Headspace is a modern interactive meditation training system. Its creator is the popularizer of meditation in the West, Andy Puddicombe. You may have read his book Meditation and Mindfulness.

How it works... for me

16.00. Middle of the working day. A lot has already been done, and my brain is starting to boil. How to restore freshness? Good decision- nap during the day, but this is not always possible. And it’s not always possible to fall asleep “to order.” And this is where meditation helps me. Or rather, meditation with the Headspace app.

1. I'm leaving the office.
2. I reach the square.
3. I take out my smartphone and headphones.
4. I turn on airplane mode.
5. I launch the application.

One exercise - 30 minutes, and I feel fresh. Ready to work and create again. Don’t laugh, but Andy has become like a friend for me, someone you go to the bar to chat with after work.

Meditation

Andy kind of learns as he goes. One meditation differs from another just a little. But in this little bit he teaches something new:

• what to do with obsessive thoughts,
• what to do if you feel sleepy,
• what to do if you are bored during meditation,
• how meditation can help with pain.

Isn't this hypnosis?

Well, in some places it looks like it. Andy's confident but soft and friendly voice contributes to the blackout. On especially busy days, I can’t even finish the exercise - I fall asleep.

But still no, not hypnosis. After all, it’s training.

Format

Audio (95%), video, and sometimes even funny cartoons.

It’s convenient that all lessons can be downloaded in advance when the Internet is good. And practice anywhere.

Exercises for all occasions

Meditate before bed, on the go, or even while eating...

Meditate to relieve stress and anxiety, to become more creative...

And much, much more... What a combine, huh? It is clear that this is largely marketing, but it is organic here and does not infuriate.

Sorry, but everything is in English...

However, Andy uses simple language. 95% of words are repeated from exercise to exercise. Therefore, even with poor knowledge of the language it is worth a try.

Whistles and croaks

Meditation has never been more modern. The application works in a browser or (which is more convenient) in smartphones with Android or iOS. Gamification and progress tracking have not been forgotten.

And “sociality”.

This is probably important to some. For me, the main value is quality content.

Let's start with the fact that the first 10 lessons are available for free. You can grab your smartphone right now, install the Headspace app and start practicing. If you get involved like me, here are the prices:

As you can see, pleasure is not cheap.

Total

I wrote on my blog about how I’ve been meditating for a year now and what it has given me. But it was only with Headspace that my meditation became regular and became a real habit, like brushing my teeth or drinking green tea.

Yes, Puddicombe is making money on something that has probably been known for a long time. But he does it with talent and quality. Why not pay for such a “repackaging” of ancient techniques and philosophy for modern platforms?

Worthy work by Andy himself and, of course, by the programmers. I recommend!

» is an unusual application for Android designed for relaxation and meditation. According to the developer, people who completed this course successfully got rid of stress, insomnia and conflicts in relationships with loved ones.

The user has access to a number of audio recordings, which are 10-minute meditations. All of them are presented exclusively on English, knowledge of which is necessary for full use of the application.

“Headspace - meditation” can be downloaded absolutely free, however, in this case, the user will only have access to the basic course. For the most total immersion It is advisable to use headphones during the meditation process.

The main disadvantage of the program is its focus exclusively on an English-speaking audience. The developers release an update every 3-4 months, they promise to make a Russian-language introduction, which will add a Russian interface and voice acting. This will happen when the number of downloads increases. Leave your suggestions on Google Play or send letters to the official email.

The application does not heat up the device during use, since it is an audio book. You can download it from Google Play or install it from APK. However, it cannot be ruled out that “Headspace - meditation” for Android can really help some users get rid of anxiety and stress.

Peculiarities:

• Clear explanation various principles and diagrams from this teaching;
• Nice appearance, which has a unique user interface optimized for all devices;
• Unfortunately, there is no support for the Russian language, which is very sad;
• Interactive training that doesn't require a lot of time.

Download the meditation app Headspace - meditation for Android for free you can follow the link below.

Developer: Headspace, Inc.
Platform: Android 4.0.3 and higher
Interface language: English
Status: Free
Root: Not needed

Advice from practicing employees of Google, Facebook and Russian companies and applications for classes

Bookmarks

Meditation is gaining popularity in Russian and foreign IT companies - more and more employees are devoting their time to putting their thoughts in order with the help of meditation exercises.

