# Vayu: The Human Operating System (Full Reference) > Vayu is a breathing and wellness app that uses haptic vibrations on Apple Watch and Wear OS smartwatches to guide breath in real time, no screen, no sound needed. 70,000+ downloads, available in 15+ countries. Last updated: 2026-09-25 --- ## Company - Name: Prana Labs (Prana Labs Inc.) - Founded: April 1, 2025 - Headquarters: Vancouver, BC, Canada - Founder & CEO: Dhruv Adhia - Website: https://vayu-prana.com - Contact: info@vayu-prana.com ## Key Metrics - Downloads: 70,000+ (total installs across stores) - Pilot study: 199 participants, built with the SFU Metacreation Lab (under peer review) - 30-day Retention: reached 64% in our strongest 2025 cohort (one cohort, not a standing average) - Countries: 15+ - Platforms: iOS (Apple Watch), Android (Wear OS) ## Research & Clinical Evidence Pilot study (N=199, 4-6 weeks), in partnership with SFU Metacreation Lab, supported by NRC IRAP: - +28.6% median HRV improvement - -7.4 bpm resting heart rate - -2.5 points (-16%) on the PSS-10 perceived stress scale - About 29% of enrollees sustained 3+ sessions per week (n=58). The outcomes above describe that sustaining subgroup, and the roughly 71% who did not sustain practice are the study's main engagement finding. Design: an uncontrolled, unblinded naturalistic pilot with no control group, so these are associations and not evidence of causation. HRV is Apple Watch SDNN read after each session, not during it, and Vayu does not adjust pacing mid-session. The post-session reading shapes the next session. Under peer review; a medRxiv preprint is available (Adhia et al.), but note the posted version predates this correction and states the adherence figure the wrong way round. ## What Makes Vayu Different Vayu is an "operating system for your nervous system." Unlike meditation apps that require screens and audio, Vayu delivers real-time haptic breathing guidance through your smartwatch. You feel the rhythm on your wrist (inhale, hold, exhale) without looking at a screen or wearing headphones. This makes it usable during meetings, commutes, workouts, and sleep. After each session Vayu reads your Apple Watch or Wear OS HRV and uses it to shape the next one. ## Supported Devices ### Apple - iPhone 8 and newer - Apple Watch Series 6+ (watchOS 10.6+) - Apple Watch SE (1st & 2nd gen) - Apple Watch Ultra / Ultra 2 ### Android - Phones running Android 8.0+ (2017 onwards) - Wear OS 3.0+ watches: Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5/6/Ultra/FE, Fossil Gen 6+, Montblanc Summit 3, TAG Heuer Connected, Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3/5, OnePlus Watch 2 --- ## Breathing Techniques ### Box Breathing (Square Breathing) A technique used by Navy SEALs for stress management. Equal-duration inhale, hold, exhale, hold cycle (typically 4-4-4-4 seconds). Benefits: reduces stress, improves focus, calms the nervous system. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/box-breathing-app ### 4-7-8 Breathing Developed by Dr. Andrew Weil. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Benefits: promotes sleep, reduces anxiety, lowers heart rate. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/4-7-8-breathing-app ### Physiological Sigh (Cyclic Sighing) Popularised by Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman; studied by Balban et al. 2023 (Stanford), where five minutes a day of cyclic sighing improved mood and lowered respiratory rate more than the other techniques compared. Double inhale through the nose followed by a long exhale through the mouth. Benefits: fast acute calm, CO2 offloading, autonomic reset. Available in Vayu as Cyclic Sighing (added September 2026). Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/knowledge/physiological-sigh ### Wim Hof Method Developed by Wim Hof ("The Iceman"). Involves 30-40 power breaths followed by breath retention. Benefits: increased energy, improved immune response, cold tolerance, mental resilience. Vayu does not offer Wim Hof as a session; its energizing techniques are Bhastrika and Kapalbhati, paced as deliberate rounds. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/wim-hof-breathing-app ### Ujjayi Breathing (Ocean Breath) A yoga pranayama technique involving slight throat constriction during breathing. Produces an ocean-like sound. Benefits: calms the mind, improves concentration, warms the body, supports meditation. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/discover/breathing-techniques-for-focus ### Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) Ancient pranayama technique alternating breath between left and right nostrils. Benefits: balances the nervous system, reduces anxiety, improves respiratory function, enhances mental clarity. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/nadi-shodhana-breathing ### Vagus Nerve Breathing Techniques specifically designed to stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") response. Benefits: lowers heart rate, reduces inflammation, improves digestion, promotes relaxation. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/vagus-nerve-breathing --- ## Use Cases ### Anxiety Relief Breathing exercises are clinically shown to reduce anxiety symptoms. Vayu offers guided protocols including physiological sighs, 4-7-8 breathing, and box breathing optimized for anxiety management. