Healthy Living apps
Himmelfarb Library's Oculus headsets include healthy living apps, designed to help users meditate, alleviate anxiety, and generally relax. So, take a few minutes to unwind and re-center yourself in virtual reality.
The Oculus headsets can be checked out from the circulation desk for up to four hours at a time. For more information about borrowing the headsets, see our VR Headset Overview page.
If there are any relaxation/meditation apps (or any other VR apps) that would be of interest to you, you can submit a purchase request here: https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/forms/acquisition.cfm.
Guided Meditation VR
Guided Meditation VR lets users detach and re-center with guided or unguided meditative sessions with calming music and ambient noises from over 40 digitally-generated environments. Featuring over 30 hours of meditations, geared toward including alleviating anxiety, finding resilience, maternity meditations, improved sleep, and dozens more. If you're unsure about VR, but would like to experience some of these sessions, you can try them out for free on your web browser.
From the Meta store write-up: Meditation made simple & visual. Bring peace, joy, and calm back into your daily life with Guided Meditation VR. Rebuilt from the ground up for Oculus Quest.
This app is available on both of Himmelfarb's Oculus headsets.
While the noises generated by this app are gentle and soothing, they are audible outside of the Oculus headset and we therefore recommend using this app in a quiet space away from others who may be studying or trying to concentrate. Study rooms can be found around Himmelfarb Library and you can even reserve a study room here: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/policies/study-room-reservations
Nature Treks VR
Nature Treks VR puts users into their choice of nine different natural environments--including forests, beaches, and outer space--and allows them to explore and play in: controlling the weather and time of day, summon animals, and generally shape the world around you. Users can also use these spaces to meditate and perform breathing exercises.
From the Meta store write up: Explore tropical beaches, underwater oceans and even take to the stars. Discover over 20 different animals. Command the weather, take control of the night or shape your own world. Immerse yourself into the Nature Treks VR experience and escape into a world of relaxation.
This app is available on Himmelfarb's "Walter" headset.
While the noises generated by this app are gentle and soothing, they are audible outside of the Oculus headset and we therefore recommend using this app in a quiet space away from others who may be studying or trying to concentrate. Study rooms can be found around Himmelfarb Library and you can even reserve a study room here: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/policies/study-room-reservations
National Geographic Explore VR
National Geographic Explore VR allows users to explore two different ecosystems: Machu Picchu and Antarctica, experiencing the landscape and taking photographs. This app is a bit more physically strenuous and may require more navigation room than the other Health Living options (see our notice below about reserving study room space).
From the Meta store write-up: Set off as a National Geographic explorer to discover two of the most iconic locations on the planet! Head to Antarctica and set off on a thrilling expedition of discovery. Navigate around icebergs in a kayak, climb a massive ice shelf and survive a raging snowstorm as you search for a lost emperor penguin colony. Visit Machu Picchu, Peru and get immersed in amazing digital reconstructions of the ancient Inca citadel. Witness mummy worship, raise a cup of sacred chicha and encounter alpacas as you match Hiram Bingham’s photographs from when he rediscovered the Inca citadel. With a mission to capture photographs for the National Geographic magazine, this interactive experience lets the entire family discover the world without ever leaving home.
This app is available on Himmelfarb's "Paul" headset
While the noises generated by this app are gentle and soothing, they are audible outside of the Oculus headset and we therefore recommend using this app in a quiet space away from others who may be studying or trying to concentrate. Study rooms can be found around Himmelfarb Library and you can even reserve a study room here: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/policies/study-room-reservations
