Meditation is a powerful tool.
Singer-songwriter Jewel is a prime example of the practice’s life-changing benefits. In a recent interview with ABC News anchor Dan Harris, she said that learning to meditate helped her manage chronic anxiety and debilitating panic attacks, which stemmed from a tumultuous childhood.
“I learned to do this meditation where I imagined I was on a very stormy ocean,” she told Harris on his “10% Happier” mindfulness podcast. “I’d imagine myself sinking through the ocean, allowing myself to relax, I would get calmer. I would notice the color of the ocean change. I’d notice the taste of salt on my lips. I’d notice the rays of sunlight coming in and the further I got down to the sandy floor, it got calm, it got tranquil by then, and I would look up at the stormy surface and it was in the distance.”
The singer is certainly onto something: The benefits of meditation are robust. Research shows it can reduce stress, increase focus and help with the management of pain and sleeping problems.
If you’re looking to add the practice to your life, we’ve rounded up a handful of meditation apps so you can reap the rewards, too. The programs will teach you how to meditate under any condition, give you the tools to handle things that make you anxious (the stress of the political climate, anyone?) and add an overall sense of calm to your day.
Scroll through the options below and find the one that’s right for you:
Correction: This article originally stated the Calm app cost $4.99 per month. That is the rate for the yearly billing cycle plan. The app costs $12.99 per month, or $60 for the year.