If you struggle with stress or anxiety, you are far from alone. In fact, most US workers say they suffer from stress on the job. Thankfully, technology and science are teaming up to fix this growing issue with a whole slew of meditation and relaxation based tools. One example that's currently sweeping the industry is Aura, an app that helps you reach inner calmness through short, guided meditation sessions. Right now, you can get lifetime Premium access for just $59.99 via the Popular Science Shop.

While few of us have time for yoga classes and prolonged mindfulness, we can all spare 10 minutes. Aura helps you hit maximum relaxation in the minimum time by employing artificial intelligence that tailors your meditations to your state of mind.

When you open Aura, the app first asks about your mood and how long you have to meditate. Sessions last between 3 and 10 minutes with accompanying audio that has been crafted by meditation teachers and therapists. Aura even helps you track your mood over time, so you can see the improvement.

As a Premium member, you get unlimited sessions for life. Worth $399, Aura Premium lifetime subscriptions are now just $59.99 for a limited time.

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Aura uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized meditations - Popular Science

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1972: Imagine is, more than anything, a love song, a quiet celebration of respite while the world all around is striking notes of discord and fear. Photograph: AP

Forty-six years after being recorded John Lennons Imagine is still generating headlines. Earlier this month the process to give Lennons wife Yoko Ono a songwriting credit began and Donald Tusk, president of the European council, used its lyrics to send a message to the UK over Brexit last week. In addition, during the recent election campaign, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced that the ballad was his favourite song. What is it about Imagine?

John Lennons Imagine is a crap song. Leaving aside what I think about the Beatles (lets just say Im not a fan), as well as my less-than-positive feelings towards Lennon himself, the song is, simply, a bad one. Overly sentimental at best and patronising at worst, everything from the infuriatingly catchy opening plinky piano keys to the basic, boring, irritating lyrics makes me want to rip out my ear canals. And the video? Its just as bad. We see Lennon and Yoko Ono strolling through the foggy, leafy grounds of a country estate (all while Lennon avoids steaming up his ever-present yellow-tinted glasses), before arriving at the front door and seemingly teleporting inside. The whole thing does little more than point out the irony of singing about owning no possessions as you muck around opening windows in an under-furnished, but very grand, large, white room.

The lyrics, bastardised by everyone from Cee Lo Green to European council president Donald Tusk, are eye-roll worthy in the extreme. Green changed Lennons atheist line and no religion too to the tamer and all religions true, so managing to make Lennons original bar even clunkier than it was already. Tusk, meanwhile, felt it wise to invoke the lyrics when talking about the possibility of the car crash that is Brexit somehow being reversed. Who knows? Tusk began at this months EU summit, you may say Im a dreamer, but I am not the only one. Because if theres one thing that the never-ending Brexit saga has been missing, its the chance of success being seen as as unlikely as world peace. On further thought, maybe the analogy is apt.

Perhaps the worst thing about Imagine is that despite all its chat of dreaming, the song definitely exists in the real world. The second-favourite chorus for every dude with greasy hair, a crap voice and a badly tuned guitar to sing in the early hours of a festival jam session the No 1 spot goes to Wonderwall which, for all its sins, at least is fun to sing in a big group Lennons song is determined never to die. As a teenage choir member I remember singing Imagine on repeat at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, perhaps the last place on earth that makes me feel hope for the world. As Ive grown older, each and every cover version, from Emeli Sands London Olympic ceremony closer to the impressively terrible Unicef group effort of 2014, has been more painful to listen to than the last.

On paper, the no borders, no religion, no possessions politics of the song gives off a pseudo-communist vibe I want to get behind, but I cant. Every line is just so sappy, and I cannot stand the level of earnestness needed to sing any of it with a straight face. Whenever I hear Lennon warbling imagine all the people/living life in peace, all I can think of is Id feel a hell of a lot more peaceful if I could imagine Imagine out of my life forever.

Yes, it was conceived and recorded in a Georgian country house with an estate of 72 acres, yet asked us to think of a world without ownership. Its lyrics are facile. Unlike the very best popular music, it was out of kilter with its time: the beginning of the 1970s were famously tricky years for the brotherhood of man.

