Cameron Chinatti from Stages Indoor Cycling alerted me to this Indiegogo project: BreathAcoustics All-in-One Headset. She was excited by it and I can see why.
I've spoken with the inventor Nirinjan Yee who's the CEO and Founder of BreathResearch and we will be recording an interview this coming Thursday morning - I'll try to have it posted by Friday so there's still time for you to help fund this project.
Nirinjan has some big hitters on her team including Sally Edwards and Dr. Carl Foster. Dr. Foster is conducting clinical research at UW Lacrosse to validate if this headset can accurately identify VT1 (first ventilatory/aerobic threshold) and VT2 (second ventilatory/anaerobic threshold) by measuring the distinct changes in breathing that occur with changes in intensity.
Breath Acoustic All-In-One Headset from Nirinjan Yee on Vimeo.
Here's why I feel this project is worthy of your support.
Perhaps the hardest part of teaching/Coaching Indoor Cycling / Group Fitness classes is effectively communicating your intended intensity.
Effective communication requires a common language between you and your participants.
How hard is HARD? What exactly does MODERATE feel like? Is my perception of an "8"... the same as yours? All of those descriptions are subjective = they only mean what I (me/you) think or feel they mean.
Walk into a Home Depot and ask for a gallon of Red paint - or - visit Amy at the makeup counter and ask for Red lipstick. Both Amy and the paint salesperson will ask; "we have quite a few different Red's... which shade are you looking for?" Then they'll show you a chart with all the different shades of Red for you to choose from.
With out realizing it, you're probably doing the same thing in your classes. In our attempts at getting our classes to work where we want them, we introduce more object descriptors = we'll probably be cuing to breath & breathing patterns; you've first noticed your breathing, need to open your mouth, jaw dropped, lost interest in speaking, sound like a freight train, gasping for air! etc... to help our riders understand the intensity we're looking for in class.
Next, we try to correlate those breathing patterns to a Heart Rate number or HR Zone; when you feel that early change in your breathing you're crossing your Aerobic Threshold T1... That strong, rhythmic breathing (without feelings of distress) has you in the middle of Zone 3; etc...
So why do we try to tie breathing (direct indication of intensity) to a Heart Rate number? Because it's really (beyond watts) the only objective measurement we can easily (and repeatably) make and we do so by using a heart rate monitor. We then assign a range of HR BPMs to a "Zone". These HR Zones* become the common language between you and your students. If everyone knows their HR at VT2 (AT/LT) I can simply cue; "I need everyone at threshold" and the class understands.
Is there something magical about a specific Heart Rate BPM? Not at all... your heart is just responding to requests for more or less O2 and energy from the muscles it serves. Those requests are based on intensity and IMO anything that could improve the connection between intensity and Heart Rate BPM will help us to more effectively communicate with all those smiling faces riding in front of us.
Improving that connection (without needing to wear one of those awful New Leaf masks) sounds like something we should be supporting. That's exactly what BreathAcoustics is trying to accomplish with their Indiegogo project.
*I'm continuing my crusade advocacy toward the fitness industry adopting a common HR Zone system and have a number of expert interviews planned for later the Fall.
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Originally posted 2013-09-14 09:02:35.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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Hey, John and ICI Pro…
Thanks for sharing Ninijan’s dream … of the four primary vital signs – heart rate, temperature, breathing rate, and blood pressure … breathing is possibly the cornerstone of them all – and we don’t even measure it.
Strage.
Important.
Let’s start tracking and monitoring the dynamics of it and by supporting the company BR, Breath Research and the A-i-O product – it will move this crusade (ok advocacy) toward making it an essential part of HAL, healthy active living!
with heart,
The Head Hearts SALLY
Heart Zones USA, The Training, Education, Programming, and Coaching Company
Too cool…let me know when they start the Beta testing!!!!!
As a Respiratory Therapist, it is right up my alley!
When I first brought this idea to Carl Foster and Nirinjin they were so excited I remember doing 3 metabolic tests on the same day just to get some of the preliminary data going before Nirinjin’s team could take over and run proper trials ( https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=295421263831154&set=pb.218264118213536.-2207520000.1379419866.&type=3&theater).
It’s very gratifying to see it taken to this level. We all need an affordable way that is both scientific and measured as with a microphone like her team has developed. It has sure come a far way from the early prototypes I had strapped on. I recommend everyone consider supporting this great project! http://igg.me/at/breath-acoustics/x/4259624
Big thanks for your great article introducing the IC community to the BreathAcoustics A-I-O headset! I love using the MyBreath App on my iPhone while trail running — now the headset will be outstanding — comfortable, easy to use, with more functionality and a sexy design!
Heart rate monitoring is my best way to know how my body’s responding on any given ride. I credit Leslie Mueller and Jen Fuller for bringing Gene’s Cycling Fusion winter training program to Marin, which introduced me to the value of HR monitoring. I have much gratitude to the indoor cycling world!
I’ve tracked every step in Nirinjan’s development of Breath Research since 2004. When Gene came to CA in 2011 to visit our cycling class — I was so happy I could introduce him to Nirinjan — I knew he’d find her research on correlations between heart rate and breathing to be fascinating and important.
I can not promote My Breath (now Breath Acoustics) enough but I am going to attempt to right now. Thank you to Maureen Manely(Orthopedic Bodywork) for introducing me to Nirinjan! Nirinjan personally trained me to use the My Breath App over 3 years ago. My background is in physiology & biomechanics, but no one ever taught me to actually breath correctly. I can say using My Breath (Breath Acoustics) while in recovery has without a doubt helped me to achieve and maintain a steady ability to paddle my way to the top 10 in the elite standup Paddle world over the last 3 years. I race against women much younger women then me. (16 to 30 yr olds), and at 50 I can say this is one of the most important tools I use. I also teach indoor cycling using heart rate monitors and perceived exertion and Breath Acoustics has been extremely helpful in my coaching abilities. I am so excited to see this concept brought to this level of a simple to use headset! Nirinjan Yee has dedicated an incredible amount of time, energy and brilliance into this for over 10 years! This is cutting edge technology for sure!! Thank You Nirinjan!