The Four Best Guided Meditation Channels on YouTube
I love finding new instructor-led workouts on YouTube, from Pilates to cycling , but I also understand that you should strive to strengthen your mind as well as your body. I typically use the Peloton app when I want to do a guided meditation, since I already pay $44 a month for it and appreciate the instructors’ hands-on approach . But if you’re not a Peloton fan or want something different, try some of the free guided meditations on YouTube.
Michael Seeley
With his calming Australian accent and huge number of videos,Michael Seeley is a great choice, and his two million subscribers agree. While all of his videos are marketed as “hypnosis” (though the About section does list “guided meditation”), he still offers what classic meditation videos do: calming tips for quieting the mind and focusing thoughts.
Many of his offerings are geared toward getting ready for bed, but you’ll also find great meditations for relieving anxiety, clearing your head, and more. Seeley’s work is best suited for bedtime rather than, say, a commute or a quick break at the office. In fact, his videos begin with a warning about not listening to him while driving.
Honest guys
I like something aboutthe Honest Guys : Their videos open with a disclaimer that they should never replace real medical professionals. This is important: While there are plenty of helpful relaxation videos on YouTube, you should never rely on them when it comes to more serious things like treating depression, losing weight, or anything remotely medical.
Luckily, the Honest Guys offer a lot of calming, feel-good content without pretending to be anything like that. With over a million subscribers, they offer remedies designed to help listeners feel strong, confident, or just ready for a deep sleep. I love that the videos have clear directions on what body parts to focus on and how to position your body, which reminds me of my favorite Peloton meditations.
Headroom
Headspace is best known as a paid app that charges $70 a year for access to meditations, sleep sounds, and health tips, but like any smart company, it also has a number of free snippets available on YouTube, and the selection is surprisingly extensive.
Do you need a 10-minute meditation to “calm the fear of unemployment”? How about a meditation to help you cope with grief and injustice? The Headspace YouTube channel , with over 800,000 subscribers, offers all this and more.
Conscious movement
With nearly a million subscribers, Mindful Movement is the perfect channel for those looking for a quick reset. The hour-long sleep meditations you find on other channels are great, but what about when you need a quick calming routine at work or at home? That’s where this channel’s secret sauce lies.
Not only do you get short snippets when you need them, but MM also offers longer, more detailed meditations. I like that there’s more silence in these than in some of the other meditations on the list. Being asked to focus on your mind or breathing is helpful, but being able to be alone with your thoughts is also nice. What’s more, the instructors often film themselves practicing what they preach, so it feels like you’re meditating with someone.