But look at the man who wrote Imagine: it was John Lennon, the angriest and most cynical of figures, who had dramatically renounced idealism in his previous album (The dream is over, what can I say?) and was embroiled, throughout this time, in the twin tribulations of primal scream therapy and child custody hearings over Yoko Onos daughter, Kyoko.

Think of Imagine as a wispy moment, rather than the clarion call it has become, or the punchline, pace Donald Tusk, of a bad joke. It is an intimate, vulnerable song, an exhortation to love and peace that sounds exhausted, from beginning to end. There is a Sisyphean tension in that delicate four-note motif that introduces each line of the verse. Here we go again, I really believe in this, but I know, deep down, its not going to happen.

Too introspective to be anthemic, not pompous enough to make a stirring hymn, Imagine is the tentative vision of a secular sceptic, who knows that imagination will never be enough. And that is what makes it so moving. The evanescence of hope is Lennons theme; never has the utopian dream sounded so fragile.

In the months that followed the release of the song, Lennon reverted to his toughened self. In a spat with Paul McCartney, conducted in the letters pages of the Melody Maker, he all but disowned the delicate beauty of his song: So you think Imagine aint political? Its Working Class Hero with sugar on it for conservatives like yourself!! It really wasnt, but the exchange showed Lennons desperation to reconcile the disparate parts of his artistry.

His next album, the poorly received Some Time in New York City, dispensed with the sweeteners altogether. He threw himself into contemporary American politics with irritated disregard for artistic form. It was a furious elegy for the brotherhood of man, crudely conceived, sloppily delivered: Attica, Attica state, were all mates with Attica state.

The oneiric chords of Imagine never seemed so far away. But they have lasted. And now Yoko Ono is rightly recognised as Lennons co-writer on the song. It was her 1964 poem Cloud Piece that helped inspire its writing, as Lennon himself acknowledged. And it is a reminder that Imagine is, more than anything, a love song, a quiet celebration of respite while the world all around is striking notes of discord and fear.

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Is John Lennon's Imagine patronisingly sappy, or a moving meditation on hope? - The Guardian

Loss is a common experience, but it plays out differently for everyone. Off-Leash Area's "Dancing on the Belly of the Beast," which premiered Friday night at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis, offers a poignant meditation on the biggest emotional loss of all life, specifically the rite of passage accompanying the death of a parent.

Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Ilse in collaboration with a cast of 19 dancers, the work draws upon her own experience of "adult orphanhood." Faced with a complicated array of emotions, she explored the concept in workshops and found kindred spirits in her fellow artists.

Ilse approaches her topic by quietly affirming what we all learn about grief: The path to healing is cyclical, unpredictable, long and often difficult to follow. Thus, circles are central to "Dancing on the Belly of the Beast" the performers' journey onstage is comprised primarily of loops, slowly or quickly, leading to encounters defined by tender touch, a warm embrace, a brief meeting of the eyes.

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Off-Leash Area dancers offer poignant meditation on grief - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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AUSTIN (KXAN) As stress levels rise, more companies and schools are incorporating meditation and mindfulness practices into the work flow.

According to the American Institute for Stress, the cost of stress in the American workplace is estimated at almost $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, lower productivity, turnover, and rising healthcare costs.

PeaceBox, Austins first pop-up mobile meditation center that opened in January, isexpanding with a second mobile unit to share stress-relieving tools and tips to improve overall wellness with local companies, schools and the community

The newest addition called PeaceBox On the Move made its debut Sunday at BookPeople where teachers offered free guided meditation and tours of the mobile studio.

I look forward to continuing to spread mindfulness practice across Austin-area organizations, said PeaceBox Owner and Founder Stacy Thrash.

Over the past few months, PeaceBox has sharedmindfulness practice to the students at Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders and held a workshop for employees at Whole Foods Market.

PeaceBox first mobile unit is centrally located at 1107 South 8th Street off South Lamar and Gibson Street, and the secondmobile unit will be at the Austin 360 Bridge.

Click here to learn more about community classes and workshops.

KXAN.com provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Users who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language or racial slurs, will be banned. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review.

