Garmin adds meditation activity to Fenix & Forerunner lines

Garmin has introduced a meditation activity with the latest round of Beta updates. The new functionality arrives via Public Beta Version 12.09 for the Fenix 8 and Version 21.14 for the Forerunner series, including models 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965.

While meditation features aren’t entirely new to the Garmin ecosystem – they’ve been available on the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 – this update brings these tools to a broader range of devices. Users can access the new meditation activity directly from their watch’s activity menu. Just like running, cycling etc. As someone who is looking to get into meditation, I resorted to adding it as a favourite for quick access.

The meditation feature offers three distinct modes to suit different preferences:

• The Free mode provides a simple timer, allowing users to meditate without guidance. It’s for those seeking a distraction free experience.
• For those seeking more structure, the Session mode includes themed meditations with varying durations and ambient sounds, such as waves or forest noises. Available sessions include “Restore and Stretch” (10 minutes), “Focused Mantras” (15 minutes), and “Mindful Sounds” (10 minutes), among others.
• Users can also create personalized experiences through the Custom mode, selecting their preferred duration, theme, and intention.

Beyond the meditation experience itself, the feature integrates with Garmin’s comprehensive health tracking capabilities. After each session, users can choose to save or discard their meditation activity. The watch displays heart rate and breathing statistics, including average values and detailed graphs. When synced with Garmin Connect, users gain access to additional metrics, including stress level changes and body battery net impact.

As this feature is currently in beta, you will need to manually install the software update from their watch and be enrolled in Garmin’s beta program. The company hasn’t announced when these features will move to general release.

Our takeaway

One must say, this functionality is long overdue. Meditation has been linked to reduced stress levels and improved mental well-being. It makes perfect sense for the wellness device on your wrist to assist you with this, alongside physical fitness tracking.

By integrating meditation with biometric tracking, users can now quantify the physiological benefits of their practice through metrics like heart rate, stress levels, and body battery impact, providing tangible feedback on their mindfulness journey. This also eliminates the need for separate meditation apps or devices.

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