Choosing Practice Duration, Voice Guidance, and Ambience in Ayurveda & Asana Yoga

Why Some Duration Buttons Are Hidden on Longer Scripts

When you open a practice in `PracticeEntryView` (`Practice Details`), the top metadata pills display its posture (`Seated`, `Supine`, etc.), eye state (`Eyes closed`, `Eyes soft`), difficulty (`Level 1`, etc.), and baseline duration. Scrolling down brings you to the `Length — Choose your pace` picker.

Each `Practice` in the catalog defines candidate `durationOptions` (such as 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes) along with an ordered array of script cues (`PracticeCue`), a speaking pace (`wordsPerMinute`), and per-cue `holdSeconds`. The model property `computedRuntimeSeconds` sums `(wordCount / wordsPerMinute * 60) + holdSeconds` across every cue in `orderedScript`. Then `availableDurationOptions` filters `durationOptions` to only those values `>= computedRuntimeSeconds`. If a deeply detailed Yoga Nidra script requires 11 minutes of narration and authored holds, a 5-minute option would truncate the session before the closing return—so the app hides the shorter option and displays the caption: *"Options shorter than the spoken practice were hidden."*

• Shortest shown button: Represents the minimum time needed to deliver every spoken cue and authored hold without rushing.
• Longer shown buttons: Expand the silent practice intervals between cues so you can sit or rest longer without extra talking.
• Default selection: `selectedDuration` initializes to `practice.availableDurationOptions.first ?? practice.durationSeconds`.

Switching Between "Guided Voice" and "No Voice"

Right below `Length`, the `Guide — Voice guidance` section lets you choose how the script is delivered. When `PracticeAudioAssetResolver.hasCompleteRecordedNarration(practiceSlug:cueCount:)` confirms that all recorded narration cues are bundled for that practice, two buttons appear: `Guided voice` (`.recorded`) and `No voice` (`.off`).

Using `Guided voice` is ideal when learning a new breathing ratio, body scan, or visualization so your eyes can stay closed while spoken cues mark each transition. Once you know the technique by heart—or when you want quiet self-paced concentration—tapping `No voice` silences spoken narration while still running the player timer, cue progression, and your chosen ambient sound.

• `Guided voice`: Plays the recorded human voice cues synchronized to each `PracticeCue` in the script.
• `No voice`: Mutes spoken narration so you can practice silently with the timer and optional ambient sound.
• Offline reliability: All voice assets and script cues are bundled inside the app for offline playback.

Customizing the "Sound" Ambience Menu—or Practicing in Silence

The third control block, `Sound`, displays the total count of bundled ambient soundscapes (`"(ambienceTracks.count) bundled tracks"`) and preselects the default track matched to that practice's `ambienceTrackID` and `catalogNumber`.

Tapping the `Sound` menu card opens a picker listing `No ambience` at the top followed by all bundled ambient tracks (with a checkmark next to the active track). When practicing in a noisy apartment or office, a steady ambient track masks sudden background sounds without competing with the spoken guide; when practicing at dawn or in a quiet room, selecting `No ambience` switches the icon to `speaker.slash` for complete acoustic silence.

• Pre-selected default: Each practice automatically loads its authored ambient track (`PracticeAudioAssetResolver.defaultResourceName`).
• Swap tracks freely: Pick any bundled track from the dropdown menu before tapping `Begin`.
• True silence option: Choose `No ambience` + `No voice` whenever you want an unadorned silent meditation timer that still logs to `Practice History`.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Classical References

1. Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need To Know — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
2. Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)