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PeaceBox hopes to melt away more stress with second mobile ... - KXAN.com

Windows Central

Relieve stress and anxiety with this top-rated meditation app ... Windows Central Aura Premium is one of the best meditation apps in the App Store, and you can save 82% on a lifetime subscription with this deal from iMore Digital Offers. Deals: This Stress Relief App Uses Machine Learning To Chill You OutLifehacker Australia all 3 news articles »

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Relieve stress and anxiety with this top-rated meditation app ... - Windows Central

After a stressful week, you are determined to try it. You plop down on your favorite chair, close your eyes, take a deep breath...and exhale. After what seems like an eternity (but in reality is all but 12.5 seconds) you begin to wonder, Is anything supposed to be happening? Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.

Weve all heard about meditation and mindfulness from one source or another - either from self-help gurus, business leaders, or your lovable yogi friend who all swear by it. Yet, despite all the wonders we hear attributed to the process, lets be honest, we still don't fully understand how it works or what the practical benefits are. At a time when we are over-worked, over-committed, and busier than ever, sitting still and observing our thoughts seems rather contradictory. Perhaps thats why we need it most, now.

We may own large TVs and sport nifty titles on our business cards, but we are more stressed, sleep deprived, and sicker as a nation than we have ever been. Every day, 1 million people in the US miss work due to stress. Studies show that 33% of us dont get enough sleep; and we spend the most (by far) in healthcare compared to 12 other high-income nations, yet we are the sickest of them all. The faustian bargain of professional growth at the cost of personal well-being doesnt seem to pan out as nicely as we would have hoped. Thankfully, there is a way to find greater balance and effectiveness in work and life, and its through the practice of meditation and mindfulness.

I first incorporated meditation into my daily routine two years ago. Given my fast-paced life and inability to keep still, I was initially hesitant but kept an open mind. It seemed to work for some of the worlds greatest business, social, spiritual, and political leaders in manifesting their goals, so if they could make time for it, I knew I should be able to as well. Despite my initial challenges, with some simple steps (that Ill share in this article) I have noticed some very practical benefits that have convinced me of the return on investment that comes from creating space for this practice. In short, the proverbial adage that the more we put into it, the more we will get out it holds true in this instance. Ill share some of these benefits with you now.

But first, what is meditation and mindfulness?

What if I told you there was a way to live a purpose-driven, creative, and financially rewarding life, and that this was possible while respecting our health and personal sense of balance? Meditation and mindfulness is a simple practice, and a way of living to bring greater peace, presence, and effectiveness into our lives. Its not a religion, nor is it some esoteric import of exotic worlds. Think of it as a powerful life-hack that can be incorporated into any spiritual or secular worldview to help us access our highest potentials of personal wellbeing and professional growth.

1. We become sharper, more creative, and more productive:

Imagine our mind occupied by a relentless stream of thoughts, distractions, and emotions vs. our mind when it is clear, focused, and calm. In which scenario do you believe we will make better decisions? The resulting clarity that comes from a mindful and meditative mind brings greater focus, creativity, and thoughtfulness to our work and decisionmaking. The reason for this, according to practitioners of meditation and mindfulness, is that we are not in fact our thoughts or emotions. Rather, we are the silence between them. It is in this silence, or depth of stillness, where genius, creativity, and guidance emerges. Additionally, we notice that our mind becomes sharper and more attuned to the finer details we otherwise might have missed. With greater objectivity, we begin to observe the range of possibilities available to us before choosing the most effective course of action. This is how high achievers and creative minds gain leverage and profound results with the same number of hours in the day. What accounts for this?

Recent scientific findings have shed light on the the transformative effect of meditation on our brains. Through a process called cortical thickening, the area of our brain responsible for learning, cognition, and memory (the left hippocampus) grew in just 8 weeks of meditation and mindfulness practice. Another study revealed that when compared to long-term meditators, the frontal cortex (associated with working memory and executive decision making) becomes resistant to the expected cortical shrinkage over time. 50 year-old meditators in this study showed the same amount of gray matter in their brains as the average 25 year-old. Once we begin the regular practice of meditation, the qualitative difference in our brains ability to process information, creatively analyze, and remain sharp becomes evident in our experience. And now, thanks to the growing academic interest in meditation and mindfulness, we have the science to back up these claims.

