# Strategic Breathing — Anxiety and Stress Relief

> Guided breathing exercises and meditative movements for stress and anxiety relief. (iPhone/iPad app by Point618, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strategic-breathing/id1273620853 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Point618, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273620852)
- Category: Health & Fitness, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 347 App Store ratings · 38 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 209 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2018-12-19
- Data updated: 2026-07-26
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strategic-breathing/id1273620853/reviews.md

## What is Strategic Breathing?

Strategic Breathing, Max Strom’s App is specifically designed for individuals in high stress / low margin for error professions or situations, and those suffering from PTSD such as military personnel and first responders.

If you can breathe, this App will work for you.

The App features Max Strom’s voice in combination with an animated CG Avatar and motion graphics to guide you through a safe and effective practice of breathing patterns and meditative movement.

The Strategic Breathing App is the result of Max’s 23 years of teaching breathing evolutions across the world and is known to produce a level of an inner calm that helps you to feel better, sleep better, and function at a higher level in your relationships and your life-work.

App content:
• Breathing technique tutorial.
• Talk on how breathing and emotions are deeply connected. 
• Standing breathing evolutions ranging from 5 to 30 minutes. 
• Seated breathing evolutions ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.
• Deep relaxation practice to prepare for sleep.

Max Strom has taught breath-work for 23 years, and currently travels the globe teaching breathing evolutions, wellbeing, and yoga to medical, government, and well being conferences. Max is known for inspiring and igniting personal growth. His TEDx talk, Breathe to Heal, has over one million views on Youtube. Max is also the author of two books, A Life Worth Breathing, and There is No App for Happiness.

What medical doctors are saying about Max Strom’s breath work as an intervention for mental health:

“The impact breathing has on our health and well-being is only now beginning to be recognized more widely. Max’s depth of experience as a teacher of human qualities put him at the forefront of this movement and I have used his methods successfully with many patients.”

Dr. Stephen James
Director of The Breathlessness Clinic and Consultant in Anesthesia and Exercise Capacity, King’s College Hospital, London, UK


“There is a worldwide pandemic of anxiety and stress-related illness. Max Strom teaches a simple and effective way to control these problems without the use of drugs or any harmful therapies. His techniques can help both patients and those who care for them.”

Dr. Chris Moulton
Vice-President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Bolton Hospital, UK


"I have been repeatedly amazed at the effect the techniques of Max Strom have had on all who attended. In his simple, no frills format, he has a gift of immediately being relevant and motivating to all who meet him. His teachings are very relevant to all struggling with modern life, its complexities and challenges, whether they are professional or personal.”

H. Alomran, MD
Medical Affairs, King Faisal Specialist Hospital Riyadh


“Max Strom's Inner Axis practice brings calm to our stressed nervous systems and breathes us back to life.”

Layla Banihashemi, Ph.D.
Neuroscientist Pittsburgh PA USAMBChB Monterey, CA USA


“Max Strom’s teachings show us that we can calm ourselves through breathing and this is a powerful tool that has tremendous benefits.”

Dr. Devi Mahendran
MBChB Monterey, CA USA

## Key features

- Breathing technique tutorial
- Talk on breathing and emotions
- Standing breathing evolutions
- Seated breathing evolutions
- Deep relaxation for sleep
- Animated CG Avatar guidance

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strategic Breathing Unlock | $8.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Strategic Breathing?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🧘‍♀️ Calming voice of Max Strom
- 💨 Effective breathing techniques
- ✨ Life-changing benefits
- 😌 Immediate relaxation and peace
- 👍 Simple and to the point
- 💖 Soothing and gentle guidance
- 🌟 Highly effective even on first use
- 💯 Great for anxiety and stress relief
- 🙏 Provides peace during healing
- 🚀 Helps start the journey of healing
- 🎯 Useful for daily care of anxiety
- ✅ Easy to follow instructions
- 💡 Great for relieving rumination
- 💯 Helps with PTSD
- ✨ Makes user calm, focused, and present
- 👍 Encouraging guidance
- 🌟 Options for standing, seated, and supine
- 😊 Wonderful calming practice
- 👍 Clear compared to videos
- 💯 Immediate positive benefits
- 💖 Enjoyable breathing technique
- ✨ Feeling of total relaxation
- 👍 Simple and effective breath work
- 🌟 Well-made app with avatar demonstration
- 👍 Can choose exercise duration
- 💯 Helpful for stressful lifestyles
- 😌 Immediate sense of peace and serenity

**Cons**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App freezes often
- 🐛 App unavailable when needed
- 🐛 App stopped working
- 🐛 Exercises stopped working
- 🐛 Paid for content not accessible
- 🐛 App closes when screen is locked
- 🐛 Won't run meditations properly
- 🐛 Gets stuck during sessions
- 🐛 Requires constant restarting
- 🐛 Not relaxing due to bugs
- 🐛 Paid for something that doesn't work
- 🐛 Updates are overdue
- 🐛 No response from developers
- 🐛 Purchase not restored from Apple
- 🐛 Took money, no content access
- 🐛 No acknowledgment of contact form
- 🐛 Wasted money
- 🐛 App not working for days
- 🐛 Bug after iOS update
- 🐛 Vertical orientation preferred for functionality

