The results of a new study suggest that a relaxation ball specifically designed to represent one’s breath may have the potential to effectively diminish anxiety.
Alexz Farrall, a computer scientist from the University of Bath in the UK, created the Physical Artefact for Well-being Support (PAWS), a shape-shifting ball.
The ball’s size changes with each inhalation and exhalation, giving the user a physical manifestation of their breathing pattern to help them concentrate and manage their emotions.
Farrall states that the ball, which gives breath physical form, encourages self-awareness and participation, leading to advantageous mental health results.
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An app for meditation is used with an accompanying ball. (University of Bath) 
For years, individuals have employed breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and better their psychological health. This technique is even incorporated into therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Though some find success in these breathing exercise, others often have difficulty keeping their mind in the present and focusing on the task. This can cause the person to drift back to worrying thoughts.
In a study with 58 participants, it was found that a combination of an audio track from a meditation app and the use of a ball (PAWS) helped the volunteers to experience their breathing in a tangible way.
The team from the University of Bath discovered that those who employed the use of a ball while listening to audio recorded a 75 percent decrease in anxiety, along with a 56 percent increase in defense against anxious thought processes. On the other hand, those who listened to the audio without the ball only experienced a 31 percent reduction of anxiety, thus signifying that the ball evidently had a positive effect.
The results indicated that those who employed the ball and the meditation audio together had significantly higher heart rate variability, a sign of superior stress tolerance and emotional control.
The current version of PAWS requires the user to wear a chest strap, which can be complex to use, as it takes into consideration the breath of the user and reacts accordingly. If the device could be streamlined, it could potentially be used in the convenience of one’s own residence in the future.
It is a well-known fact that depression and anxiety are becoming more and more prevalent, with up to 3 or 4 out of 10 people suffering from high levels of anxiety. Fortunately, the PAWS system may soon be able to offer a more effective way to treat and manage this troubling mental health condition.
Farrall asserts that PAWS should not only be used in clinical settings, but should also serve as an authentic force for bettering mental health in people’s homes.
The findings, which were showcased at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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