2. We are more in control of our thoughts, emotions, and actions

One of the first things we notice after a few weeks or months of practice is a greater sense of control over our negative thoughts and emotions. If youre an average Joe or Joanne like me, your mind is probably clouded at times (or perpetually) by both. Rather than have our mental state influenced by these unhelpful states, the practice of meditation and mindfulness allows us to create distance between us and our thoughts and emotions. How? We are able to sit back and watch the thought and emotion-clouds pass by in front of our mind-sky. As a result, we have greater control over which thoughts and emotions to engage and our subsequent actions.

A friend recently asked me, If we distance ourselves from our emotions, do we just stop feeling? It seems rather unhuman. Its a great question. I would say that on the contrary, meditation and mindfulness makes you even more sensitive, and heightens your experiences of emotions, with one key difference: you feel all the helpful emotions such as love, compassion, and joy so much more while exercising greater control over unhelpful emotions like anger, sadness, and fear. In doing so, you rise above unproductive emotions and magnify the productive ones. The outcome is a more positive, healthy, and magnetic version of yourself.

3. We are more confident and courageous

We are most confident when we know who we are, and when we know where we are headed. Life will always throw challenges our way to test what we are made of, and a meditative mind helps to: a) Cultivate a positive relationship with our inner self and b) Offers us purpose and direction. When the chatter of our mind falls away, we are left with a silent connection to what many call our inner voice, our intuition, or our true essence. It is a connection that fosters peace, acceptance, and trust within ourselves. It is from this place that we become aligned with our inner compass.

One of the most influential spiritual masters of the 20th century, Paramahansa Yogananda, who has inspired hundreds of millions around the world (including some the worlds most influential thinkers) described this process with the simplicity and clarity he is known for when he said, Intuition manifests in the calm consciousness as feeling, perceived mostly through the heart. When such feeling comes, you receive through it a definite sense of right direction and unshakable conviction. This unshakable conviction that comes from a meditative and mindful state forms the very foundation of confidence. Leveraged correctly, it is a powerful current that inspires the flow and movement of creativity, ideas, and people.

4. We are healthier - mentally and physically

Did you know that up to 90% of doctors visits are triggered by stress-related ailments? When meditation and mindfulness becomes a part of our routine, we realize we have more control over our mental and physical health than we might think. Our heightened awareness allows us to feel that our thoughts have corresponding physiological responses. For example: Anxious, fearful, or stressful thoughts or emotions create tension in the body. As a result, oxygen becomes limited in the blood supply, our muscles contract, our heart rates rise, and our digestion and immune system get thrown off balance. The consequence? Our susceptibility to illness and disease increases. On the other hand, calm in the mind produces relaxation and deep breathing that alleviates muscle tension and other stressors in the body, allowing our system to flow with greater ease and regulation. In this way, meditation and mindfulness has a positive effect in preserving our mental health, and as a subsequence, our physical health.

Here again, two fascinating studies shed light on this mind-body health connection: A University of Wisconsin-Madison Study found that those who undertook meditation and mindfulness training showed increased activity in the left frontal region of their brain, which resulted in lower anxiety, more positive emotional states, and increased immune function to safeguard their bodies against sickness. A Harvard Medical School study revealed how this was possible when it discovered that deep relaxation techniques like meditation has the ability to change our bodies on a genetic level. In essence, our efforts to introduce calm and relaxation into the mind activate disease fighting genes that help protect the body from illnesses. If theres one takeaway from all of this, it is the following: the more we take care of our mind, the healthier our bodies are -- in that sequence.

5. You become more compassionate and happier

When the Dalai Lama challenged the famed neuroscientist, Dr. Richard Davidson to put kindness and compassion to the same scientific rigor and scrutiny as researchers have done done with depression and anxiety, the neuroscientist found some fascinating results. After strapping electrodes onto Buddhist monks, and running a few of them through an MRI under meditative states, he concluded, this is really a kind of exciting neuroscientific finding...that the best way for us to be happy is to be generous to others. And in fact the scientific evidence is in many ways bearing this out, and showing that there are systematic changes in the brain that are associated with acts of generosity.