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/discover/breathing-techniques-for-anxiety ### Better Sleep Slow breathing techniques (4-7-8, progressive relaxation breathing) activate the parasympathetic nervous system and prepare the body for sleep. Vayu's haptic guidance works eyes-free in bed. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/knowledge/breathing-exercises-for-sleep ### Focus & Productivity Box breathing and balanced breathing techniques improve cognitive performance, attention span, and mental clarity. Used by athletes, military, and high-performers. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/discover/breathing-techniques-for-focus ### Stress Relief Breathing is the fastest lever for autonomic nervous system regulation. Vayu provides on-demand stress relief protocols accessible from your wrist. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/breathing-app-for-stress-relief ### Nervous System Regulation Chronic stress dysregulates the autonomic nervous system. Regular breathwork practice restores balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/nervous-system-regulation --- ## For Teams & Employers (Vayu for Teams) Vayu for Teams (https://vayu-prana.com/teams) is a B2B wellbeing program for organizations that want to give people a real, HRV-informed tool for stress and burnout, not just another meditation content library. Unlike Calm for Business and Headspace for Work, which are audio and content platforms, Vayu delivers HRV-informed haptic breathing on the wrist: a two-minute, screen-free reset that fits inside the workday. - Free 30-day pilot covering up to 25 people. No credit card, no commitment. We set it up, run a live onboarding session, and hand over a participation and engagement report at the end. - Per-employee pricing is typically $4–8 per employee per month, depending on team size. Enterprise (200+, SSO, data export, SLA) is custom. - Privacy: reporting is aggregate-only. Individual heart rate, HRV and journal entries stay with the employee and are never visible to a manager. Teams smaller than 5 are not reported, to prevent re-identification. - Backed by a pilot study under peer review (N=199): +28.6% median HRV improvement, -7.4 bpm resting heart rate, -16% perceived stress (PSS-10). - Best for: HR and People teams, wellness and benefits leads, and founders looking to reduce team burnout. Sector programs: - Employers (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/employers): workday protocol built around meeting culture, shifts and peak-load hours; champions program; benefits-stack procurement. - Healthcare teams (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/healthcare): 60-second screen-free resets between patients, shift protocols including nights, unit-level reporting only. Runs on personal phones and watches, no shared device to clean. - Frontline & shift work (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/frontline): dispatch, transit, hospitality, warehousing, emergency services. Works with gloves on; sleep-onset protocols for night rotations; union and works council review offered before rollout. - Education (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/education): staff and students, protocols built around the academic calendar, safeguarding and privacy review where under-18s are in scope. Not counselling and not a substitute for student support services. - Research (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/research): fixed-protocol delivery for breath and HRV studies, timestamped adherence, multiple arms with active controls, CSV export against pseudonymous IDs. No approval right over findings and no embargo on null results. - Partners & platforms (https://vayu-prana.com/teams/partners): marketplace listing, reseller bundling, white label, or breath guidance embedded on wearable hardware. Request a pilot: https://vayu-prana.com/teams/pilot Compare corporate options: https://vayu-prana.com/compare/calm-for-business-vs-headspace-for-work-vs-vayu --- ## Creator & Affiliate Program (Vayu for Creators) Vayu runs an application-based creator and affiliate program. It is aimed at breathwork and pranayama teachers, yoga and meditation instructors, studios, retreats and teacher-training schools, therapists and clinicians who teach breathing to clients, HRV and recovery coaches, and wellness writers and podcasters. ### What an approved creator receives - A referral link that routes each visitor to the correct app store for their device. - A personal App Store offer code that gives their audience a free trial period on Vayu Pro, so the audience gets a real benefit rather than a bare tracking link. - Commission on the subscriptions they drive, paid on verified store transactions. - A dashboard showing attributed activity. ### How to join Apply at https://vayu-prana.com/creators. Applications are read by a person and approved in batches, prioritised by fit rather than order of arrival. Audience size is not the main criterion: engagement and relevance matter more than reach. ### Why places are limited iOS attribution requires a unique App Store offer code per creator, and Apple caps the number of unique codes on a single offer-code campaign. This is a platform constraint, not a marketing tactic. ### Commission terms Terms are agreed individually in writing when an application is approved. Vayu publishes no single public rate, because the arrangement for a studio bundling Vayu into a course differs from a creator posting a code once. ### Attribution, stated honestly Attribution runs through