The Breath Pacer is your primary tool for mastering the Quick Coherence® Technique. While everyone has a unique “resonant frequency,” using the pacer helps stabilize your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) so your heart and brain can synchronize.
1. Breath Pacer in emWave Pro and Pro Plus
In the desktop software, the pacer appears as a vertical column of light to the right of the main HRV graph.
- Toggling the View: If you don’t see the pacer, go to the View menu and select Show Breath Pacer.
- Adjusting Speed: * Buttons: Click the (+) to increase the cycle time (slower breathing) or the (-) to decrease it (faster breathing).
- Precision Entry: In the Inspector (User tab), you can click directly on the “Breath Cycle Time” to type in a specific value, such as 9.3 seconds, for a highly personalized rhythm.
- Resetting: To return to the default 10-second cycle, hover your mouse over the time in the User tab and click when it says “Press to reset.”
2. Breath Pacer on emWave2 (Handheld)
When used as a standalone device (not connected to a computer), the emWave2 handles pacing differently:
- The Heart Action Strip: The blue lights that rise and fall on the center strip act as your pacer.
- Auto-Adjustment: Unlike the software, you cannot manually adjust the handheld pacer. However, if you maintain Medium or High Coherence for 60 seconds, the device will gradually begin to “auto-adjust” its pace to match your natural rhythm.
3. Breath Pacer in the Inner Balance App
Inner Balance offers multiple visual styles to suit your preference:
- Mandala: The default view; inhale as the circle expands, exhale as it contracts.
- Chaser: A circular ring of light; inhale as it completes the top half, exhale for the bottom.
- Moving Ball: A small ball that travels side-to-side at the top of the screen.
- How to Adjust: Go to Settings (Gear icon) and use the slider to change the breath rate. The number indicates the total seconds for one full breath cycle.
4. Finding Your Resonant Frequency
While the default setting is 10 seconds, this is just a starting point.
- Comfort is King: If you feel short of breath or “gaspy,” the pacer is too slow. If you feel rushed, it is too fast.
- The 0.1 Hz Mark: Most adults find their peak coherence around a 10-second cycle (0.1 Hz). However, taller individuals or those with higher lung capacity often prefer a slower pace (11–13 seconds), while smaller individuals may prefer a faster one (7–9 seconds).