YH December 2018 | Page 34

M E D I TA T I O N Mindfulness & MOBILE DEVICES Can an app really help us be more mindful? O ften what comes to mind when I think of my iPhone is how mindful it really isn't. I think of the many times the person with whom I am sharing a meal has picked up their phone to make a call or look something up on the internet or to return a TEXT. Sadly, I also must consider the times I have done it to others. As our minds are being sucked ever more deeply into the electronic never world, is it possible that these same little mobile instigators could possibly help us recover some of the precious mindfulness that is lost to them? A slew of mobile app developers think so. Here are some suggestions. If we are going to spend some time, and potentially some money, on mindfulness apps, you might consider these. Headspace and Calm: (https://www.headspace.com), (https://www.calm.com/) We are lumping them together because they are both wonderful apps that offer very similar things. While there are subtle differences between what they offer, both are lovely. Many 32 www.yogicherald.com Dec. 2018 reviewers say that it comes down to the meditation guide's voice that one prefers. Headspace uses the Buddhist trained, proper English voice of Andy Puddicombe while Calm uses the well-regarded female voice of Tamara Lovett. Both have free/trial versions of the app, so it may be great to try them both for a week at a time. Both apps are beautifully designed, yet very far apart in graphical taste. If you are visually driven person, you might find your preference of aesthetics to be your main decision driver.