The site’s observer figured out what motivates adherents of the technique, which companies practice group meditation exercises, and which mobile applications beginners can use for meditation.

The combination of mysticism and high-tech may seem ridiculous, but such a combination has been possible in companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and Kaspersky Lab.

The tech industry's embrace of enlightenment can be seen from the meditation rooms being built on the Googleplex and Facebook campuses, as well as the iPhone and Android meditation apps hitting the market every day.

Meditations: why are they needed?

The story of Zynga co-founder Eric Schiermeier leaves no doubt about the need and importance of meditation. For a long time Schwimmer worked 18-hour days and drank Red Bull to be as effective as possible for his company. His hospitalization with a diagnosis of “stomach bleeding” forced him to tear himself away from the monitor and think about the eternal.

After the hospital, Schiermeier came out completely renewed - a devotee of yoga, meditation and a preacher of a balanced lifestyle. “It has already been proven that when you approach your work intentionally, the results exceed expectations,” he says.

Former Google software engineer, and now Silicon Valley guru and meditation teacher Chad-Meng Tan is also sure that without meditation in our age high technology can't get by. Tan is convinced that only enlightened and inspired employees are capable of creating new products and making discoveries. “Allow your attention to settle on your breath: on the inhalations, exhalations and pauses in between,” Tan tells Wired, sitting in a half-lotus. “We feel our lungs filling with air and releasing it.”

One of the most significant events in San Francisco right now is the Wisdom 2.0 conference, which is dedicated to how to connect the ancient secrets of existence with the world of high technology. Among the lecturers are employees of Google, Facebook, Apple and Twitter, the number of spectators is about 2,500 people.

Neurologist, Moscow medical center“Atlas” Alexander Gravchikov also agrees with the thesis of the importance of meditation, breathing practices and yoga: “This is not only relaxation for the body, but also exercise for the mind. Asanas (yoga poses) are aimed at improving blood circulation, stimulating nutrition and renovation of brain cells, and improving the quality of its work.”

In addition, he says, people who practice meditation require less time to sleep. “Meditation practices develop a special inner “hearing” that allows you to better understand your own body and tune in to the same wavelength as it. The phenomenon of “white noise” is known, when a person, being in a relaxed state, cannot disconnect from the flow of thoughts. This is where yoga comes to the rescue. It allows you to better control your consciousness, helps to tune the body to the harmony of soul and body,” explains Gravchikov.

Meditation apps

Companies that meditate

The fact that Silicon Valley has set a course for enlightenment can be judged by the meditation rooms in the offices of Google, Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo. More than 1,000 Google employees are participating in the company's Search Inside Yourself program, a seven-week course developed by Chad-Meng Tan.

In addition to Tan's spiritual courses, Zen monks often come to give lectures at Googleplex. For example, in 2011 Thich Nhat Hanh came to visit them. The company also holds “mindful lunches” once every two months - employees eat at complete silence interrupted only by the ringing of prayer bells. And recently, a labyrinth for walking meditation was built at Googleplex.

At Apple, employees spend 30 minutes of working time every day to meditate. For convenience, the office has a special room with cushions on the floor to make it easier for workers to look inside themselves.

While delving into mysticism, companies do not forget about capitalism. According to the Financial Times, employees who engage in spiritual and personal growth are less sick and happier. Consequently, the cost of annual health insurance is reduced significantly.

Russian experience

Meditations in the Russian IT sphere are still of an individual nature. Google PR manager Svetlana Anurova says that among Moscow Googlers there are many who have signed up for the online program “Search Inside Yourself”, developed by Chad-Meng Tan, but no one has yet organized live meetings in lotus positions, like in the American office.

But this year Kaspersky Lab hosted a series of lectures called Eggucation Health, the main goal of which was to help employees look at healthy lifestyle issues from different angles.

