Rise: Bongwoo Tao Breathing Method
Yauheni Barkouski
Rise: Bongwoo Tao Breathing Method
Mobile App Design & Development
Overview
Rise: Tao Breathing Meditation is a mobile wellness app that guides users through the Bongwoo Tao breathing method—a mindful practice rooted in ancient Eastern philosophy. My role covered end-to-end app design and development, with a focus on creating a calming, intuitive, and spiritually aligned user experience.
Objective
The client approached me with the vision to bring the Bongwoo Tao breathing technique to a digital audience in a way that felt sacred, minimal, and immersive. The goal was to translate this profound practice into a modern mobile format while maintaining its authenticity and depth.
Deliverables
Full app design (UX/UI)
iOS mobile development
Apple Watch extension
App Store launch support
Onboarding flow with free trial reminder.
Designing for Calm, Clarity & Conversion
The onboarding sequence was crafted to feel more like a warm invitation than a setup process. From introducing the Tao Breathing philosophy to syncing with Apple Health and enabling smart reminders, every screen serves a purpose without overwhelming the user.
A small but impactful feature we introduced was a trial end reminder screen—a transparent prompt that informs users two days before the trial expires. This tiny addition led to a 40% increase in conversion, showing that clarity and honesty can be powerful UX tools.
Meet the Master, access courses & articles.
A Calm Hub to Begin and Return To
The home screen brings everything together — presence, practice, and learning. Master Haejung Ocean welcomes users with a calming message and acts as a spiritual guide throughout the app.
From here, users can instantly start their Beginner Video Course, designed as a step-by-step introduction to the Bongwoo Tao method. Just below, we feature a curated stream of wisdom articles written by the Master herself — many enhanced with audio narration for a more immersive experience.
This layout gently blends instruction, inspiration, and action — giving users both direction and space to explore at their own pace.
Sedona-filmed video course and session tracking.
Filmed in Sedona — Where Stillness Meets Scenic Beauty
Our video course is the spiritual core of the app — filmed and edited entirely by our team in the stunning landscapes of Sedona, Arizona. The setting isn’t just beautiful — it supports the serenity and depth of the Bongwoo Tao practice.
Each video session features Master Haejung Ocean guiding users with calm precision through every breathing step. What makes this course unique is the real-time integration of Apple HealthKit: users can track their meditation duration, stillness and heart rate while practicing.
This dual-focus design — immersive instruction paired with self-awareness metrics — encourages consistent practice and deeper physical connection, all without leaving the screen.
Spiritual meditation timer with HR & stillness.
A Timer with Soul — Where Science Meets Stillness
We didn’t just design a timer — we created a sacred space. The Meditation Timer is infused with visual cues inspired by sacred geometry to subtly encourage presence and continuation of personal practice.
But it’s not only beautiful — it’s deeply functional. After each session, users receive instant feedback: heart rate trends, stillness score, and detailed session metrics. This seamless integration with Apple Health transforms every meditation into a trackable, rewarding habit.
The result? A tool that doesn't interrupt your practice — it honors it, reflects it, and helps you grow through it.
Progress stats, heart rate & session history.
Clarity Through Insight — Your Inner Growth, Visualized
True meditation progress is often subtle. That’s why we designed our Practice Overview to make your inner growth visible.
Track your sessions across time — by week, month, year, or lifetime. Understand how your practice heart rate compares with your resting heart rate, a key indicator of nervous system health and emotional resilience. See trends emerge with Practice Summaries that reveal your longest streaks, average durations, and heart rate shifts.
This data doesn’t just inform — it motivates. It shows users that even brief moments of stillness compound into real, measurable transformation.
Sunrise & Sunset themes for daily flow.
Align with Nature’s Flow
Our meditation experience is designed not just to fit into your day, but to flow with it.
Choose between the Sunrise Theme, a cool awakening palette for clarity and energy, or the Sunset Theme, a warm, grounding design to wind down and reflect. These natural tones bring visual harmony to your practice, aligning your inner state with the rhythm of the Earth.
Meditate & track directly on Apple Watch.
iWatch Companion for Seamless Practice
To make the meditation experience truly seamless, we built a companion Apple Watch app from the ground up. Users can start a session instantly, track live heart rate, and check session history right from their wrist.
All data — from duration to biometric insights — syncs automatically with the main app, so your progress is always up to date. The design is minimal and calming, mirroring the mobile app’s natural gradients and spiritual aesthetic.
A Journey of Stillness and Insight
At Rockmuse, we crafted Rise: Tao Breathing Meditation from the ground up—from concept and visual direction to full app development. Inspired by ancient Taoist breathing practices and the serene guidance of Master Haejung Ocean, our goal was to merge wisdom with beautiful technology. The result is a meditation tool that brings calm, presence, and insight into modern life.
Working with Yauheni was a true collaboration of spirit and skill. They brought our vision to life with sensitivity, creativity, and world-class execution. Rise is not just an app—it’s a vessel for healing and awareness, and Rockmuse made that possible. Thank you guys!
— Haejung Ocean
Ready to elevate your brand’s website or app?
Reach out to us at rockmuse.co or send us a message at hello@rockmuse.co
Let’s create something meaningful together!
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Posted Jun 9, 2025
Designed and developed the Rise app from scratch—80+ screens, custom visuals, iOS + WatchOS support—for Taoist breath meditation practice.
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Timeline
Jan 8, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025