So, whats the link to meditation? A study conducted by Northeastern University found that meditation can help shape our mind and actions to be more kind and compassionate towards others. The practice grows our awareness beyond ourselves as we become more attuned and observant to the needs and suffering of others around us. Our personal relationships benefit from deepened presence and focus. We become more reliable listeners, we are more willing to be of service to others, and we hold space for their needs. It may be difficult for us to live up to the standard of selflessness and compassion that the Dalai Lama exemplifies, but the selfish little secret is this: Its not just the right thing to do, it appears that it makes us happier too. And isnt that what were all after at the end of the day, a life of meaning and happiness?

Three ways you can get started, today:

Now that you are aware of some of the benefits associated with meditation and mindfulness, you might be thinking about how to get started. There are many different types of meditation that are all designed to focus our attention -- whether it is through our breathing, a word of powerful affirmation; or an image that holds meaning. Theres even walking meditations, and ways of incorporating meditative moments into our busy lives that can help connect us to a more mindful state. You can find out more about which style suits your needs best by attending free meditation meetups or guided sessions; evening seminars, or weekend workshops around your city. These venues are helpful to to ask questions, meet like-minded people, and get a feel for it all. The following are three steps I found most helpful in my journey:

A. Read The Power of Now: This New York Times Bestseller by Eckhart Tolle cuts through the esoteric, new-agey foreign jargon, and makes the concept of meditation and mindfulness relatable and accessible to a western audience. Its an easy read, and one that will answer most of your meditation 101 questions, and leave you with practical insights that will help you arrive at your personal why for incorporating the practice into your life.

B. Download the Headspace app: It might be difficult to start meditating without some form of guidance; and it just so happens theres a very effective app for that. Headspace is great because the narrator (and creator), Andy, understands the challenges that every beginner faces and talks you through it in a way thats encouraging, supportive, and relatable. He even does it with an Australian accent thats friendly and charming enough for you to want to be his friend. He starts you off with quick guided 10-minute sessions that progressively advance in time and concepts as your commitment to the practice grows. Try the free intro sessions with an open mind and see how you feel!

C. Stay with it: Its called a meditation and mindfulness practice for a reason. Like our muscles, our focus needs training to get stronger. Think of the time you spend in meditation as your time in mental training; while the act of mindfulness is carrying a state of presence and focus into the rest of your day, and in your interactions with others. In the beginning, it may be difficult to sit still for even five minutes, let alone focus the mind. Additionally, the stillness may cause stirring emotions within you to rise up; and you may find yourself fidgety and anxious. This is okay! You can rest assured knowing that its all a normal part of the process. The more we show up, the easier it becomes, and the greater results we will see manifesting in our lives.

When I first incorporated meditation into my life, it was such a personal challenge to sit still and focus that I exclaimed in frustration, If I can figure out how to do this, anyone can! Two years in, I still consider myself a beginner with much to learn and grow in the practice; yet I can say with absolute certainty that if you show up with earnest intention, you will reap the benefits. This may not become apparent on day one or two, but it will come.

Now that you have an understanding of what you can expect, the next time you enter that space of silence and the thoughts begin to rush in, sit through it with the knowing that youre already on your way to a higher you. Trust in the process, and you will feel your newfound growth within yourself, reflected back to you by others, and from the many benefits that life itself will bring into your experience.

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Demystifying Meditation: Five Practical Benefits & How You Can Get Started - HuffPost

CROMWELL, Conn. Anirban Lahiri has covered the emotional spectrum this week at the Travelers Championship, following his opening 73 with a 63 on Friday that moved him to 4 under par.

For most players, those kinds of swings can be difficult. But then Lahiri isnt most players.

Following his runner-up finish at the Memorial a few weeks ago, Lahiri spent 12 days at the Dhamma Dhara Vipassana Meditation Center in Shelburne Falls, Mass. For nine of those days, he did not speak.

You go to the center for 10 days, you switch your phones off. There is no TV, you're not allowed to read, said Lahiri, who has gone through the Vipassana program three times since 2004. You're meditating. You're not allowed to talk. So there is like complete silence for nine and a half days or so, and you're meditating 10, 12 hours a day.

Travelers Championship: Articles, photos and videos

Lahiri, who admits he can be his own worst critic, said the program has helped him deal with the inevitable on-course issues a professional will face, but the real benefit comes when hes away from the course.

I find it very healing for me, and a lot of people who have gone there benefited from it, he said. It's not something I do specifically for my golf, but it's something that's helped me.