The head of the personnel training and development department at Kaspersky Lab, Ekaterina Vodopyan, says: “We invited external experts who gave lectures and practical classes on Mindfulness, emotional intelligence, nutrition, correct technique running and so on. The theme of Mindfulness was cross-cutting, because it is awareness of oneself, one’s goals, emotions and perceptions that makes it possible to improve the quality of life. The mindfulness workshops have been very popular with staff and we have seen real changes in staff lives. Some have taken up running seriously, others have switched to healthier eating habits.”

For example, employee Nick Hodgkins, who works in the Moscow office of Kaspersky Lab, after the Mindfulness course began to regularly engage in meditative practices.

Nick spends 5 to 20 minutes every morning doing these activities in the office. He does not use special applications - only the book “Mindfulness. How to find harmony in our crazy world." According to Nick himself, he is now in the process of studying mindfulness practices and, although it is too early to talk about specific results, he is confident that with the help of meditation one can achieve positive changes in life.

Headspace – meditation- it's almost best app for meditation, which helps many people feel much better than they did before.

Why is it worth downloading Headspace – meditation for Android?

This application allows everyone who has ever dreamed of learning how to meditate to learn how to meditate, but did not have the time or knowledge. Download Headspace – meditation for Android for free, this program allows everyone to start meditating so that the result will be obvious. By the way, it’s immediately clear that the developers know their business, and therefore were able to develop a really high-quality product that has received a large number of downloads and a few positive reviews, of which there are more than fifty thousand in total. The cool thing is that this program developed one of the most famous people in this topic, so you shouldn’t even think about the benefits and quality. Everything was done to an eerie degree of five plus.

Download Headspace – meditation for Android for free, they will teach you various techniques in a very interactive mode, which is very addictive for any user and after that it is difficult to stop using such an assistant. By the way, the application can be used by both adults and children, which is very cool. She has no downsides at all. Although we can attribute to them the complete absence of the Russian language, which is very sad. However, many will be pleased with the pleasant appearance, which is very well optimized and even understandable on an intuitive level.

Interesting features of the application:

1. A clear explanation of the various principles and patterns from this teaching;
2. Pleasant appearance, which has a unique user interface optimized for all devices;
3. Unfortunately, there is no support for the Russian language, which is very sad;
4. Interactive training that doesn't require a lot of time.

After active training, it is absolutely necessary to restore your strength - otherwise it will be difficult to achieve desired results. The simplest and affordable way relax and unwind – meditate using a convenient application.

For quality meditation, it is not necessary to sit in an uncomfortable position towards the sun and read incomprehensible mantras. All you need to do is launch the special meditation application Headspace on your smartphone - one of the best proprietary programs in the world for high-quality relaxation and achieving external and internal harmony. You can download it for free on your Android smartphone in the Google Play store.

Bodymaster tested Headspace using the Fly Power Plus 2 smartphone. You can preview the main functions of the application in our video:

What is Headspace

Headspace creator Andy Puddicombe is one of the world's most renowned clinical meditation practitioners. After many years of studying meditation, including as a Buddhist monk, in 2004 he created an application system for improving the quality of life. Andy's program changes the conventional wisdom about meditation in many ways. That is, you don’t need to memorize long and complex texts or choose the time based on the location of the stars in the sky.

The Headspace meditation app does not carry any magical or religious mystique. This is a carefully designed set of practices available for any age to cleanse the consciousness of heavy and obsessive thoughts, improving concentration and bodily relaxation.

Over the past few years, meditation has been increasingly talked about as a mandatory attribute of a person leading an active lifestyle. Whether you devote most of your day to sports, or your job involves heavy physical and mental stress, even 5-10 minutes spent in meditation will help relieve physical and emotional stress, restore blood circulation and focus on the most important tasks ahead.

Thus, former Google programmer and famous meditation trainer Chad-Meng Tan is confident that the practice of relaxation can, among other things, have a positive effect on career growth. By clearing your mind, Master Tan says, you make room for new ideas and discoveries, and therefore, you develop professionally, set new goals for yourself, achieve them and become an even more valuable employee.

By the way, meditation programs are now actively practiced among Google employees, in particular, those developed by Andy Puddicombe and Chad-Meng Tan.

Thematic collections for meditation Headspace

For maximum efficiency Headspace meditation offers several tools. The first tab is Collections. Here are step-by-step exercises distributed by topic.

