nalua
Feel your breath without ever looking at the screen. nalua is a calm, sensory tool for deep relaxation—designed for neurodivergent minds, and a peaceful retreat for everyone else. No setup, no noise—just you and your breath.
Effortless & Low-Stimulation
Unlike other breathing apps that pressure you with streaks and notifications, or overwhelm you with complex settings, nalua respects your peace:
- Effortless Start: No accounts, no onboarding, no pressure. Open the app and find your rhythm with a single tap.
- Feel the Breath: Experience gentle, organic vibrations that simulate the expansion of your lungs. Designed to be used with your eyes closed.
- Visual Silence: A radically low-stimulation design on a deep black OLED background. No distractions, no sharp edges—just calm.
Your Digital Retreat
- Endless Mode: No timers, no goals. nalua helps you fall asleep or manage sensory overload with zero artificial limits, for as long as you need.
- Gentle Fade-Out: If you fall asleep, nalua fades out gently to keep your environment quiet and save your battery.
- Ethical & Private: 100% ad-free and no trackers. nalua works completely offline and respects your data.
Honest Appreciation
nalua is and always will be completely free. If the app helps you, you can support a solo developer with a simple "pay-what-you-want" donation. No paywalls, just honest appreciation.
Ready to feel your breath?
nalua is available now. Download today and experience deep relaxation!
Get it on Google PlayFAQ
What is nalua and who is it for?
nalua is a calming, sensory breathing app for deep relaxation. It is specifically designed for neurodivergent minds to help manage sensory overload, but it also serves as a peaceful digital retreat for anyone seeking calm.
Was nalua specifically designed for neurodivergence or ME/CFS?
Originally, yes. nalua was born out of the need to create a regulation tool for severe dysautonomia (ME/CFS) and sensory overload that works entirely without visual or auditory triggers. However, this radical low-stimulus approach makes the app a perfect tool for anyone who needs a screen-free break after a long day, practices energy pacing, or simply wants to fall asleep more easily.
How does the app work if I never look at the screen?
The app uses gentle, organic vibrations to simulate the expansion of your lungs. You can simply hold your phone, close your eyes, and feel your breathing rhythm without any visual distractions.
What breathing exercises does nalua offer?
Instead of overwhelming you with complex settings, nalua features a simple swipe carousel with four proven breathing rhythms:
- Box Breathing: The classic technique for quick focus and grounding.
- Coherent Breathing (5-5): A balanced rhythm to calm the autonomic nervous system.
- Vagus Breathing (4-6): An extended exhale that specifically activates the parasympathetic state (rest and digest).
- Gentle 4-4-8 Breathing: A custom variant of the 4-7-8 technique adapted for ME/CFS. It maintains the calming effect while avoiding air hunger.
Do I need to create an account or go through a complex setup?
No. nalua is completely free of accounts and complex settings. The only thing the app asks on your very first start is permission for notifications. This is strictly necessary so the app can continue running and vibrating seamlessly while your screen is turned off. After that, you can find your rhythm with a single tap.
Why are there no streaks, levels, or goals?
Classic health apps often rely on gamification to keep users hooked. We believe that someone who is acutely overstimulated or trying to regulate their nervous system doesn't need the added pressure of maintaining a 300-day streak or dealing with notifications. nalua is a digital retreat. There are no goals to achieve—you open the app, breathe, and close it again, completely guilt-free.
Does the app really run endlessly?
Almost. To remove the pressure of visible timers or stressful countdowns, nalua runs continuously for a full hour. This gives you all the time you need to ease out of sensory overload or gently drift off to sleep. After 60 minutes, the app gracefully fades out the haptic feedback to save your battery and keep your environment quiet. If you want to keep breathing, a single tap resumes the rhythm immediately.
What happens to my data?
Absolutely nothing. nalua requires no account, skips the onboarding process, and includes zero trackers. The app runs 100% offline on your device. Your breath and your nervous system belong to you, and your data never leaves your phone.
Is nalua really free, or are there hidden subscriptions?
nalua is and always will be completely free. There are no paywalls, no subscriptions, and no hidden costs. The app is built by a solo developer and is supported entirely by an optional "pay-what-you-want" donation model. Just honest appreciation.