It was interesting that Lahiri spent his time at the Vipassana Center during the U.S. Open, which he almost qualified for with his tie for second at Muirfield Village. While most players would be upset they narrowly missed qualifying for a major, the 29-year-old considered it an opportunity.

After [the Memorial] my wife was like, what are you going to do if you [qualify for the U.S. Open]? I said, I don't know what I'm going to do because I really want to go meditate. I guess it all worked out, Lahiri said. Funny I say it worked out in the sense of me not getting in, but that's what I wanted to do at that point in time.

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Anirban Lahiri Extols Virtues of Meditation | Golf Channel - Golf Channel (blog)

A couple years ago, I heard ABC News anchor Dan Harris speak at Chicago Ideas Week. He told all of us in the audience how mindfulness meditation changed his life. He was a self-proclaimed "fidgety skeptic" who had an on-air panic attack, then discovered meditation and became a happier, more focused person. I was sold.

Though I wouldn't necessarily categorize myself as a "fidgety skeptic," I often feel like a human ball of chaos, trying to balance work, getting things done at home, spending time with family and friends, exercising, and just chilling out. I struggle with anxiety. I get overwhelmed and stressed easily. And the more my to-do list and calendar fill up, the less focused I become.

So if taking even a few minutes a day to literally just breathe would help me manage all of that, I was definitely down. I loved the idea of starting every morning with a nice, peaceful five- to 10-minute meditation to clear my head before diving into my day. I thought for sure it would be the answer to slowing down, calming, and focusing my mind. Instead, it made me kind of angry: I tried meditating on my own using various techniques I read about and under the guidance of all sorts of apps, but I just couldn't keep my mind from wandering to all the stressors I was trying to avoid. So instead of waking up and taking those five to 10 minutes to myself before starting in on emails and work, I begrudgingly (and sporadically) tried and failed to find my zen. Two-and-a-half years later, I hadn't completely given up, but I'd gradually come to view meditation as a chore, and not one I feel satisfied after completing.

And then I heard about sound baths. After the initial letdown when I found out they weren't some sort of cool spa experience involving water, bubbles, and perhaps some aromatherapy, I became intrigued by what they actually were: an ancient form of sound therapy that uses gongs and quartz crystal bowls during meditation to promote healing and relaxation. "Different parts of our bodieseach organ, bone, etc.vibrate at a specific frequency that is unique to you when we are in a state of health and well-being," says Elizabeth Meador, owner of Anatomy Redefined, the Chicago sound meditation and Pilates studio. "When we become ill, stressed, encounter disease, etc., the frequency of various parts of our body actually changes, and our own body can experience literal dis-harmony. Through the sound meditation, your body is able to absorb sound waves to help restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit."

To be honest, I wasn't (and am still not) sure if gongs can really help me heal on that kind of level. But I did read that the sounds give your mind something to focus on, making it easier to ease into the meditative state, which did make a lot of sense. "In our busy, modern world, our minds are so used to having something to focus on," says Meador. "We are switching from phone to computer to tablet and so on, leaving the mind racing. To take the average worker and place them in a silent room after a chaotic day can be challenging for anyone, let alone those new to meditation. With a sound meditation, the soothing music actually gives the mind something to focus on to keep it occupied, gently guiding you into a state of deep meditation." Maybe what was missing this whole time in my efforts was a good, strong sound to focus on. Still wanting to embrace meditation despite the struggle, I headed to Meador's studio to try it myself.

First, let's be honest: I wasn't in a good mood when I got there. It was the end of a long day, I was tired, and I drove through Chicago's patience-testing rush-hour traffic for pretty much the entire four miles from my condo to the studio. When I walked in, I really just wanted to be home on my couch, hanging out with my cats and my husband, catching up on Bravo's latest. But I tried to put those feelings behind me, which did get easier when I entered the studio itself. It was a dark room, lit only by candles and some soft decorative fixtures. Five gongs and six white bowls in various sizes were in front, and on the floor were six rectangular cushions, each set up with a couple pillows (one for propping up feet or legs, if I wanted), a blanket, and an eye cover. I took my place on one of the cushions.

