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Zen/Relaxing apps?

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ozzyman500

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 4, 2009
1,413
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Lately I find myself more and more stressed. I've been going to the chiropractor for the past couple weeks and it seems to be helping. I was wondering if there's any applications that focus on relaxing you or teach you how to relax better. I don't care if it's a paid or free app. I just need help. :) Thanks.
 
Search "Ambiscience" in the app store.
There's no teaching but they might be what you're looking for in terms of a relaxation aid.
Ambiance is also very good, but focuses more on looped sound effects.


ozzyman500 said:
Lately I find myself more and more stressed. I've been going to the chiropractor for the past couple weeks and it seems to be helping. I was wondering if there's any applications that focus on relaxing you or teach you how to relax better. I don't care if it's a paid or free app. I just need help. :) Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
I love, Garden of Zen. The sounds are perfect. The only flaw is you can't shut the screen off and still have the music play so I find myself dimming the screen completely while playing it.

My second favorite is, Relax Trax by AmbiScience (I don't have iTunes open right now, so I may be off a bit on the developer).

I believe many of the zen like ambient apps are on sale today- or at least I noticed about a half dozen were- from $1.99 to 99c.
 
Relax was good I thought. It had various videos of things like waves crashing on the beach or mountain streams. The waves crashing on a night beach was always soothing for me...

Or you could go the harder route, learn how to meditate via one of Stephdn Bodian's apps (author of 'Meditation For Dummies'). Meditation is a bit of a learning curve, but the benefits to stress reduction and improved concentration are real.
 
You can try one of our snowglobe apps. Most people found them very relaxing and I by myself use them sometimes to relax too. Currently we have 2 free versions (well to be honest, both have a little ad inside to earn some cents per day) so you can try them out without spending 1 buck on something you might don't like: iHanami free
Autumn free

there are also 2 demo videos of our snowglobe engine available on youtube:
Autumn and Winter

Some people complain about the performance which directly depends on your device (3GS vs. 1st gen) and the number of flakes you have set. So if you have a slower device, maybe use less flakes to get it run fluently.

Of course you can also buy our ad-free versions if you like, but I just want to make clear that I didn't intend to post an annoying ad of our apps. I really think it might help you to become more relaxed!

good luck! :)
herbs
 
herbs said:
You can try one of our snowglobe apps. Most people found them very relaxing and I by myself use them sometimes to relax too. Currently we have 2 free versions (well to be honest, both have a little ad inside to earn some cents per day) so you can try them out without spending 1 buck on something you might don't like: iHanami free
Autumn free

there are also 2 demo videos of our snowglobe engine available on youtube:
Autumn and Winter

Some people complain about the performance which directly depends on your device (3GS vs. 1st gen) and the number of flakes you have set. So if you have a slower device, maybe use less flakes to get it run fluently.

Of course you can also buy our ad-free versions if you like, but I just want to make clear that I didn't intend to post an annoying ad of our apps. I really think it might help you to become more relaxed!

good luck! :)
herbs
Click to expand...

Your new iCrossOut puzzle looks interesting too.
 
braddick said:
Your new iCrossOut puzzle looks interesting too.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Actually the background of iCrossOut is very relaxing too :). A lite version is currently in review and should hit the store in less than 1 week *hopefully*, but I think my colleague who does all the pricing stuff will then go back to the regular price for the full version.
 
Get Peggle or Space Invaders: Infinity instead. Relaxing and engaging at the same time and worth the actually money.

Or get Kindle for iPhone and get some books to read. Deepak Chopra, for example.
 
rigodamdiculous said:
Search "Ambiscience" in the app store.
Ambiance is also very good, but focuses more on looped sound effects.
Click to expand...

I bought Pure Meditations app last night. Seems to be pretty good so far.

herbs said:
You can try one of our snowglobe apps. Most people found them very relaxing and I by myself use them sometimes to relax too.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll give one of those a shot!

Randman said:
Get Peggle or Space Invaders: Infinity instead. Relaxing and engaging at the same time and worth the actually money.

Or get Kindle for iPhone and get some books to read. Deepak Chopra, for example.
Click to expand...

I have Peggle and it's an amazing game. I'll give Kindle a shot, do you just get books from iTunes?

Also about Zen Bound, how do you know when you've finished a level? I've given it several tries and can't finish a level.

Thanks for everyone's replies!
 
Zen Bound is a really relaxing game until you get to the last puzzle of the second tree (I forgot the names sorry, haven't played it for a while because of this level). I gets really frustrating to reach 3 blossoms (100%) on that level. There is already a sequel to this btw, you might want to check that one out.
 
May I suggest not to use any app or iPhone for achieving relaxation? Just try to do it with no input from the outside, it's more difficult but in the end it's the only real peacefulness you can get in my opinion.
 
I'd agree, but I'd still use my iPhone as a timer for meditations. Samadhi or Vipassana meditations both create calm spaces in your life, once you've gotten over simply reacting to boredom, urgent impulses, etc. Vipassana would be like watching feelings of irritation, boredom, etc from the distance like a third person rather than being right in the current of those feelings.
 
Gokunama said:
I'd agree, but I'd still use my iPhone as a timer for meditations. Samadhi or Vipassana meditations both create calm spaces in your life, once you've gotten over simply reacting to boredom, urgent impulses, etc. Vipassana would be like watching feelings of irritation, boredom, etc from the distance like a third person rather than being right in the current of those feelings.
Click to expand...

I was thinking exactly of Vipassana when I wrote my post, peculiar. Are you a practitioner?

Is there any particular timer app you feel recommending for sitting sessions? Thanks.
 
Nope, I've read a lot on it, and I've tried zen meditation which is kind of somewhere between Vipassana and Samadhi meditations. I usually only meditate when I'm stressed right out and lacking sleep. I feel a lot calmer and have a little more energy during and after meditation.

[app]Zen Timer[/app] is great!
 
Hey all! May I suggest trying Music Healing? it's the best relaxing app to me and it has a visual slideshow to go with it! And it also has the timer and a wake up feature, great for putting babies to sleep and everything!
 
Meditation apps

I am sometimes amazed how the iPhone apps have reached into every conceivable area of my life. Used to be all about gaming and productivity, but as a long time meditator I wanted to make something creative that was different from all the usual timers and bells that were out there.

My friend and I made an app called Flowing Meditations where you can place seeds of time and musical breaks into a river to make different meditations, (that can also be saved for future uses).

Would love your feedback, especially if it helps you get in to daily meditation practice. :eek:

Here is the link to Flowing Meditations app:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flowingmeditations/id428852964?mt=8&ls=1

Machead33:apple:
 
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