METATATION
Men's Fitness UK|July 2024
Headspace XR is the mindfulness and meditation app for use with Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, but is it mind expanding or mind numbing?
Joe Minihane
METATATION

Headspace XR x Meta Quest £23 (for the app) / £199.99 (for Meta Quest 2), meta.​com

The creators of the popular mindfulness app Headspace have introduced Headspace XR, designed for virtual exploration of meditative realms via the Meta Quest VR headset. But with the substantial cost of the headset, does it offer more than existing mindfulness apps, YouTube channels, and traditional practices?

I’ve experienced anxiety for as long as I can remember and have used various tools to improve my mental wellbeing: swimming, running, lifting, medication, cutting back on alcohol and social media, and regular therapy sessions. Meditation has become essential for me too, guided by books, YouTube tutorials, and the original Headspace app. These methods taught me techniques I now use independently, often outdoors.

Curious about the new Headspace XR app, I tested it on the Meta Quest 3 headset. Headspace says this app targets younger Gen Z users, offering a ‘playground for your mind’, and aims to showcase the power of meditation and mindfulness while combating loneliness with a multiplayer feature. Meditation’s benefits are well-documented; a study in Nature highlighted its impact on self-awareness, attention, emotional regulation, and treating clinical disorders.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN'S FITNESS UKView all
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Men's Fitness UK

DRESS TO IMPRESS

In the latest campaign from Charles Tyrwhitt, rugby player Marcus Smith and cricketer Joe Root are taking the lead and stepping up their offduty game with some sharp summer outfits. From tailored linen to comfy chinos and lightweight blazers, summer just got stylish

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance
Men's Fitness UK

Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance

How well, and how long, did you sleep last night? It’s an important question, because in its Sleep Manifesto 2024, The Sleep Charity notes that a whopping 43% of adults sleep less than the NHS-recommended seven to nine hours.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
CARDIO SWEAT
Men's Fitness UK

CARDIO SWEAT

Elevate your aerobic fitness and fast-track fat loss with this cardio workout from the Movement Blueprint founder Harvey Lawton

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
THE LEARN ROPES
Men's Fitness UK

THE LEARN ROPES

Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it offers a number of serious health benefits in Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it off ers a number of serious health benefi ts in a budget-friendly and convenient formula that can be done virtually anywhere

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING
Men's Fitness UK

MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING

MF meets mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
BUDGET BEATS
Men's Fitness UK

BUDGET BEATS

Apple’s new low-price buds punch well above their price tag

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
FITNESS GOALS
Men's Fitness UK

FITNESS GOALS

Teddy Sheringham’s playbook for staying in shape in your fifties

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
Summer SIZZLERS
Men's Fitness UK

Summer SIZZLERS

Fuel your summer with these fresh, high-protein recipes

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
THE MONT BLANC MONSTER
Men's Fitness UK

THE MONT BLANC MONSTER

The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) is among the most challenging and prestigious trail running events in the world. Typically held annually in the last week of August, it circumnavigates the iconic Mont Blanc massif. Covering approximately 106 miles, with a gruelling elevation gain of around 32,800 feet, the race demands exceptional endurance, technical skill, and mental fortitude – as Dominic Bliss witnessed for himself at last year’s event…

time-read
6 mins  |
August 2024
FEEL THE BURN
Men's Fitness UK

FEEL THE BURN

Training for HYROX? This lung-busting workout from HYROX master trainer and Represent 247 athlete Jake Dearden will get you race ready

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024