Most of the time, we focus our attention on getting our body fit and healthy, but often neglect to do the same for our mind.
With Mental Health Awareness Week happening between October 10-16, it’s a good chance to take a deep breath, centre yourself and experience a few calming moments. Here are some of our favourite apps to help you get in the zone:
Smiling Mind
Free with iPhone in-app purchases
Smiling Mind is a modern meditation app program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to people’s lives. Just as we eat well and stay fit to keep our body healthy, meditation is about mental health and looking after the mind.
Pocket Yoga
$4.49
Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation or relaxation. This app lets you simply roll out your mat, place your device in front, and Pocket Yoga will guide you through your entire yoga session. Pocket Yoga works great on your Apple Watch. When you are playing a practice on your iPhone you can get extra information directly on your wrist.
Buddhify
A meditation app built around what goes on in your every day life – there are meditations to target sleeping, travelling and even being online.
Breathe App
Free
The new Breathe app for Apple Watch in watchOS 3 guides you through a series of deep breaths that can help you better manage everyday stress or just experience a few calming moments. Start at any time and let the mesmerising animation and gentle taps help you focus. See your heart rate when you’re done, and use the Time to Breathe reminders to fit a session into each day.
Breath of Light
$7.49
Breath of Light is a meditative and beautiful puzzle game with a hypnotic soundtrack by Winterpark. Inspired by modern minimalism combined with a range of meditative art styles, players find their zen by guiding energy rocks around the mystic garden, setting them in place and watching the energy settle into its new flow.
Headspace
Headspace makes it easy for people just starting out with mindfulness and meditation. There are easy, 10-minute sessions to start off with, which will help you get into the habit of meditating regularly. Once you have mastered level one, you can purchase a subscription that allows you to access even more features and options so you can expand your practice.
Insight Timer
Free
With beautiful Tibetan singing bowls and a dynamic worldwide community, Insight Timer is a fun and connected way to support your meditation practice. If you’re new to meditation you’ll find more than 2,000 free guided meditations and a supportive community to get started. If you’re an experienced meditator you’ll feel right at home with our beautiful Tibetan singing bowls and guided meditations by experienced teachers that you know and respect.
Zova
Free with iPhone in-app purchases
This Apple Design Award 2016 winner provides short, achievable exercises users can fit into every week. Zova’s philosophy, fitness to feel great, is based on research showing regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve mental health. Exercise has been found to reduce symptoms of stress, depression, low self-esteem and helps you sleep better. Zova encourages users to be more active, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, by providing daily exercise recommendations ranging from walking to targeted workouts.
PAUSE
$2.99
Based on the ancient principles of Tai Chi and mindfulness practice, PAUSE brings the act of focused attention to your iPhone. By slowly and continuously moving your fingertip across the screen, PAUSE triggers the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response, quickly helping you regain focus and release stress within minutes.
Calm
Free with iPhone in-app purchases
This meditation app includes an amazing ‘7 Days of Sleep’ program, which is great for people that need a little bit of help when falling asleep. There are over 25 soothing calming sounds to relieve you from outside stress and anxiety.
If you are worried about someone, you can always ask for help. Visit the Mental Health Foundation website for more information and helpline contact details.
