Health & Wellbeing

Prana aims to get you sitting up and breathing deep

Prana aims to get you sitting up and breathing deep
The Prana is worn near the waist, simply clipping onto the user's waistband or attaching to their clothing via a magnetic clasp
The Prana is worn near the waist, simply clipping onto the user's waistband or attaching to their clothing via a magnetic clasp
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The Prana is worn near the waist, simply clipping onto the user's waistband or attaching to their clothing via a magnetic clasp
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The Prana is worn near the waist, simply clipping onto the user's waistband or attaching to their clothing via a magnetic clasp
The Prana measures 1.25 x 0.25 in (3.2 x 0.6 cm)
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The Prana measures 1.25 x 0.25 in (3.2 x 0.6 cm)
In its sitting mode, the Prana analyzes the user's breath patterns, diaphragmatic breathing, and posture
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In its sitting mode, the Prana analyzes the user's breath patterns, diaphragmatic breathing, and posture
When users are upright, the Prana functions as a step tracker
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When users are upright, the Prana functions as a step tracker
The Prana has an accompanying smartphone app for Android and iOS
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The Prana has an accompanying smartphone app for Android and iOS
The Prana notifies users when their breathing or posture can be improved
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The Prana notifies users when their breathing or posture can be improved
The Prana app provides an active training modes that uses games to educate users about better breathing
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The Prana app provides an active training modes that uses games to educate users about better breathing
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There are all sorts of health wearables to make sure we're exercising right, but what about to make sure we're sitting right? The Prana focuses on breathing and posture to promote relaxation. It is said to be the first wearable designed to monitor and train diaphragmatic breathing – although the makers of the UpRight sensor might disagree.

"We breathe differently in slumped versus upright postures, with significant improvements in forced expiratory volume while upright," explains chief science officer at Prana, Dr. Paul Abramson. "The movement of the diaphragm is less restricted with good posture."

According to Prana, this improved posture and breathing has the potential to promote calmness, increase alertness, improve heart rate variability, lower blood pressure, interrupt acute anxiety episodes and help with chronic pain. The Prana tracker notifies users via an accompanying smartphone app for Android and iOS (to which it connects via Low Energy Bluetooth) when their breathing or posture can be improved, and trains them for long-lasting benefits.

The tracker itself is small, measuring 1.25 x 0.25 in (3.2 x 0.6 cm). It is worn near the waist, simply clipping onto the user's waistband or attaching to their clothing via a magnetic clasp. Once in place, it is able to recognize whether the user is sitting down or standing up.

In its sitting mode, the Prana analyzes the user's breath patterns, diaphragmatic breathing, and posture
In its sitting mode, the Prana analyzes the user's breath patterns, diaphragmatic breathing, and posture

In its sitting mode, the Prana analyzes the user's breath patterns, diaphragmatic breathing, and posture. Its notifications are aimed at improving the user's posture, thereby increasing lung capacity, and encouraging beneficial deeper breathing from the diaphragm rather than faster, shallower breathing. When users are upright, the Prana functions as a step tracker.

In addition to its tracking capabilities, the Prana app provides an active training mode that uses games to educate users about better breathing. It also provides breathing exercises and techniques. The Prana has a rechargeable battery that is said to last for up to up to seven days of use and has a wireless base for charging.

An Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign is underway for the Prana. At the time of writing, individuals who pledge from US$99 can receive one of the devices, assuming all goes to plan with the campaign and roll-out. Shipping is expected from June.

The video below provides an introduction to the Prana.

Sources: Prana, Indiegogo

Prana: Ultimate stress fighting wearable

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