What does “alignment low” mean?

[JMT59]

I’ve been practicing yoga on & off for years; as well as deep breathing. I’ve done the deep breathing exercises on the Versa 3-4 times now. I keep getting the term “alignment low” in the end results. What in the world does “alignment low” mean? There’s no description I could find anywhere. I also posted it in the community forums & only received cheers! Cheers are nice but, I need an answer! 

Thank you.

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[AlejandraFitbit]

It's great to see you around @JMT59.

I just performed a relax session from my Versa and received the "Keep it up!" message. Could you please provide me with a photo of the one you received?

Hope to hear from you soon. 

[Kled75462]

Initially, as you start the breathing it is watching your heartbeat and then adjusting the breathing circle along with the vibration you feel to help slow your heartbeat. You try to respond in your breathing to match the vibration and the circle you are focusing on. As you match the cycles as close as possible you will start seeing stars on the display and there will be a green background. These indicate you are doing it correctly. If you get a lot of stars and green display then your heart is slowing. This will then say your alignment is good.

[ladyascension]

@JMT59  This is how I’ve understood it as well.

[JMT59]

Thank you for that response. It’s kind of hard to relax & deep breath whilst being asked to focus on the watch screen. The Fitbit team needs to rectify this. It’s quite inconvenient & an inaccurate measurement. 

I can meditate & deep breath after a yoga practice into almost a trance state. Yet when doing it with the Versa, I get told my breathing /heart rate are out of alignment. Just crazy!

Thanks again. I appreciate the interpretation!

[WavyDavey]

My understanding is that the Relax app is comparing your heart rate and breath measured through heart rate variability. When they are in alignment, we get the sparkles, so I'm guessing that "low alignment" means the breath and heart aren't optimally linked.

With more practice with Relax, you should be able to get that message to disappear.

[Mothrasue]

@JMT59 I find the app more stressful than relaxing, too.  I’ve only used it three times and have no desire to use it again.  After the first time I turned the vibration off because that is ridiculously disturbing when trying to relax.  It’s the same vibration that’s used as an alarm, so why would they put it in a relaxation app?  So weird.  I wouldn’t worry about the message the app is giving you.  I’d delete it 🙂

[JMT59]

I agree complete! I hope Fitbit reworks this app. It’s gotten to where in order to be active all day, my hr stays high. At night I’m too tired to care about a monitored meditation! I’ll stick with how I have done it forever; at least until they reboot this feature!

[Mosererin71]

So if it is saying low alignment like the other member mentioned is thatbreason fear heart issues or heart attack?

[miffy888]

I agree. I do yoga regularly especially mediyoga a Swedish version that is all breath focused so was also really suprised to get a low alignment rating 😉

[Marypan]

Hi JMT59 I was having the same problem this evening but adjusted two things and hence moved from low alignment to medium alignment:

1. I rested my wrist with the versa on a table and moved the fitbit further up my wrist to my lower arm as I have a skinny bony wrist.

2. I concentrated on following the circle as faithfully as possible: I have learnt relaxation and slow breathing techniques before so i think previously I was trying to breathe as slowly as possible rather than concentrating on following the pace of the circle.

I think that this breathing app will be useful for helping me to focus on relating breathing and also on concentration...I find concentration to be a challenge sometimes so focusing on the white circle for 5 mins was good concentration practice for me !

[menoman]

I agree.  My breathing was natural and easy and then I had to start matching the Charge.  I actually felt my chest tightening, because it wasn't at my natural breathing rate.

[aux]

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@Mothrasue wrote:

@JMT59 I find the app more stressful than relaxing, too.  I’ve only used it three times and have no desire to use it again.  After the first time I turned the vibration off because that is ridiculously disturbing when trying to relax.  It’s the same vibration that’s used as an alarm, so why would they put it in a relaxation app?  So weird.  I wouldn’t worry about the message the app is giving you.  I’d delete it 🙂

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My heart rate typically goes up from using Relax. Seems counterproductive 😜

[kristypower]

I have had the same thing show up for mine.

I think mine has to do with my asthma, as my chest was tight and in pain. Am still trying to figure out what that term means, so if Fitbit could point us in the right direction, that would be very helpful.

[Ludicrous]

Regarding the relaxation app, Fitbit should add a more quiet vibration for it. That app is done so we don't have to stare at it. Upon exhalation it vibrates very short to tell us to start inhaling and then vibrates regular to tell us to start exhalation. There is no need to stare at the display as you will get use to the timing if used enough.

[Winola1234]

What do alignment low mean 

[Jeannie1012]

I get alignment low. ❤82->66 .....but I get the sparkling stars while doing it.  So hell if I know.  You'd THINK they'd tell you what the stuff means.  

[ricovado]

I agree that the larger issue is that we must hunt for information on what this message means. Mysterious messages are not appreciated. There's an adage in advertising 'don't make your audience guess what you are talking about.' Seems to apply here.

The less important issue is the reliability of the measurement. I tested the Relax function against my Muse (home EEG device for meditation biofeedback). Muse says I am 'calm' during sessions where Fitbit reports 'alignment low.' The Muse is literally reading my brainwaves. So, maybe Fitbit could be a little clearer about what this function actually measures.

[JRIBeKind]

I agree with you and with @JMT59.  I am a long time meditator and this app is less than relaxing, It actually messes up my breathing trying to follow.  Also, the vibrations are incredibly distracting.  I love the IDEA of this app but think it cold be reworked.  I was totally confused by the "low alignment"  but I do appreciate knowing that there are alternate outcomes  possible.

[Intheprocess]

My heartrate is usually higher after the exercise for some reason haha. However the vibrations help if you don't want to look at the watch. The inhale and exhale are slightly different vibration pattern.