Relaxing sounds

Breath pacing

The sound paces breathing in and out; there is no breath-holding, and you return to your own rhythm if it doesn't feel comfortable.

• Breath Pacer · 5 min5 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• Short Break · 3 min3 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• Breathing with a Bowl · 6 a Minute10 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededDark · steady · no melody
• Balanced Breath · 5/510 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• Slow Flow · 5.5 a Minute10 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• First-Step Breath · 7.5 a Minute5 min◆BEvidence level B: Moderate evidenceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic

Nature and the open air

Wind, forest, snowy quiet and a tea garden: sounds that give a sense of being outdoors.

• Wind Chimes20 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · sparse
• Cappadocia Wind30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Aegean Noon · Cicadas30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · rhythmic · wide
• Dawn Forest30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Wind Through the Leaves30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Snowy Forest30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · sparse

Flowing water

Waterfall, shore and canyon: continuously flowing water sounds that don't repeat themselves.

• Darüşşifa Courtyard20 min✦TEvidence level T: Traditional/spiritual practiceNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• Bosphorus Shore30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Cascade30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededBright · textured · dense
• Köprülü Canyon Waterfall30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Dream Gate · Dream Journal20 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededDark · textured · no melody

Tactile sounds

Brush, paper, fabric and rain stick: soft rustles heard up close.

• Rain Stick and Ocean Drum30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Soft Brush30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Pages and Paper30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide
• Fabric and Wood30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · wide

Bells, drones and slow movement

Long-ringing bells, drones in pure ratios and sounds that drift slowly between your ears.

• Wind and Drone20 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededDark · textured · no melody
• Night Organ30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededDark · steady · no melody
• Pure Ratios · Just Intonation Drone30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededDark · steady · no melody
• Long Loops30 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · slowly evolving · melodic
• Orin Field20 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimNo headphones neededWarm · textured · sparse
• Side to Side15 min○SEvidence level S: Soundscape, no claimHeadphones recommendedWarm · steady · moving around

With headphones: binaural

Each ear gets its own tone, so these need stereo headphones. The evidence is mixed; the card shows its level.

• Alpha 10 Hz · Calm Wakefulness15 min▲CEvidence level C: Preliminary/mixed evidenceStereo headphones requiredWarm · steady · no melody
• 5-Minute Breathing Break5 min▲CEvidence level C: Preliminary/mixed evidenceStereo headphones requiredWarm · steady · no melody
• Theta 6 Hz · Deep Unwind20 min▲CEvidence level C: Preliminary/mixed evidenceStereo headphones requiredWarm · steady · no melody

Journeys

• ✦ Traditional / experimental practice: StillnessA five-stage listening route at your own pace, 15 stops: water, breath, timbre, echo and distance. Each stop shows its evidence level; most new sounds are sound design with no claim.

Reading and tools

• Slow breathing: what do six breaths a minute do?
• What are singing bowls and sound baths?

Evidence

This page has no evidence level of its own; each sound's level is on its card. A summary of the related claims:

• ◆ B

  Breathwork and stress

  A slow breathing break can accompany your stress-management routine.

  Evidence level B: Moderate evidenceModerate evidenceReviewed 07/10/2026

  What don't we know? Most studies carry moderate risk of bias and the techniques vary widely; which technique works is unclear.

  Findings and sources
• ▲ C

  Nature sounds and stress

  The effect of natural sounds on relaxation is being researched; the app's textures are synthesised and are not linked to this evidence.

  Evidence level C: Preliminary/mixed evidencePreliminary/mixed evidenceReviewed 09/10/2026For information only

  What don't we know? The studies used real or recorded natural sounds; whether synthesised rain, stream or wind textures have the same effect has not been tested.

  Findings and sources
• ▲ C

  Binaural beats and short-term anxiety

  Listening to binaural beats may help short-term relaxation; results are inconsistent.

  Evidence level C: Preliminary/mixed evidencePreliminary/mixed evidenceReviewed 09/10/2026

  What don't we know? Some controlled studies found no effect: in a surgical trial with 90 patients in Türkiye, binaural and isochronic groups did not differ from a no-sound group, and in an online study of 58 people, 40 Hz beats did not change a single-item anxiety rating.

  Findings and sources
• ■ D

  Singing bowls and relaxation

  Singing bowls are a traditional listening practice; the evidence is very uncertain about their effect on relaxation.

  Evidence level D: Insufficient evidenceInsufficient evidenceReviewed 09/10/2026For information only

  What don't we know? There are very few studies and the designs are weak; the authors do not yet recommend singing bowl practices.

  Findings and sources