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes too much
- Freezes up or crashes
- Unavailable just when you want it
- Stopped working
- Exercises stopped working
- Won't restore purchase from Apple
- Took my money and then didn’t allow me to access any of the content I paid for
- Won’t run any of the meditations properly
- Starts the sessions and then quickly gets stuck
- App closes when locked screen
- App has not been working
- The app hasnt been working for 4 days
- There is a bug after last ios update
- App closes when locked screen

**Most requested features**

- Allow listening with locked screen
- Do not contribute to screen time when locked
- Restore purchase from Apple
- Continue having access to explanation while learning
- App to be functional in vertical orientation

## Recent user reviews (10 of 38)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strategic-breathing/id1273620853/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Gentleness and curiosity

*2025-02-18, version 2.4.3*

I love Max! His demeanor and voice take you to another place…

### 5/5 — Very useful app

*2024-08-03*

Best app! Helps immediately & gives control over oneself

### 1/5 — Crashes too much

*2024-07-29, version 2.3*

When it works this is a great app - Max Strom and his breathing techniques are the best - but this app is extremely unreliable, it freezes up or crashes, and is unavailable just when you want it. Shame, as otherwise it would be good.

### 1/5 — Used to be great

*2024-04-15, version 2.3*

And then just stopped working, I have emailed the developers but I had no response. Very disappointed as I used the app daily for years.

### 5/5 — Life changer

*2023-09-19, version 2.3*

If you have bought this app you’re already on the path of healing.

### 3/5 — App closes when locked screen

*2023-05-09, version 2.3*

Would be good if I could Lock Screen and continue listening to minimise accidental stop-starts from closing my phone (I suffer from adhd so often forget). Added benefit would be it would not contribute to screen time

### 5/5 — Update overdue

*2023-02-13, version 2.3*

Exercises stopped working.  Reinstalled but won’t restore purchase from Apple.  Last update was 2 years ago.

### 1/5 — Paid £7.99 and got NOTHING

*2023-01-03, version 2.3*

Clearly seems like this app hasn’t been updated in years as it took my money and then didn’t allow me to access any of the content I paid for. Had to come here to find someone to contact - filled in a form - and waited…. No email back to acknowledge receipt so feel like I may as well have thrown my cash down the drain. Nice idea, I love Max Strom, but the developers need to sort this out.

### 1/5 — Great idea if it worked

*2022-01-23, version 2.3*

I wasted money on this app.  It won’t run any of the meditations properly.  

It starts the sessions and then quickly gets stuck.  It’s not at all very relaxing because I have to keep restarting the session and then it just sticks again and won’t go any further.  I hope that this gets fixed sooner rather than later.  I would love to use the app daily, especially seeing as I paid for it.  Nothing worse than paying for something that doesn’t work.

### 5/5 — Awesome app for simple practice!

*2021-11-15, version 2.3*

Wish there were more apps like this! To the point & highly effective even at first use. Bravo Max Strom (whose guiding voice is steady, gentle and soothing as ever!) & Inner Axis. Looking forward to working with this app longterm.

## Frequently asked questions about Strategic Breathing

### What does the Strategic Breathing app do?

The app provides guided breathing exercises and meditative movements designed to help users reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep, and enhance their overall well-being. It features expert instruction from Max Strom, with animated guidance to ensure safe and effective practice.

### What are the key features of this app?

Key features include a breathing technique tutorial, a discussion on the connection between breathing and emotions, guided standing and seated breathing evolutions ranging from 5 to 30 minutes, and a deep relaxation practice specifically for preparing for sleep. It also utilizes an animated CG Avatar and motion graphics for guidance.

### How much does the Strategic Breathing app cost?

The app is available for free with in-app purchases. This means users can download and access some content for free, with options to purchase additional content or features.

### Who is this app designed for?

This app is specifically designed for individuals in high-stress professions or situations, those suffering from PTSD (such as military personnel and first responders), and anyone looking to improve their inner calm, sleep quality, and daily functioning through breathwork.

### Can this app help with sleep problems?

Yes, the app includes a dedicated 'Deep relaxation practice to prepare for sleep.' This feature is designed to help users calm their nervous system and mind, making it easier to fall asleep and improve sleep quality.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.4.3 — 2024-11-12

Bug fixes, improved playback.

### 2.3 — 2020-04-17

Prepare for closing of free promotional offer.

### 2.2 — 2020-03-19

Many of us face tough economic choices as we curtail our social life for the safety of our community. To do our part we are making the in-app purchase available for free.

Max's breathing practice is a powerful tool for you to stay calm and focused and strong for yourself and your loved ones. Get it now.

### 2.1.9 — 2019-10-31

Bug-fix relating to Airplane mode. App now works without data connection.

### 2.1.5 — 2019-09-04

* device sleep bugfix
* “breathing technique” and “breathing / emotions” don’t require separate download
* Overall UI improvements for a smoother user experience
* Sequence Play-back is smooth now, no more hard cuts.
* Sequence loading indicator
* More backwards compatible, plays on devices going back to iOS 10 
* Descriptions for Standing and Seated circles ( tap the info icon)
* Descriptions for the different Seated Breathing types
* 478 now up to 15 minutes, with slider
* 417 now up to 30 minutes, with slider
* Pilot Breath now up to 40 minutes, with slider
* Legs up the wall now with slider
* 478 in Bed now up to 15 minutes
* 478 in Bed new advanced option

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-26.*