Resonant frequency refers to the unique breathing rate that maximizes your heart rate variability (HRV). It’s normally expressed in breaths per minute - for example, 6 breaths per minute is a common resonant frequency.
Why does resonant frequency matter?
Everyone has a slightly different resonant frequency. By discovering and practicing breathing at your resonant frequency, you can enhance your body’s ability to enter a state of deep rest.
Research, such as those conducted by Lehrer et al. (2000)(Frontiers), has shown that practicing breathing at your resonant frequency can have significant health benefits such as:
Improvements in HRV
Reduced stress
Better autonomic function (regulates involuntary physiologic processes, including blood pressure, digestion, respiration, etc)
What is the resonant frequency test?
You can use the resonant frequency test in Visible to help identify your optimal breathing rate.
During the test, the breathing visualizer will guide you through a range of breathing rates over a six-minute session.
By analyzing your heart rate in real-time, Visible then determines the breathing rate at which your HRV is highest, which is a good estimate of your resonant frequency.
How should I use my resonant frequency test results?
Once the test is complete, you will receive your recommended breathing rate, expressed in breaths per minute. This rate represents your resonant frequency. Practicing coherent breathing at this rate can help you achieve the best results in terms of HRV improvement.
If the recommended rate doesn’t feel comfortable, you can always modify it to better suit your needs. The key is to find a breathing rhythm that feels natural and sustainable for your daily practice.
Coherent Breathing is in Beta. This means that there may be small bugs or changes to the feature over time. As always, we'd love your feedback on how to improve. Please reach out out to Member Support with any thoughts you have, we'll always respond.