Meditating has never been more exciting!
Australian health expert Edwina Griffin has just launched the world’s first virtual reality (VR) meditation app called AtOne, bringing multi-sensory sensations to soothe your soul.
“One of the central benefits of meditation is that it improves attention and concentration,” Edwina says, “and it can also reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia.”
Edwina Griffin. Image: Supplied
But when you blend meditation through the world of VR, users gain a much deeper immersion.
“Research shows that virtual reality can be successfully used in the treatment of anxiety disorders including phobias and PTSD,” Edwina says. “[So,] even if someone isn’t a regular meditator, the multi-sensory approach enables them to ‘feel’ the benefits and to be relaxed in the experience regardless of whether they are a regular meditator or not.
“Repetition of guided meditations trains the mind (via neuroplasticity) towards positive thinking and healthy choices.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ8WMiKLLKU&feature=emb_logo
Using the Oculus Quest VR headset, users can choose to use LED lights (eyes closed-flicker effect) or be situated in both real and virtual scenes like forests, outer space, and the beach, or amongst sacred geometric shapes. AtOne’s guided meditations range from 2-25 minutes with an average time of 10 minutes, and the dashboard shows changes in your emotional state.
Music, voice tracks and visual environments are changeable by the user, and experiences can be enhanced by using essential oils like the University of Queensland’s Serenascent collection. You can also use the Rhythm Heart Rate Band to track your heart rate and its variability for both individual and group reporting.
In solidarity with the traditional owners of the land, Edwina teamed up with Indigenous elder Woobula Kevin Duncan of the Gomeroi, Mandandanji Awaba people, Australian musician Yantra de Vilder and Joshua-Tree to include original music, with tracks featuring didgeridoos, Himalayan bowls and gongs, drums piano, flute, cello, bass, chanting and mantras.
Left to right: Kevin Duncan, Edwina Griffin and Yantra de Vilder. Photographed by Lisa Haymes. Image supplied
The sound element also includes Solfeggio frequencies, which refer to specific tones of sound that support body and mind health. Research shows Solfeggio sound healing frequencies can help with the endocrine system, which is particularly important in the management of stress.
“It’s the first time this sort of music will be on a meditation app and Solfeggio frequencies have been referenced back in ancient history including with Gregorian Monks and Indian Sanskrit chants,” says Edwina. “Cymatics – observing the effects of sounds and frequency on matter – demonstrates these potential effects visually.
“There are several different frequencies that support positive change including releasing fear, facilitating change, creative expression and spiritual growth. Interestingly, there is technology out there now that can record the frequencies of plants – picking up the frequency of the vibration of the plant and then converting that to sound – which is wild.
“Two of the tracks are the music of the geranium plant and marijuana plant, with the didgeridoo over the top of it. It’s a unique, beautiful sound.”
Subscribe to AtOne via their online store for $18 per month or $179 per year. You can also purchase the Oculus Quest and Serenascent essential oils as part of a package on the AtOne online store.
Is Covid-19 getting you down in the dumps? Check out our 5 Expert Tips on Staying Positive During This Crazy Pandemic! And if you’re looking for more meditation apps, check out this list of 10 Meditation Apps For 2020.
