nalua – Calming Breathwork

neuro / dev

In-app purchases

About this app

nalua – Feel your breath without ever looking at the screen.

nalua is a free calm sensory tool for deep relaxation. Specifically designed for neurodivergent minds (e.g. ADHD, Autism), this screen-free breathwork tool provides stress relief and panic attack relief. Of course, it works perfectly well for everyone else, too. No setup, no tracking, no subscriptions, and zero ads. Just you and your calm.

Originally created as an energy pacing tool for severe dysautonomia (ME/CFS) and sensory overload, nalua works completely without visual or auditory triggers. It is a peaceful digital retreat for anyone practicing mindful breathing or looking for a radical break from screen fatigue.

Breathing Techniques Included:
• Box (4-4-4-4): The classic pattern for quick focus and mental clarity.
• Coherent / Resonant (5-5): A balanced rhythm to regulate your nervous system.
• Vagus Nerve (4-6): Extended exhalation to actively trigger a somatic reset.
• Gentle 4-4-8: A modified, more gentle 4-7-8 variant, adapted for ME/CFS pacing to prevent air hunger while maintaining deep relaxation.

Sensory Grounding for Stress Relief
• Tactile Feedback: Organic haptic vibrations act as a physical simulator, physically mimicking lung expansion. Practice relaxation techniques completely with your eyes closed.
• Visual Silence: A pure, low-stimulus design on a deep black background. No distractions, zero pressure.
• Endless Mode: Practice without artificial limits or timers. nalua runs continuously for 60 minutes for deep grounding.
• Safe Shutdown: If you drift off to sleep, the tactile feedback fades out gently to save your battery and keep your environment quiet.
• 100% Offline & Secure: No accounts, no data collection, no tracking. Your practice belongs to you, and your data never leaves your device.

FAQ: Panic Attack Calm & App Insights
How does box breathing help with anxiety relief?
It is a deep relaxation exercise that uses equal counts of inhaling, holding, and exhaling to balance the nervous system. Using a calming app like nalua helps trigger anxiety calm and stress relief during high-pressure situations by shifting your body out of a fight-or-flight state.
Can mindful breathing help stop a panic attack?
Yes. Slow, regulated pacing signals safety to your brain, making it an effective tool for panic attack relief. nalua is specifically designed for acute anxiety relief—allowing you to ground yourself with tactile haptic feedback without forcing you to focus on a bright, overstimulating screen.
Why does this app require notification permissions?
Android strictly requires this permission so that your haptic exercises can run continuously in the background while your screen is locked. This ensures you can experience uninterrupted mindfulness and tactile pacing without keeping your display turned on.
Why does nalua refuse to use gamification or streaks?
Most meditation apps pressure users with daily streaks, mandatory notifications, and hidden subscriptions. If you are struggling with a panic attack, burnout, or chronic illness, you do not need extra digital pressure. nalua is a quiet, free digital retreat with no goals, no timers, and no judgment. You open it to breathe, and you close it when you are done.

Support the Project:
nalua is completely free. If the app helps you find your calm, please consider leaving an honest review or supporting a solo developer through a simple "pay-what-you-want" donation.
No paywalls, just honest appreciation.

What’s new

Fixed some bugs:
- On some devices the vibrations and the UI could go out of synch after a while
- Improved transition between exhale and hold in box breathing
- Fixed duration of 4-6 exercise
- Increased the tappable bottom area to make it easier to reach the settings menu