. And it helps newcomers to meditation find a way in. Moving with the flow of technological advancement is a part of being truly present in the world.
Is technology for meditation right for everyone?
Centuries of research and thousands of years of experience show that meditation and practicing prolonged focus to bring about a state of mindfulness is beneficial for wellness.
However, there will always be some people who would rather keep technology and meditation separate. This is likely to be driven by a certain amount of trepidation over meditation becoming the practice of the privileged only. The core beliefs of experts are that meditation is for everyone and can be practiced at any time.
And for some forward-thinking meditation teachers, technology enhances the availability of meditation for everyone. The benefits of using technology to meditate, whether through an app, video, specialist equipment, or program, is that the practice is available at any time. This helps practitioners elevate their practice to a deeper level.
Technology can enhance meditation and mindfulness
Whether to use technology for meditation practice is a personal choice. But it’s worth remembering that remaining open and balanced do not preclude using technological advances to attain mindfulness.
The most obvious advantage of using technology to enhance meditative practice is its availability whenever there is a spare half hour. Everyone leads busy and stressful lives, and finding the time and space for practice can be challenging. If there is an app that can be switched on there and then, it becomes a way to use spare time well.
It offers an alternative to other uses of technology that are detrimental to peace of mind. For example, it’s easy to slip into browsing social media during any downtime. This use of technology brings nothing to enhance well-being and can have negative effects. Switching to a meditation app rather than Twitter will open your mind, body, and soul and help you breathe.
5 meditation apps, podcasts and tools to try
Not all meditation apps and tools are the same. As with selecting a therapist, yoga teacher, or any other expert, it’s about finding the best quality. Check out the reviews and read up on what other people think of them. Aside from quality, meditation apps may have a special focus. Some are designed to ease you into regular and disciplined practice, while others are geared towards teaching the principles of mindfulness
1. Master Sha podcast
Master Sha is the creator of the Master Sha Tao Calligraphy Field, a positive energy healing field for meditative practice. He has recently launched the meditation podcast Experience Life Transformation with Dr. and Master Sha, available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, and wherever else you listen to your podcasts . He also offers free daily blessings, mantras, guided meditations, and chants on Amazon Alexa
2. Headspace app
Probably one of the best-known meditation apps, Headspace offers free meditation practice. There is also a subscription service available to unlock more features
3. Muse headband and app
The Muse Headband works in tandem with an app and promises “Meditation Made Easy”. The brain-sensing headband is designed to improve the meditative practice by providing real-time feedback using EEG. Expect guided meditations and a personalised program of meditation.
4. Mindfulness for Beginners podcast
A relatively new podcast hosted by Shaun Donaghy, Mindfulness for Beginners, aims to make meditation and Buddhism accessible to all. Every episode is geared around a specific theme and includes a meditation. Find it on all the normal podcast platforms.
5. Omvana
Omvana offers access to a huge library of meditations from instructors around the world. You can mix and match guided meditation sessions with music, sounds, and tracks. There are options for meditation sessions across different themes, from sleep to focus.