Overview
The Challenge Level setting in Inner Balance determines the degree of physiological “smoothness” required to achieve Medium and High coherence. Think of it as a sensitivity setting for your heart rhythm. As you improve your ability to regulate your emotions and breathing, you can increase the challenge to further build your resilience.
The Difficulty Scale
Each level represents a specific threshold for your coherence data:
-
Levels 1 to 3: There is a 15% higher degree of difficulty in achieving and sustaining High Coherence between each of these levels.
-
Level 4: This is the most advanced setting. The jump from Level 3 to Level 4 represents a 30% increase in difficulty.
Coherence Thresholds (Technical Data)
The app uses specific numerical thresholds to determine if you are in Low (Red), Medium (Blue), or High (Green) coherence. As you raise the level, these thresholds move significantly:
| Challenge Level | Low/Medium Threshold | Medium/High Threshold |
| Level 1 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
| Level 2 | 0.6 | 4.0 |
| Level 3 | 0.6 | 4.0 |
| Level 4 | 2.1 | 6.0 |
Note: The Coherence Score itself (ranging from 0 to a theoretical maximum of 16) is independent of the challenge level. The level only affects how that score is categorized into colors.
When to Increase Your Challenge Level
It is recommended to stay at your current level until you can consistently maintain 80% or higher High Coherence (Green) for several sessions in a row.
-
If you move up a level and find yourself mostly in the Red or Blue zones, it is a sign to return to the previous level to strengthen your baseline before trying again.
-
Moving to Level 4 is usually reserved for long-term practitioners who want to test their ability to stay coherent during intense focus or high-stress simulations.
Visual Changes
You will notice that the Coherence Over Time graphic looks different as you change levels. At higher levels, the “bars” representing your coherence will be more sensitive to small shifts in your emotional state or breathing rhythm, providing more precise feedback.
Challenge Levels 1 & 2
Challenge Levels 3 & 4
