MindZen pilot

During November, MindZen together with DayCape conducted two-day pilot workshops in Sweden (Stockholm) and Lithuania (Vilnius) for young participants. The focus was on how mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, and VR experiences can strengthen young people’s emotional well-being.

After the workshops, focus groups and evaluations were carried out. The results showed clear positive effects:

  • Increased understanding of and confidence in mindfulness and meditation

  • Better awareness of practical tools to reduce stress and create calm

  • A stronger connection between meditation and creative thinking

  • Increased trust in digital tools, including VR, for recovery and relaxation

  • Improved presence, focus, and cognitive awareness

Participants particularly highlighted:

  • Yoga and breathing exercises as the most valuable elements

  • The calm, safe, and inclusive environment

  • The opportunity to slow down and be present in the moment

VR meditation was experienced as engaging and focus-enhancing, mainly by reducing external distractions. At the same time, participants emphasized that VR works best as a complement to traditional meditation—not as a replacement.

Most participants stated that they would be happy to use VR meditation again if it were available.


How Meditation with VR Works

In virtual reality meditation, the participant is immersed in calm, three-dimensional environments that visualize breathing, focus, and presence.

By:

  • blocking out visual distractions

  • combining sound, movement, and imagery

  • guiding breathing and attention

…it becomes easier to let go of everyday thoughts and settle into meditation.

Many people find meditation difficult precisely because thoughts keep racing. In VR, different types of stimuli—such as soundscapes and visual environments—can help the brain find a sense of calm.

One of VR’s strengths is that participants can try different environments and exercises to find what works best for them personally.

(For those who want to explore this further, the TRIPP video is a good example of what this can look like in practice.)