Meador, who was leading the class, took a few minutes to explain the benefits of a sound bath (also known as gong meditation, gong bath, or sound meditation) and the instruments she'd be using. There are four "planetary gongs," which she says vibrate at the same frequencies as their corresponding planets and pull in "the energetic, emotional, and astrological qualities of the planets." If you're still with me, I'll give you an example: The Venus gong theoretically helps with matters of the heart or with encouraging feminine energy; while the Mars gong encourages "warrior" energy and inspires courage. Meador also plays a "Flower of Life" gong that she says "has a very grounding and soothing energy that nurtures the nervous system." As for the singing bowls, she says some sound practitioners believe each note coordinates to a specific energy center or chakra on the body, though it's hard to know if each sound affects each person's body in the same way. Regardless, the notes blend well with the gongs for a balanced sound experience. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Energy Workand Why You Should Try It)

Meador told us she'd play for an hour and asked us to lie down and get comfortable under the blankets. She noted that our body temperatures would drop by about one degree in the meditative state. I immediately had mixed emotions: There was panic upon realizing that I'd be lying there for an hour with only sounds and not some vocal guidanceI can't meditate for five minutes on my own, much less an hour! Then again, the setup was pretty comfy. All of my meditation apps tell me to sit upright with my legs crossed or feet flat on the floor. Lying on a squishy cushion under a blanket seemed much more my speed.

I closed my eyes and the sounds started. They were loud and, unlike the ambient sounds that sometimes accompany meditations, impossible to ignore. For the first few minutes, I felt pretty focused on my breathing and the sounds and, if my focus did begin to fade, each new hit of a gong brought it back. But as the time passed, my mind did begin to wander and even those loud noises faded into the background. Over the course of the hour, I did recognize several times that I had lost focus and was able to bring myself back to the task at hand. But I don't think I ever fell into a fully meditative state. For that, I was a bit disappointedpartially with the sound bath for not being the miraculous meditation solution I wanted it to be, but more so with myself for not being able to successfully submit to the experience.

I thought about it some more when I got home that night. The bad mood I was in when I arrived at the studio was gone, and I did feel more relaxed. And sure, that could have been the case after any screen-less, "me"-time activity I could have done after a long day on my computer. Then again, I also realized that, while there was some disappointment, I didn't come out of that meditation frustrated and angry like I did with my many, many previous attempts. So I decided not to discount it.

I downloaded a Gong Bath app and started the next day with a five-minute session, lying on my squishy shag rug under a blanket. It wasn't a perfect meditationmy mind still wandered a bitbut it was...nice. So I tried it again the next day. And the next. In the month since I took the class, I've used the app more mornings than not. I don't know if my internal frequencies are being reharmonized or my chakras are being realigned with each mini-session, and I'm not sure I buy into the whole planetary thing. But I do know that something about this sound bath keeps me coming back. Rather than feeling obligated, I feel compelled to do it in the mornings. When the timer goes off at the end, I sometimes start it over for a few extra minutes, rather than feeling relieved it's done.

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I Took a Sound Bath And It Changed the Way I Meditate - Shape Magazine

Welcome back to another Headspace session. This is a special session because it is exclusively geared toward you, Stephen Bradley. The name of this lesson is: Your Payment Was Declined, Stephen.

As always, make sure to find a comfortable spot in which to do this exercise. A nice chair, or even the floor, if youd like. If the chairs very nice, and you could sell it and make some quick cash to pay your outstanding balance, then I suggest the floor, so as not to depreciate the chairs value. If the floors worth more and you know someone who wants to buy a floor, use the chair.

Now, start with your eyes open, your focus soft, and take a few deep breaths. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. You may find it helpful to speak on the exhale, Stephen. You could say something like, I admit I bought a years worth of Headspace and then lied to Visa saying it was a fraudulent charge. Despite that, I still use Headspace every day and have ignored their kind e-mails and calls asking me to fix the situation, forcing them to record this special lesson. I am getting peace of mind without paying $95.04 for it, which is wrong and evil. It doesnt have to be exactly that, Stephen. Thats merely a suggestion.

Now let the breath fall back into its natural rhythm as you begin to scan the body. I want you to note any particular feelings, comforts or discomforts, in your body as you mentally focus on each area. Lets start up top with your ugly, lying head, Stephen. Now well move down to your black heart, full of sludge and ill will. Now lets venture down to the hips, where you keep a wallet full of money that is rightfully mine. And, finally, lets drift down to the soles of the feet. Notice how the feet arent broken, Stephen. If I dont get the money by next week, that wont be the case. Several mobsters love my app and would do anything for a promo code.

