

Psychophysiology is defined as “the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes.” In a very real way, psychophysiologists want to know as much as possible about how you body affects your brain, and vice versa. Is this actually the case? What is Psychophysiology? Can You Use It to Reduce Stress? how the brain and body interact) holds some water. Instead of a fight or flight response, breathing exercises can elicit a relaxation response.Īt first glance, it seems like Spire’s psychophysiology claim (i.e. The good news is that relaxation techniques like deep breathing can counteract (and prevent) many of these symptoms by giving your body appropriate oxygen levels, slowing heart rate, stabilizing blood pressure, and focusing your mind. While this process can be beneficial in short, infrequent bursts, continuous exposure to elevated stress levels can cause very real physical effects, including low energy, headaches, digestive upset, decreased immune response, and excessive wear and tear on just about every organ in your body. Is there any truth to this?įirst, it’s important to keep in mind that stress is basically a fight or flight reaction, which releases adrenaline and cortisol, elevates your heart rate and blood pressure, increases blood flow, and causes certain types of inflammation. Speaking of which, are there any real-world benefits related to mindfulness and breathing exercises? The Benefits of Breathing ExercisesĪccording to the Spire website, breathing exercises can help lower blood pressure, reduce tension, and increase endorphins. This allows you not only to track your progress, but also to set fitness and mindfulness goals.

Focus � ” When you were most focused throughout the day.Includes number of steps and calories burned. Activity � ” How often (and how long) you were active throughout the day.Calm � ” How much of the day you’ve been centered and relaxed.Outside of helping you remain calm and reduce stress, what can the data gathered by Spire’s sensor be used for?Īs Spire gathers data about your breathing, the number of steps you take, and the calories you burn each day, it combines it within the app and divides the information into 3 segments: Then, if you’re tense, Spire can help ease this state of mind by vibrating the stone or sending a notification to your iOS smartphone using low energy Bluetooth.Moneyspire Reviewsįrom there, the Spire companion app “can guide you in short, simple exercises or mini-meditations to increase focus, calm and productivity.” Tension � ” Your breathing patterns are elevated and erratic, while your body is stationary.Focus � ” Your breathing rhythm is medium speed yet consistent, while your body is stationary.Calm � ” Your breathing rhythm is slow and smooth, while your body is stationary.Using psychophysiology principles, Spire aggregates this data to figure out when you’re calm, focused, or tense: your chest) through a suite of sensors, which use algorithms to sense activity and breathing patterns. Your sensor’s clip can be attached to the waistband of your pants, shorts, or skirt (or even your underwear!), or to the center of your bra, with the stone resting against your body.Īs you breathe, Spire’s stone monitors the expansion and contraction of your thoracic cavity (i.e. The sensor’s exterior is constructed of an assortment of durable plastics, while the clip is made from surgical grade stainless steel. How Does Spire Work?Īt the heart of the Spire system is their sensor (known as a stone). First though, let’s take an in-depth look at exactly how Spire works.

Is Spire right for you? Will it provide good value for the money? We’ll answer all your important questions here. Spire can also track the number of steps you take and the calories you burn each day! For these reasons, Spire calls itself “your personal mindfulness coach.” When it does, you’ll receive a gentle reminder on your smartphone, which can help you discover when you’re stressed, where it happened, and what you were doing.įrom there, you’ll have access to guidance and exercises that can further promote a calm, balanced state of mind. Spire is a wearable device that monitors your breathing and looks for signs of tension. Feeling stressed? Need a reminder to breathe and relax?
