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In search of simple, quick and cheap stress relief[2] ? Meditation[3] is what you're after.


Often associated with Eastern-world practices[4] , meditation has been making headlines[5] and infiltrating the West. It's no mystery as to why: Just 20 minutes has been shown to decrease stress[6] , help with depression[7] and even lower blood pressure[8] .


Best of all, there's no catch: Meditation is free, and you can take it anywhere [9] (all you need is your head). We were curious where you take your meditation; while we might typically think it's a practice for stillness and silence, it turns out there's no place too loud or exclusive to find peace of mind.


We asked[10] on Facebook the strangest place you've found yourself practicing, and from your answers it's clear: Meditation can happen in motion, and is often helpful in times we anticipate feeling tense. Check out some creative and brilliant places to meditate below, then tell us in the comments where else you like to clear your head.




"In a tree." -- Marty Daymunde

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"In the middle of a rock concert." -- Jane Sayre

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"On the NYC subway!" -- Lauren Loma Calixte

on subway



"On a plane." -- Sandrine Laurent

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"In the car." -- Heather Hunter

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"Public restroom!" -- Jane Sayre

bathroom stall


"While running on a treadmill." -- Travis H Heinrich

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"While in an MRI. It helped keep me calm in the tube." -- Katherine Nobles

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"In the middle of the airport[11] ." -- Sky Can Horn

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"In the dentist's chair." -- Sean Mac An Ultaigh

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"In a bar." -- Denise Helberg Snider

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For more on meditation, click here[12] .



Also on HuffPost:




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  • Headspace


    Kickstart your meditation practice with a 10-day starter program from <a href="http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/" target="_blank">Headspace</a>, a free guided meditation app. The comprehensive guided meditation sessions offer clear and straight-forward mindfulness instruction for beginners, who can continue to access hours of videos and audio meditations by subscribing for a low monthly fee.




  • The Mindfulness App


    Sometimes, just remembering to be mindful is the hardest part of sticking to a practice. If you need a little nudge to help you stick with your meditation routine, try <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-mindfulness-app/id417071430?mt=8" target="_blank">The Mindfulness App</a>. The biggest perk of this $1.99 program is that you can set location alerts to remind you to stop and meditate at a particular time or day of the week, or even when you enter a certain location.




  • Buddhify


    This<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buddhify/id474005305?ls=1&mt=8" target="_blank"> $2.99 app</a> describes itself as "the urban meditation app for modern life," and was named the number-one health app by UK news outlet The Sun. App Store reviewers rave about the app's clear, simple design and relaxing guided meditations. Customize your meditation to your location: It offers tailored guides for when you're at home, walking or at the gym.




  • Smiling MInd


    Designed specifically for young people, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id560442518" target="_blank">Smiling Mind </a>makes meditation fun, easy and accessible. Created by a team of psychologists who specialize in adolescent therapy, the app offers programs catered to different age groups, from 7-11 years old to adult, and also includes reminders.




  • Mindfulness Meditation By Mental Workout


    This best-selling <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/mindfulness-meditation/id312327144" target="_blank">iPhone app by Mental Workout</a>, designed by renowned meditation teacher and psychotherapist Stephan Bodian, provides guided meditations for both beginners and more experienced mindfulness practitioners. The app features an eight-week program, inspiration talks, body scans and relaxation instructions. According to one App Store <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/mindfulness-meditation/id312327144" target="_blank">reviewer</a>, the app is the best way to learn mindfulness "short of finding your own personal meditation teacher."




  • Simply Being


    Short guided meditations, with or without music and nature sounds, for relaxation and presence are the focus of this <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simply-being-guided-meditation/id347418999?mt=8" target="_blank">$0.99 app</a>. Perfect for beginners looking for something simple, Simply Being is highly rated for being user-friendly and customizable.




  • Meditate -- Meditation Timer


    If guided meditation isn't your thing, try going your own way with a basic <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meditate-meditation-timer/id322538701?mt=8" target="_blank">meditation timer app</a> that allows you to follow your own practice, either silently or accompanied by bells. The statistics feature also allows users to track their practice and chart progress.




  • Walking Meditation


    This <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/walking-meditations/id412648679?mt=8" target="_blank">app by Meditation Oasis</a>, the makers of Simply Being, is geared toward mediation on-the-go. With three different guided walking meditations, users can plug in their headphones and unwind in transit. The app comes with a diary for users to keep track of their progress.




  • Arianna Huffington: How To De-Stress With the GPS For the Soul App


    Arianna Huffington talks about how to de-stress with the GPS for the Soul app.