Opening in central London on Monday, 25th July 2022, immersive experience company Pixel Artworks has designed and created the immersive mindfulness experience ‘Room to Breathe’.
Located in Outernet London, a brand-new immersive culture, media and music district at Tottenham Court Road, the soothing sensory experience is based on the science of ‘box-breathing’. It aims to help anxious commuters and busy Londoners unwind and catch their breath throughout the day.
Immersive experience for health and wellbeing
Since the pandemic there has been an increased focus on human wellbeing and we have a greater understanding of anxiety as we’ve shared a global traumatic event. Now, as people move around more freely and return to offices, they are experiencing increased stress, and the potential to be triggered into more anxious states.
Providing free access to a calming and immersive experience like ‘Room to Breathe’ helps promote broader conversations around mental health and wellbeing and provides an opportunity to end the social stigma. It gives people time to stop and pause to breathe and just be.
Jayne Cox, a leading trauma and anxiety consultant fed into the experience using her knowledge and understanding of how breathing exercises, like ‘box breathing’ reduce anxiety. Accompanying the visual cues of rolling clouds, calm skies and the sun, all of which mimic regulated, calmer breathing patterns, there is original music written by Matt Wilcock.
The sounds guide commuters to breathe in, hold and breathe out using a four second breathing technique. The music slowly moves from the acoustic piano through to more organic synthesized tones to help users settle into the calming, breath pattern. A digital plaque situated in the space will provide guidance on how to use the experience.
Experiencing the power of breathing
Jayne comments: “Anxiety and stress changes the way we breathe, with our breath often becoming rapid and shallow, resulting in heightened anxiety and becoming ‘stuck’ in a state of fight or flight. Learning and regularly implementing a simple breathing technique reduces anxiety by helping us to have more control over our breath. Once learnt, these techniques become a ‘tool’ that support us anywhere, whether we are on the move or at home. Room to Breathe encourages commuters to pause and immerse themselves in the wonder of the awesome power of our breath.”
Tom Burch, Managing Director, Pixel Artworks comments: “Society has never been as anxious as it is today, and the stress associated with commuting and returning to work in the office is a well-known trigger point. Based on this knowledge, we felt compelled to create an experience that can help calm people’s minds and educate them on the benefits of box-breathing arming them with tools to manage every day stress. Outernet London is at the epicentre of experience innovation, and we are proud to be an official production partner to deliver immersive experiences that audiences are in awe of.”
Where to find Room to Breathe
The unique immersive mindfulness experience will be showing at 11am-12pm, 2-3pm and 7-8pm daily and will be open to the public from Monday 25th July onwards. The experience will take place in Outernet London’s NOW Trending building, opposite exit 4 from Tottenham Court Road station. There’s no need to reserve a space or pay to experience the sessions which are open to all.
Outernet London is a brand-new immersive culture, media and music district. It features immense floor to ceiling wrap around screens able to broadcast never before seen digital experiences. The first of a global roll out Outernet London is the most advanced immersive space in the world.
Philip O’Ferrall, CEO of Outernet Global adds: “Room to Breathe is a perfect example of how we can use the digital immersive capabilities of Outernet London. It will give visitors a tranquil experience to forget their stress and reflect. It’s really something beautiful to achieve with Pixel Artworks right in the heart of busy central London.”
Pixel Artworks, who are experts at bringing experiences to life through innovative, engaging technology, are one of Outernet London’s production partners working across the largest high-resolution wrap-around LED screens in the world.
