We compiled a list of our top 10 body scan meditations. Why? Because we love body scan meditations. We love them so much that we created two of our own body scan meditaitons. A 20 minute guided body scan meditation and for those with less time we created a 10 minute guided body scan meditation. That being said, we know there are many other great body scan meditations out there to choose from so we compiled a list of 10 of our favorites.

But first, let’s answer a few questions you may have. Click here to skip straight to our top ten list.

What is a body scan meditation?

A Body Scan Meditation is a form of mindfulness practice which uses a technique that scans the body from feet to head.

By going through all of your body parts one by one and fully relaxing that area, the person doing the meditation is able to become very mindful and present in their body, with the added bonus of fully relaxing all muscle groups.

The is a very powerful combination which is very effective for combating anxiety and stress.

Why should I use a body scan meditation over other forms of meditation?

Well, the truth is there is no great answer to this question, we are not saying body scan meditations are “the best” or that you should “only do body scan meditations.” What we are saying is that they are a great way to get relief from anxiety and stress.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), was developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the 1970s by Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn. MBSR uses a combination of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, yoga and exploration of patterns of behavior, thinking, feeling and action.

Mindfulness can be understood as the non-judgemental acceptance and “open-hearted” investigation of present experience, including body sensations, internal mental states, thoughts, emotions, impulses, and memories, in order to reduce suffering or distress and to increase well-being. And Body scan meditation is the first prolonged meditation technique taught for MBSR.

Body scan meditation is a simple and effective way to switch off a racing mind and turn it to a more mindful state.

How did we choose our list of the best body scan meditations?

We spoke to our team and got everyone to compile a list of their favorite body scan meditations on youtube. We then asked everyone on the team to listen to each one during their usual time for meditation practice. We also had everyone rate their stress and anxiety levels before and after the body scan meditation.