In particular, for athletes, Andy developed a course of 8 steps, 10 days each. With the help of meditations in this program, you will learn to motivate yourself to work with your body, focus on specific tasks physical development, analyze your achievements and quickly recover after a hard workout.

Other complexes are no less useful:

• Warp. Includes 3 basic courses, each of which lasts 10 days. Here you will learn how to meditate correctly, and thus smoothly and slowly enter the world of meditative practices.
• Health: how to get rid of anxiety, depression, relieve stress, get rid of insomnia, teach you how to cope with pain.
• Bravery: how to cope with doubts and anger at yourself and others, how to accept spontaneous and unpleasant changes.
• Happiness: How to focus on joy in life, friendly attitude, sober self-esteem and acceptance.
• Job: how to concentrate on what is important, set goals, apply the creative aspect to work and maintain a balance between work activity and rest time.
• Students: how to cope with the stress associated with moving to a hostel, how to focus on gaining new knowledge.
• Professional assembly. For a deep dive into yourself.

The advice Andy gives may pleasantly surprise you with its simplicity and effectiveness. For example, meditation for concentration will ask you to look at any object for 10 to 30 seconds several times a day, without distraction.

One-time Headspace practices

This tab contains individual exercises for solving specific problems. For example, meditation can help you if you are losing patience, experiencing a panic attack, burning out at work, giving in to overwhelming temptations, preparing for a competition, or about to start a new diet.

It is known that failure to comply with the rest and exercise regime during physical training can lead to sleep disturbances. Due to insomnia, you cannot regain strength; your body spends more than it receives. At Headspace, meditation will teach you how to prepare for sleep, morning awakenings, and, in general, improve the quality of your sleep.

By the way, to create a sleep and wake-up routine, we recommend that you additionally install the Runtastic Smart Alarm Clock application, a review of which you will find on our website.

All statistics on working with the application are collected in your personal account. Here you can see how much you meditated and what programs you completed. You can also add your friends to the Headspace app and go through selected meditations together.

Features of the Headspace app

Let's say you spent 1.5-2 hours in the gym, actively worked on your body, hammered your muscles and saturated your blood with adrenaline. But within an hour you need to come to the office and plunge headlong into the work process. How to bring your body and mind back to normal so that the accumulated strength will last until the end of the working day?

The advantage of Headspace meditation is that one effective exercise takes no more than 10 minutes. You simply launch the application, sit back and listen to Andy's soft and calm voice. Try not to be distracted by extraneous noises (it’s better to use headphones for this), follow your breathing and observe with your inner gaze how your consciousness becomes clear, extraneous thoughts leave your head, and fatigue disappears from your muscles.

Of course, this is not an easy task, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t immediately follow your mentor’s advice. Keep meditating and you will definitely achieve the desired result.

Quite quickly you will get used to the simple scheme that Andy works with you:

1. Introduction to the task, what you will learn in the process of meditation
2. Step by step instructions
3. Repetition of the basic principle of this lesson, task for consolidation.

Even children under 5 years old can meditate with Headspace. The app will teach kids how to be attentive, kind, calm, happy and grateful, help them fall asleep and prepare themselves before school.

The design of the application is thought out so that you feel comfortable working with it. All interface elements are drawn softly using colors that are pleasing to the eye. Even educational videos are made in the form of interesting colorful cartoons.

Since Headspace is a proprietary meditation application, you won’t be able to complete it completely for free: in the basic version, only the program for beginners is available. Full assembly You will receive all programs and courses by subscription:

• Monthly – 9.99 euros
• Annual – 5.99 euros per month
• Lifetime – 300 euros one-time.

Conclusion

Headspace guided meditation and mindfulness is not called the world's best meditation app for nothing. In a comfortable and unobtrusive manner, it will teach you step by step to relax, breathe correctly, focus, and be as effective as possible in solving various tasks, listen to your feelings and trust them.

Perhaps the only inconvenience of the application is that it is entirely in English. On the other hand, the same instructions are spoken in most exercises, and Andy talks to you without complicated words. So, to some extent, Headspace is also a good way to learn a language at a basic level.