The Apollo wearable from Apollo Neuro is designed to improve your wellbeing by leveraging your body’s natural response to touch. Utilizing neuroscience-backed vibration frequency technology that’s supported by clinical research, it delivers soothing vibrations, known as Apollo Vibes™.
Designed to be worn on your wrist or ankle, or attached to clothing, Apollo provides a range of Vibes to match your lifestyle needs, including Calm, Energy, Focus, Recover, Unwind, and Sleep.
Pairing your Oura Ring with your Apollo wearable offers a holistic approach to wellness. Oura Ring gives your body a voice, providing comprehensive health insights, including sleep, stress, and resilience. Apollo complements this by using touch therapy to help manage stress, support sleep quality, and improve performance and recovery. Together, they empower members with data-driven insights and direct intervention, fostering a balanced life through improved sleep, reduced stress, and enhanced recovery.
We chatted with actress and Oura member Ragga Ragnars, who’s been pairing the wearables, to learn more about how she’s used this integration to optimize her health. Ragga gained recognition for her compelling portrayal of Gunnhild in the television series ‘Vikings’.
Who: Ragga Ragnars, actress, designer, former Olympic swimmer
Surprising Oura Insight: Using Oura and the Apollo wearable, I raised my HRV.
Tell us about what brought you to Oura and Apollo.
When I started using Oura, I was a good sleeper, which I could see in my scores and data, but when I added Apollo into my sleep routine, it gave me an extra edge. I saw it in my Sleep Score and through an improved nighttime HRV.
At times, when I’m not sticking to my routine and habits, I struggle with occasional migraines, which are debilitating. I’ve realized through self-experimentation that for me, the thing that contributes to the onset of a migraine is usually inadequate sleep, so I really prioritize sleep and work to maintain and improve my sleep.
Now I’ve been an Oura member for about four years and wearing Apollo with Oura for about two and a half years. I always wear both when I sleep, and I always travel with them.
My partner is jealous of my Oura crowns, because he doesn’t sleep as well as I do. We have a little competition about who can sleep better each week.
What are some insights you’ve gained about yourself from using both Oura and Apollo?
Before using them, I didn’t know much about HRV in general, but I was aware that my HRV was lower than I wanted it to be. When I paired my Oura with my Apollo, my HRV increased significantly, and it became a point of discussion with my partner, who is also very into health and has a much higher HRV. For me, wearing both Oura and Apollo has been crucial in improving my sleep and overall wellbeing.
RELATED: What Is Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?
Have you tried other tools to support your sleep or raise your HRV? How did those compare?
I’ve experimented with various things such as vagus nerve stimulators and similar tech, and I’ve attended biohacking conferences and health optimization events. Apollo stands out though. I truly believe it helped me raise my HRV.
Starting before I go to bed, I run Sleep Vibes for 120 minutes. Then if I wake up in the middle of the night, I love that I can easily restart Sleep Vibes by tapping the buttons on the side of my Apollo, which helps me fall back asleep right away – I didn’t used to be able to do that and I can basically do it in my sleep. Based on my Oura data, Apollo helps me fall asleep faster, and I’ve noticed a positive impact on my Oura Sleep Score.
Apollo recently launched SmartVibes. Have you tried SmartVibes? What was your experience?
SmartVibes are excellent. It’s so cool how my Oura communicates with my Apollo, and the vibes that support me in the moment get played when they can have the most impact. But, I’m a creature of habit, so I often prefer the manual way of doing things. I love the flexibility of using SmartVibes or choosing the exact Apollo Vibe I want to play manually, which is what I usually do.
What advice would you give someone trying to improve their sleep and overall health?
Reviewing my Sleep Score and experimenting with different routines is crucial for me. Try various approaches, such as changing when you exercise, experimenting with eating earlier before bed, or trying different Apollo Vibes. Learn from your scores, and don’t be afraid to tweak your habits. It’s about finding what works for you, which is unique to someone else.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Understanding your own data and being open to experimentation can lead to significant improvements in sleep and overall wellbeing. After experimentation, I realized how much Apollo complements and enhances my Oura experience. Now I’ve incorporated these tools into my nightly routine and everyday habits. I had to find the tools that work for me, and now I’m sleeping better with fewer migraines and a stronger HRV.
READ MORE: How To Conduct A Self-Experiment With Oura