With body and breath aligned and you hopefully terrified, its time to allow your mind a few moments to do whatever it wishes. If it wants to think, let it think. If it wants to rest, let it rest. Whats important here is not to force anything, Stephen. Forcing things leads to unease. I should know. I was forced to inform my daughter that she couldnt go to equestrian camp this summer, since I was $95.04 short of the twelve-thousand-dollar tuition. That led to a lot of unease in my house. If your mind wants to feel extreme guilt, let it feel extreme guilt. If your mind wants to think of a way that you, Stephen, might dress up like a horse and appease my daughter, let it think of a way that you might dress up like a horse and appease my daughter.

Now its time for a short guided meditation. Stephen, with your eyes closed, I want you to imagine youre on a pristine white-sand beach. The waves are lapping at the shore. The gulls call to one another softly. Are you there, Stephen? Good. Now imagine leaving that beach and booking it to a fucking bank. Ask for a loan. If you get turned down, imagine holding up the teller and demanding the $95.04. With that money in a bag, imagine driving to Headspaces offices and paying off your debt.

Have you imagined all that, Stephen? Wonderful. As you bring the mind back into the body, notice some sounds, maybe even strong smells. And whenever youre ready, in your own time, you can look around, stretch your arms and legs, and go to the fucking A.T.M. and get me my money, Stephen. Or, again, you could always sell your floor. Either is fine.

Read more:

Headspace Special Meditation Session: Your Payment Was Declined - The New Yorker

Its easy to think that our phones and all the addictive apps on them are making us more stressed. But hundreds of apps are rowing in the opposite direction trying to help us relax.

On the latest episode of Too Embarrassed to Ask, Headspace CEO Rich Pierson joined Kara Swisher and Lauren Goode to talk about how his app, which has 16 million downloads to date, is trying to help. He said its important to bring guided meditation directly to the phone, rather than expecting people to seek out in-person classes, because thats where they spend their time, thats where their stress is.

I just think we havent really worked out how to use technology for good yet, in lots of ways, Pierson said. Its all about attention and engagement, and I think theres something interesting in thinking: How do you use tech in a healthy way?

Pierson said the company plans in the future to enter more countries and take advantage of more platforms, including the crop of smart home speakers and other audio devices flooding the market. Over time, he said, both investors and tech consumers have become more receptive to the idea of meditation.

I do think people are starting to look for ways they can deal with the onslaught of living in a modern world, Pierson said. Back in 2008, when we would tell people what we were trying to do, they used to physically back away from us. Like, These two weirdos. Now, it is a different conversation.

(Note: We recorded this episode last week, on June 15; this week, Headspace announced that it would lay off 13 people out of 170 employees overall).

You can listen to the new podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify (mobile only), TuneIn, Stitcher and SoundCloud.

On the new podcast, Pierson said the rise of meditation is partly fueled by faddish celebrities endorsing it, but that clinical trials have shown that it does work. Just as jogging may have once seemed like a strange way of improving physical fitness, meditation is slowly gaining acceptance as a way to improve ones mental wellness, he said.

He also acknowledged, in response to a listeners question, that meditation can sometimes make you angrier sort of.

A lot of people say, Ive started meditating and Im just really angry, Pierson said. It brings up emotions. Meditation is just the lens of whats going on in your mind, and maybe youre just not aware of it. By doing it, it makes you aware of it, and so they think, Its making me angry, its making me stressed. But actually, its just shining a light on what was there.

Have questions about meditation apps that we didnt get to in this episode? Tweet them to @Recode with the hashtag #TooEmbarrassed, or email them to TooEmbarrassed@recode.net.

Be sure to follow @LaurenGoode, @KaraSwisher and @Recode to be alerted when we're looking for questions about a specific topic.

If you like this show, you should also check out our other podcasts:

If you like what were doing, please write a review on Apple Podcasts and if you dont, just tweet-strafe Kara and Lauren. Tune in next Friday for another episode of Too Embarrassed to Ask!

Original post:

Do meditation apps really work? - Recode