Deep Breathing for Sleep Is Easy With This Funky Little Gadget

I'm not great at deep breathing. Despite knowing it has plenty of benefits for anxiety and sleep, I've never really been able to focus on breathing exercises. I'm far too easily distracted and can never truly clear my mind enough to reap the benefits... until now. 

I tested Moonbird, a handheld breathing device designed to reduce stress and help you sleep better. While the idea behind Moonbird isn't new, it makes breathing exercises for relaxation more accessible for the average person by eliminating the guesswork of whether you're doing it right. All you have to do is hold it and breathe. 

It's a simple device that's easy to use, but there's more under the hood than you'd think. I have to admit that I was skeptical when I first started using Moonbird, but it surprised me. Here's my honest review of Moonbird and my experiences while testing it.

Read more: 5 Grounding Techniques to Try When You're Experiencing Anxiety

What is Moonbird?

Moonbird is a handheld guided breathing device. It's not too big or small and fits comfortably in my hand when I hold it. Where it gets cool is when you turn it on. When you shake the device and place your thumb on the sensor to start your breathing session, Moonbird breathes with you. On either side of the device are balloon-like structures that allow it to expand and contract.

Moonbird expands and contracts in your hand.

All you have to do is breathe in as it expands and breathe out as it contracts. Think of it like a breathing coach you can take anywhere to relieve stress and find real-time relaxation. 

According to Moonbird's sleep study, 81% of people who used the device felt more refreshed during the day, and 87% improved their sleep quality. Moonbird recommends using it two to three times each day to get the most benefits, starting with shorter exercises at first. Honestly, I was skeptical at first. It seemed like one of those gadgets you get, use for a week and then give up on. I was surprised by how much I liked it.

The beauty of Moonbird is that it's an extremely simple and easy-to-set-up device. It was as simple as taking it out of the box and charging it. One of my favorite things about Moonbird is that you don't have to use the app to use the device, which will come in handy when you're on the go. Moonbird operates on a wake-and-shake method. You simply shake Moonbird, place your thumb over the sensor, and it starts up. 

The app isn't required to use Moonbird, but I encourage you to do so. For me, it was another layer of focus that helped me hone in on my breathing. The app adds personalization, tracking and audio guides to your Moonbird experience.

How much does Moonbird cost?

You can buy a Moonbird for $199. It isn't what I would consider cheap, but it's in line with other sleep gadgets I've seen on the market. It's probably a little more expensive than what you would buy on a whim. If you're serious about deep breathing, I think it's reasonable, especially because Moonbird is a one-time payment. There's no subscription required, which is hard to find nowadays. Most apps charge a subscription fee after you buy the device, so this was a huge point in Moonbird's favor for me. 

Moonbird offers free returns and a full refund in the first 30 days. Its two-year warranty protects against manufacturer defects. You can buy it on the Moonbird website or Amazon. 

What it was like using Moonbird

I've tested lots of apps for sleep and anxiety over the years. Moonbird impressed me in ways I didn't expect. I will say it took a little bit to get used to it. Moonbird is wrapped in smooth silicone that didn't exactly feel natural at first, especially because the thumb sensor is surrounded by normal plastic. I did get used to how it felt, and now I barely notice it.

I enjoyed using the device once I was used to how it felt in my hand. I can't say for sure that it helped reduce my anxiety. I used Moonbird before a few important interviews for a story, and while I was still anxious, the physical symptoms of my anxiety were less. Each time I used it, I felt relaxed.

Each session tracks your BPM, HRV and coherence

Now, besides focusing on what the device was instructing me to do, there is a reason I felt more relaxed even while anxious. Moonbird's magic is based on science. Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the counterpart to the sympathetic nervous system or your fight-or-flight response. When the parasympathetic is activated, your body responds by relaxing. Besides calming your body back to baseline, it will also drop your heart rate and blood pressure. 

I also used Moonbird to fall asleep faster during my recent trip to our mattress warehouse in Reno. I am notoriously bad at falling asleep in hotels, especially after long flights. So, I was glad to have Moonbird with me. It came in handy for focusing my mind on breathing instead of letting it run wild and keep me up all night.

For me, I got the best experience out of my Moonbird when I was focused entirely on my breathing. I found myself getting distracted when I tried to use it in the office when there were other things to draw my attention away. Or even just while watching TV. For me, it was something I needed to focus entirely on. Moonbird is designed to easily slip into a bag to use on the go. I just couldn't concentrate well enough to get the benefits while out.

Overall, I liked Moonbird. There are a few things worth mentioning in more detail. 

App stores your session data

While you aren't required to use the app, Moonbird's app is easy to use. You have to connect your Moonbird each time you open the app, but a quick shake of the device ensures it is on and connecting. 

The sessions are divided by goal: sleep, stress, anxiety, HRV intake and children. I will mention that within the app, you can't tell which block is a guided breathing session and which one is educational content. You don't know until you click on it. An indication on the block would be nice so you don't click in and out of all of them while learning the app.

The app stores your session data. You can view your statistics by heart rate variability, heart rate or sessions. Moonbird presents graphed data in a week, month, six-month or year view. Most other apps do this, so it was nice to see it from Moonbird.

There's educational context galore 

There are many breathing sessions to choose from with Moonbird.

Another thing about Moonbird's app that impressed me was the amount of educational content. An app for anxiety is nothing without context. The best apps have plenty of guides and educational content that help orient people to how things work. In Moonbird's case, it wasn't just how the device worked; you got context for what it's measuring and why that matters, like heart rate variability or biofeedback. You get this content through both written and audio-guided sessions.

Audio-guided sessions

I got easily distracted when I started using Moonbird, which threw off my breathing. I found it much easier to focus on breathing during audio-guided sessions.

Guided meditations aren't always my favorite, but I found Moonbird's guided sessions to be one of the better options I've tried. The speaker does all you expect: speaks slowly and clearly while explaining the importance of deep breathing. But they don't stop there. During the multi-stage session, which is written by a clinical psychologist, you get background on what's happening in your body and why. For example, I enjoyed a particular session on reducing stress. While my Moonbird breathed in my hand, the speaker explained what stress was in a psychological sense and how it affects the body. Stopping stress and anxiety is one thing; understanding why it's happening is another layer of empowerment that can help people manage symptoms. 

Is Moonbird worth your money? 

I can't prove or disprove Moonbird's claims that participants are 81% more refreshed and 78% sleep better, but I enjoyed using It. I wouldn't say it's the sort of device that just anyone should pick up. For me, it's one of those cool gadgets that could easily fall off in use if you're not fully committed to it.

If you live with anxiety and want a tactile device that can help you get through times when your symptoms are spiking, then Moonbird is worth the money. It's a neat device. During my testing experience, I found it to be the most helpful at night when I couldn't clear my mind enough to fall asleep.