Martin Rumenov Soul Retreat Labs has officially launched Soul Retreat, an immersive meditation experience for Meta Quest 3 and 3S that blends photoreal virtual environments, guided meditations, and breathing biofeedback to create deeply authentic moments of calm.
Unlike many VR wellness titles built on stylized worlds, Soul Retreat captures real locations — including tranquil beaches, glistening lochs, and the lush highlands of Scotland. Using advanced photogrammetry and its proprietary GroundedPresence™ technology, the app ensures six degrees of freedom with a natural sense of scale and grounded comfort, whether seated or standing.
Personalized Mindfulness That Learns From You
At the heart of Soul Retreat is adaptive meditation guidance shaped around each user’s check-ins, goals, and moods. Over time, the app remembers personal preferences and tailors future sessions to enhance stress relief, focus, or sleep quality. Users can even communicate naturally through hand gestures or short voice commands—like saying “I’m anxious about tomorrow” to receive an immediate, context-aware session.
Each environment offers a unique story, mindfulness exercise, or guided visualization linked to its setting. There are also structured, goal-based meditation courses and daily sessions that evolve with continued use.
Breathing With the Environment
A standout feature of Soul Retreat is its integration of resonance breathing—encouraging users to sync breath, music, and visuals at around six breaths per minute. As users exhale under a night sky, constellations shimmer and musical tones respond in rhythm, turning meditation into an interactive work of art.
“I’ve filmed in 360° for over twenty years, but GroundedPresence™ feels genuinely real—your feet sense the ground beneath you,” said Ignacio Ferrando Margeli, Environment Capture Director at Soul Retreat Labs.
Founder Ben Gillett, formerly of Apple, added: “When stress became overwhelming, I wanted a reliable way to pause. Watching the light shift on water while breathing slowly made a real difference—and that’s what inspired Soul Retreat.”
Try for Free, Upgrade for More
The base version of Soul Retreat is free and includes two environments, plus a rotating bonus scene each week. The optional Soul Retreat Plus plan unlocks all 10 launch locations, voice navigation, and a richer level of personalization. Pricing starts at $6.99/month, $34.99/year, or $69.99 lifetime, with regular new captures planned.
Privacy and Research-Backed Design
Developed with input from mindfulness experts, Soul Retreat keeps all user data local, with voice commands processed in real time and the option to delete stored preferences anytime. Early beta users reported significant drops in stress and stronger engagement after 30 days of use (self-reported data).
Soul Retreat is available now on the Meta Quest Store. Visit the official site
Disclaimer: Soul Retreat is a self-care wellness experience, not a substitute for therapy or professional mental-health care.
