I’m a sucker for wearables aimed at improving and optimizing overall health. I’m a faithful Oura Ring user for many years now and have been using my GPS watch and heart rate monitor for running religiously. Gimme all the self-optimization gadgets! These generally have something in common in that they collect data from the user and spit back some information about performance, sleep quality, heart rate variability, activity level, etc. But have you heard of Apollo Neuro? I was recently approached to provide an Apollo Neuro review and have now been putting it to the test for about two months.
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Apollo Neuro is the new kid in the town of wearable devices that can help you manage stress and improve your overall well-being using touch therapy and neuroscience principles. All that by sending data to your body rather than collecting it. As I’ve been dealing with anxiety since my teenage years and poor sleep quality in recent years, when the Apollo Neuro team approached me, I was extremely excited to try it!
So What’s Apollo Neuro About?
The Apollo wearable is a small device that you wear on your wrist or ankle (there’s also a clip if you prefer to wear it anywhere else, like on a shirt strap). It delivers gentle vibrations that stimulate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of your nervous system that helps you relax and reduces stress. Apollo Neuro uses scientifically validated techniques like deep touch pressure therapy and specific frequencies of vibrations to snap your nervous system out of flight or flight mode.
Apollo Neuro aims to help reduce stress, improve focus, enhance mood, and even promote better sleep through touch therapy. A tall order? Well. Surely you’re familiar with how hugs and cuddles release oxytocin, the feel-good hormone? So yeah, touch IS powerful: through touch, your nerve endings communicate with the vagus nerve. And as the vagus nerve gets stimulated, your nervous system slows down, causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Increased vagal activity is like a brake on your body’s stress response, resulting in a more relaxed physical and mental state.
When you use the Apollo Neuro, the gentle vibrations send a message to your nervous system that everything is A-OK. As your nervous system rebalances, you’ll start to feel more relaxed and at ease. And over time, with consistent use of the Apollo Neuro, your nervous system will become stronger and more resilient. This means you’ll be able to access that calm and peaceful state more easily, and your biometrics, like heart rate variability (HRV), may even start to improve. So, it’s kind of like having a little pocket-sized helper to make your day-to-day life a little less stressful!
This reminded me very much of tapping therapy, which I have been too lazy to try, unfortunately.
Tapping and the Science of Touch
Tapping therapy, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), is an alternative therapy that’s gaining popularity for its ability to reduce anxiety and stress. The therapy involves tapping on specific points in your body while focusing on a particular issue or problem that’s causing you stress or anxiety. Studies have shown that tapping therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By tapping on certain acupressure points on the body, it’s believed that tapping can help release energy blockages and restore balance to the body’s energy systems. This can lead to reduced anxiety and increased feelings of calm and relaxation.
The principles behind tapping therapy are similar to those behind the Apollo Neuro technology. Both use touch therapy to stimulate the body’s natural relaxation response and promote feelings of calm and well-being. While the Apollo Neuro device uses gentle vibrations to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, tapping therapy uses the body’s own energy meridians to achieve a similar effect. I personally much prefer the convenience of a wearable device over the hands-on approach of tapping therapy.
The Apollo Neuro Device and app
The app that comes along with Apollo Neuro has had a facelift in recent months and currently looks like this:
The scheduling function makes it easy not to forget to use your Apollo Neuro. I personally start the day with the Energy mode at 7:30 am for 30 minutes. This doubles as a gentle alarm clock and avoids any jolt from a sound alarm, aka the perfect way to start a day already frazzled and stressed out. Following this, I’ll use Focus while working, Recover after a run or a workout, Calm when I meditate and Unwind as I slip into bed. Fall Asleep runs from 10:30 pm for 120 min. It’s recommended to use the Apollo Neuro three hours a day to see optimal benefits. I’m still working my way there, but so far the Fall Asleep mode has been my favorite. I also use it if I wake up in the middle of the night, which is made easy as you can press the two buttons to replay the last Vibe that was on.
When using the Apollo wearable, you’ll feel a gentle vibration that should be noticeable but comfortable. It shouldn’t be so intense that it’s distracting or uncomfortable. I’m using it at around 30% right now. Start low and gradually increase until you find the intensity that works best for you. The idea is to find a comfortable and effective level of stimulation for your skin, so you can experience the full benefits of the device without any discomfort or distraction.
My Apollo Neuro Review
I’ve now been using my Apollo Neuro device for a few months and have collected some pros and cons:
Pros:
- Stress reduction. I find this especially true with the evening sessions Unwind and Fall Asleep. They feel soothing and I think by now my brain understood that it’s a signal that it’s time to wind down.
- Convenient: The device is small and portable, making it easy to use on the go or during the day. Plus no physical tapping.
- Science! It’s nice to use something that is backed by so much information and research
Cons:
- Cost: The device is relatively expensive compared to other stress-reduction techniques and therapies.
- Lack of integration with other apps. Although I’m sure this will come eventually.
- Short battery life. That’s to be expected for such a small device that emits hours of vibration. The battery life is about 2 days, but it does charge very quickly.
- Look. There’s definitely room for some improvement on the look of the Apollo Neuro. I’m sure it’ll become sleeker with its upcoming iterations.
Overall, I’m super happy with this device and will definitely continue using it. I think Apollo Neuro will appeal to those that are already somewhere down the rabbit hole of health improvement wearables and already aware of their sleep pattern or anxiety triggers, for example. If money is of no concern, I think it’s a great little device (a great present also!) to add to your arsenal of self-care and wellness.