Taylor Leamy/CNET
Deep breathing is not my forte. Even though I know it has a lot to do with anxiety and sleep, I’ve never been able to focus on breathing exercises. I get distracted easily and never clear my mind enough to get the benefits…until now.
I tried out the Moonbird, a handheld breathing device designed to reduce stress and improve sleep quality. The idea behind Moonbird isn’t new, but it makes relaxing breathing exercises easier for the public to do by taking the guesswork out of whether you’re breathing correctly. All you have to do is hold the Moonbird and breathe.
It’s a simple and easy to use device, but there’s a lot more functionality behind it than you’d expect. I have to admit I was skeptical when I started using Moonbird, but I was amazed. Here’s my honest review of Moonbird and what I thought of it after trying it out.
Read more: 5 Grounding Techniques to Try When You’re Feeling Anxious
What is Moonbird?
Moonbird is a handheld guided breathing device. It’s not too big or too small and fits comfortably in your hand. Power it on and it’s awesome: shake the device, place your thumb on the sensor to start a breathing session, and Moonbird will breathe with you. On each side of the device there are balloon-like structures that can inflate and deflate.
Moonbird expands and contracts in your hand.
Taylor Leamy/CNET
Simply breathe in when it inflates and breathe out when it deflates. Think of it as a breathing coach that you can take with you anywhere to relieve stress and relax in real time.
Moonbird’s sleep studies show that 81% of people who used the device felt more refreshed during the day, and 87% experienced improved quality sleep. Moonbird recommends starting with short exercises and using it 2-3 times a day to get the most out of it. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. It seemed like one of those gadgets you buy, use for a week, then give up. But I was surprised at how much I liked it.
The great thing about Moonbird is that it is a very simple and easy device to set up; just take it out of the box and charge it. One thing I like about Moonbird is that you don’t need to use the app to use the device, which is great when you’re on the go. Moonbird works on a wake-and-shake method; just shake Moonbird and place your thumb over the sensor to wake it up.
You don’t need the app to use Moonbird, but I highly recommend it. For me, it added another layer of support to help me focus on my breathing. The app adds personalization, tracking, and audio guidance to your Moonbird experience.
How much does Moonbird cost?
Moonbird can be purchased for $199. It’s not cheap, but it’s in line with other sleep gadgets I’ve seen on the market. It might be a bit more expensive than an impulse buy. If you’re serious about deep breathing, Moonbird is a one-time payment, so I think it’s worth it. There’s no subscription required, but subscriptions are hard to find these days. Most apps charge a subscription fee after you buy the device, so for me this was a big plus with Moonbird.
Moonbird offers free returns and full refunds within the first 30 days, and a two-year warranty covers manufacturing defects. You can buy it on the Moonbird website or on Amazon.
How Moonbird works
I’ve tried a lot of sleep and anxiety apps over the years, and Moonbird impressed me in an unexpected way. It took some getting used to. Moonbird is encased in smooth silicone, which didn’t feel very natural at first, especially since the thumb sensor is surrounded by regular plastic. But once you get used to the feel, it’s now barely noticeable.
Once I got used to the feel in my hand, I enjoyed using the device. I can’t say for sure if it helped reduce anxiety. I used Moonbird a few times before an important interview for an article, and although my anxiety remained, the physical symptoms of anxiety were reduced. I felt more relaxed each time I used it.
Track BPM, HRV and coherence during each session
Moonbird
Well, apart from concentrating on what the device tells you to do, there’s another reason why you might feel relaxed even when you’re anxious. The magic of Moonbird is based on science. Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system, or fight-or-flight response. When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, your body responds by relaxing. Not only does it calm your body back down to normal, it also lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
I also used Moonbird to help me fall asleep faster during a recent trip to a mattress warehouse in Reno. I have a hard time falling asleep in hotels, especially after a long flight, so I was glad to have the Moonbird. It helped me focus on my breathing and prevented me from staying asleep all night.
For me, the best effect of Moonbird was achieved when I was completely focused on my breathing. When I tried to use it in the office, I found that I would get distracted by other things, even while watching TV. For me, Moonbird was something I needed to be completely focused on. Moonbird is designed to fit easily in a bag for use on the go, and when I was on the go, I just couldn’t concentrate enough to get the full benefit.
Overall, I liked Moonbird, and there are a few points worth expanding on.
The app stores session data
You don’t need to use the app, but Moonbird’s app is easy to use. You’ll need to connect Moonbird every time you open the app, but you can give your device a gentle shake to ensure it’s on and connected.
The sessions are divided by goals: sleep, stress, anxiety, HRV intake, kids, etc. Within the app, it’s not clear which blocks are guided breathing sessions and which are educational content – you don’t know until you click on them. It would be nice if there was an indication on the blocks so that you don’t have to click through every session or not as you learn how to use the app.
The app stores your session data. You can view statistics for HRV, heart rate, and each session. Moonbird shows you graphed data in a week, month, six month, or year view. Most other apps do this, so it’s nice to see this feature in Moonbird.
Rich educational context
Moonbird offers a variety of breathing sessions to choose from.
Moonbird
Another thing that impressed me about Moonbird’s app is the amount of educational content. Anxiety apps are nothing without context. The best apps have plenty of guides and educational content to help you understand how they work. In Moonbird’s case, you not only get information about how the device works, but also the context of what it’s measuring, like heart rate variability and biofeedback, and why that matters. This content is available through both written and audio-guided sessions.
Audio-guided sessions
When I first started using Moonbird I found myself easily getting distracted and my breathing becoming irregular. I found that during the audio guided sessions it was much easier to focus on my breathing.
Guided meditations aren’t necessarily my favorite, but I found Moonbird’s guided session to be one of the best options I’ve tried so far. The instructor speaks slowly and clearly, as you’d expect, explaining the importance of deep breathing. But that’s not all. The multi-phased session, created by a clinical psychologist, gives you context about what’s going on inside your body and why. For example, I particularly enjoyed the session on stress reduction. While Moonbird breathed in my hand, the instructor explained what stress is in a psychological sense and how it affects the body. Stopping stress and anxiety is one thing, but understanding why it happens is another layer of empowerment to help you manage your symptoms.
Is Moonbird worth the money?
While I can’t prove or disprove Moonbird’s claims that participants felt 81% more refreshed and had 78% better sleep, I enjoyed using it. I wouldn’t say this is a device that everyone should pick up. For me, this is one of those cool gadgets that you can easily put down while using it unless you’re completely committed to it.
If you live with anxiety and want a tactile device to help you get through periods of high symptoms, Moonbird is worth the money. It’s a fantastic device, and in my testing I found it most helpful on those mentally exhausted, sleepless nights.
