Best Guided Meditations Of 2021

Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. If you’ve convinced yourself meditation isn’t for you, because you can’t focus, or you're skeptical of anything related to Eastern ideology, Ten Percent Happier will speak your language. It’s specifically marketed to “fidgety skeptics,” especially beginners who need more of a guiding hand. Bernstein offers free meditations that you can get when signing up for her email list.

You can also listen to sacred music, spoken words, or any music you find relaxing or inspiring. You may want to write your reflections in a journal or discuss them with a friend or spiritual leader. Combining a walk with meditation is an efficient and healthy way to relax.



In the mid-’00s, Chuck Wild, who performs as Liquid Mind, started uploading his relaxation music onto Pandora and YouTube to modest returns. But his streaming numbers skyrocketed once streaming took hold around 2014. “I started looking at the numbers and my income, and went, “Holy cow, this is a way to fulfill my dream,” Wild says. Since then, he has released albums titled Deep Sleep, Peace and Mindfulness that have found success online. Keep your daily stress at bay with hundreds of meditations guided by experts from around the world. With practices in loads of lengths and styles, it's a breeze to find exactly what suits your needs, whether you're a beginner or advanced.

You can use this technique anywhere you're walking, such as in a tranquil forest, on a city sidewalk or at the mall. You can create your own mantra, whether it's Nature Relaxation religious or secular. Examples of religious mantras include the Jesus Prayer in the Christian tradition, the holy name of God in Judaism, or the om mantra of Hinduism, Buddhism and other Eastern religions. Concentrate on feeling and listening as you inhale and exhale through your nostrils.

The purpose is to slow your breathing, take in more oxygen, and reduce the use of shoulder, neck and upper chest muscles while breathing so that you breathe more efficiently. Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. Meditation is an umbrella term for the many ways to a relaxed state of being.

Some find Joni Mitchell’s “Blue Room Hotel” or Miles Davis’s “Blue in Green” to be sleep-inducing. “The better choice is often music with no words,” notes Breus. Steer clear of anything that evokes strong emotions, as well -- regardless of whether they're positive or negative. “Don’t listen to that mix tape that your old girlfriend once gave you,” Breus advises.

But the truth is that inadequate sleep can lead to harmful physiological changes and chronic health conditions. Enjoying some tunes before bedtime can help you to fall asleep faster, wake up less frequently during the night, and wake feeling more rested in the morning. Using soft, soothing music to unwind before retiring to bed each night is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged as a relaxation technique.

Many meditation apps come with content to help a person sleep. Others are specific apps for helping people sleep, so there are many available options. A variety of teachers lead meditations ranging from 3–40 minutes. This app design fits into a busy day, with themed meditations. These include getting to sleep, traveling, and facing a stressful situation.