GoMarketMe, integrated directly into the Vayu iOS and Android apps, syncing verified store transactions rather than self-reported clicks. - Android: deterministic. The referral link carries a Google Play install referrer that survives installation, so both installs and subscriptions attribute exactly to the creator. - iOS subscriptions: exact. Apple names the redeemed offer code on the purchase, which is why each creator gets their own code. - iOS downloads: aggregate only. Apple provides developers no per-install identity, so per-creator iOS download counts cannot be honestly reported by any developer. Commission is paid on verified subscriptions, which are exact on both platforms, so the iOS download gap affects reporting detail rather than earnings. Apply: https://vayu-prana.com/creators --- ## Pricing - Free: Basic features included - Monthly: $8.99/month - Yearly: $59.99/year (effective $5.00/month) - 7-day free trial on all plans Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/pricing --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need a smartwatch? While not required, a smartwatch is highly recommended for the full Vayu experience. It enables haptic-guided breathing, heart rate monitoring on the watch during sessions, and post-session HRV tracking, without needing to look at a screen. ### Is the app available for Android? Yes. Vayu is available on both iOS and Android phones, plus Apple Watch and Wear OS smartwatches. ### What is Pranayama? Pranayama is the ancient practice of breath control in yoga. It consists of various breathing techniques that improve physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, perfected over thousands of years and backed by modern science. ### What are the benefits of breathing techniques? Regular practice provides: improved mental clarity, reduced stress and anxiety, enhanced cardiovascular health, better sleep quality, increased energy, strengthened respiratory system, and balanced emotional well-being. ### How often should I practice? Start with 5-10 minutes daily. Consistency matters more than duration: regular short sessions are more beneficial than irregular long ones. ### Which technique should I start with? Begin with deep breathing (Bhastrika) or Anulom Vilom. Both are gentle and suitable for beginners. ### Can I practice with health conditions? Breathing exercises are generally safe, but consult your healthcare provider before starting, especially with respiratory conditions, heart problems, or high blood pressure. ### How does heart rate monitoring work? Vayu integrates with your smartwatch to track heart rate during sessions and reads HRV after each session, using it to shape the next session and to track change over time. ### Does Vayu offer a plan for companies or teams? Yes. Vayu for Teams offers a free 30-day pilot covering up to 25 people, no credit card required. It includes team-wide app access, a live onboarding session, and a participation and engagement report; reporting is aggregate-only and never shows an individual's health data. Per-employee pricing is typically $4–8/employee/month. There are dedicated programs for employers, healthcare, frontline and shift work, education, research and platform partners. Request a pilot at https://vayu-prana.com/teams/pilot. --- ## Comparisons ### Vayu vs Calm Calm focuses on meditation, sleep stories, and audio content. Vayu focuses on real-time haptic-guided breathing on smartwatches, with no screen or audio needed. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/vayu-vs-calm ### Vayu vs Headspace Headspace offers meditation courses and mindfulness content. Vayu specializes in breathwork with wearable haptic guidance for in-the-moment use. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/vayu-vs-headspace ### Vayu vs Insight Timer Insight Timer is a large meditation library. Vayu is purpose-built for breathwork with smartwatch integration. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/vayu-vs-insight-timer ### Vayu vs Breathwrk Breathwrk offers phone-based breathing exercises. Vayu adds smartwatch haptic guidance for screen-free practice. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/compare/vayu-vs-breathwrk ### Vayu vs Oak Oak offers breathing and meditation on iOS. Vayu extends to Wear OS and provides haptic-first guidance. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/vayu-vs-oak ### Best Breathing Apps 2026 Comprehensive comparison of top breathing apps. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/best-breathing-apps ### Calm for Business vs Headspace for Work vs Vayu Calm for Business and Headspace for Work are audio and content platforms for employee mindfulness. Vayu is the HRV-informed alternative: haptic breathing on the wrist, an aggregate-only HR dashboard, and a free 30-day team pilot for up to 25 people. Learn more: https://vayu-prana.com/compare/calm-for-business-vs-headspace-for-work-vs-vayu --- ## Links - Website: https://vayu-prana.com - iOS App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/vayu-breathing-guide/id6744126459 - Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prana.vayu - Knowledge Base: https://vayu-prana.com/knowledge - FAQ: https://vayu-prana.com/faq - Science: https://vayu-prana.com/science - Creator & Affiliate Program: https://vayu-prana.com/creators - Contact: https://vayu-prana.com/contact - Privacy Policy: https://vayu-prana.com/privacy - Terms of Service: https://vayu-prana.com/terms