According to these developers, finding zen might be as easy as reaching for your phone. Photograph by Chad Moore.

The health benefits of meditation are vast, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean it can&rsquo;t be a lonely practice. Insight Timer aims to change that. The best part? It&rsquo;s free.

While the app does provide guided meditations like Headspace and Calm do, the focus is mores on creating community and inner-connectivity around the practice. It is, essentially, the social media network for serious meditators. You can see who else is using the app and meditating at any moment around the world as well as invite friends to meditate with you. There are also &ldquo;Insight groups&rdquo; that essentially serve as forums for anyone with questions or comments.

Using Insight Timer feels a bit like doing a group workout class rather than having a personal trainer. And not just because it&rsquo;s cheaper. It&rsquo;s natural to push yourself harder or feel more interested in something when in a communal setting, and this app aims to play off of that feeling to help the&nbsp;social butterflies among us reach mindfulness.

Practicing Mindfulness? Try These 5 Apps

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