A decade ago, meditation meant a cushion and years of practice. Now it means a phone and a soothing voice – and something got left behind in translation.

A slow, deliberate breath used to be its own reward, with no way to know if it was working. Now a screen can show a heart rate settling in real time.

Total silence sounds like it should be restful. For a lot of anxious minds it’s the opposite – nothing to listen to except the thoughts, at exactly the wrong time of day.