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

[KevinMW]

I got  a phone call in the middle of a breathing exercise and Couldnt figure out what it meant.  Clear now though.  

[Mom1216]

I have an Inspire HR and I have not been able to get a reading yet. I am getting so out of breath trying to get this to work. I keep getting a low alignment message. I breathe in thru my nose and out thru my mouth. I get little stars most of the time but not on everyone. If I keep breathing like this, I may faint! LOL. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong or is this feature really that difficult to use.

[justlikeashleyy]

I have attached a photo (hopefully it is visible and legible) of the information on the relax app. At least for versa 2. 

 

It’s a blurry image, but the vibrations are optional, and alignment is how closely you followed the breathing prompt, and it shows your heart rate at the start and finish of it. 

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Mom1216]

Thank you!

[SunsetRunner]

I was concerned myself as I am a teen Fitbit user and I even asked my parents and they said that they didn't know what it means either. Thanks

  Note: Owner of 2 Fitbits an Alta and Inspire HR and I've been a Fitbit user for 2-3 years

😁

[Ltsd]

I went to the chat and asked the question, “ What is the difference in low alignment and high alignment when using Relax. It was so frustrating. I got the following answers. These are exactly what I was told. 

You get good results when you sync with the circle on the screen while doing the relax app.

There is no manual or other explanation for results after doing the relax app. 

We get different results while doing the relax app. 

Then the person started saying how if you see sparkles that is good and you get good results when you sync. I said they should provide a clear explanation of the difference. The community should not have to tell others what they think. I told her there should be a better explanation when you get these messages. The best answer I got was if you get low alignment you are not in sync. I asked if high meant I was in sync it is . Wouldn’t it be better to just say you are not in sync with the circle or good you are. I am still not sure I thought low might mean i was breathing too slow to be in sync and high would mean I was breathing too fast to be in sync. 

[CHRISARL]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Ltsd]

It was crazy . I told her I paid a lot for the Fitbit and even printed out
the online manual. This is my first smart watch so I am clueless about some
things but this made sense. I even thought maybe the band was too low on my
wrist or too high because I read it needs to be positioned so many fingers
from your writs bone to get an accurate heart rate. I even typed,” Are you
a robot”? It sounded like some script that was actually scripted to answer
questions about it. i know I will get good results if I sync with the
circle and she was telling me this is what it meant. Then i said so is high
good and low a bad result. I was so frustrated and usually I am patient. I
asked if there was a manager I could talk with . Tomorrow I am calling and
asking for a manager and saying that there should be a post from Fitbit
explaining exactly what low alignment and high alignment mean and that
perhaps they would want to chance these responses to the relax app on their
website. I usually do not get hot with chats but inside I was . I did keep
my composure but I kept responding that my question was not being answered.
I said i ddi not care about sparkles or seeing green and that being good, I
wanted these two phrases defined in relation to the app. I am still fuming
inside.

I went to the chat and asked the question, “ What is the difference in low alignment and high alignment when using Relax. It was so frustrating. I got the following answers. These are exactly what I was told. 

You get good results when you sync with the circle on the screen while doing the relax app.

There is no manual or other explanation for results after doing the relax app. 

We get different results while doing the relax app. 

Then the person started saying how if you see sparkles that is good and you get good results when you sync. I said they should provide a clear explanation of the difference.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Marti2]

Me too!  Hate it

[Jorgos]

With a bit of change in settings I use Tabata app my fev are 5-6 secs inhale 12-15 Secs exhale ,  indeed longer than the Fitbit app. They should configure it to be adjustable. Btw you always have lower HR after breathing exe?

i use nose clip to aid air flow, anyone else?

[ARockStar]

Hi there @AlejandraFitbit - I received the same message you did however, it’s in the stats “after” that message where someone (like me) would get “Alignment Low”. I’ve attached a picture from my Fitbit Charge 3 after just completing a Breathing Exercise to depict better what we are referring to. I too also got “Alignment Low” and after a second Exercise, received the message of “Alignment Medium”. I would also like an answer to what these terms actually mean and how many of these terms are there? Is there only a Low, Medium, and High when doing these Breathing Exercises and is Low the worst while High means the best? Is there someplace on the Fitbit Website, App, or in any manual stating or describing in detail what it all signifies? Please see the following:

 

[Fitterbit123]

I trust this was resolved now, as the fitBit tends to give a short vibration you need to breath in and then it has an extended vibration when you need to breath out. So well done for the fitbit to getting this done.

[CraftyET]

I’ve just used it for the first time, got plenty of sparkly stars - and got ‘alignment low. My daughter used hers for the first time and got alignment high.

She is (obviously) younger, so I wonder if her heart rate slowed more than mine during the exercise. 

[Caroljones87]

I found my chest tightening as well! Following the circles was making me more anxious. I need to keep working on this. 

[NeneOtter]

Hi 
I’ve been getting this alignment low message jammed on my screen at random times during the day. I haven’t used the Relax app at all. 
It’s on my screen at the moment and nothing I do is making it go. 
Any ideas why this is happening and what to do to stop it?

Thank you

[Polyanna15]

Loved your response . I'm the same but gave it to my granddaughter to try...& here's was excellent!!🥴

[tracidmartin]

Hi, 

as many have noticed, they are good at yoga and are skilled at breath work, yet still get a low alignment message. I believe this is because the alignment is not measuring your breathing slowing down, or your heart rate slowing down. In fact I got an excellent alignment and my heart rate went from 70 to 75. 

so what exactly IS the relax app doing? 

Based on my own trial and error I believe it is training you to follow a guided breathing pattern that is artificially controlled. This may feel uncomfortable for many people. However, the Polyvagal theory teaches us that slowing the breath effectively tricks the mind into being calm. While you are in your house safe that app might seem controlled but if you were being chased and trying to calm down, you might appreciate that app telling you when you breathe. 

bottom line, the more you practice following the circle, the more is will feel natural and you will have achieved a type of mind control. It’s all about the green and sparkled. Try to never let that go away and you will get it. 

[Ltsd]

What good is the app if Fitbit does not explain the results? I got two
different answers when I called them and neither made any sense.

[hillml1129]

I’m not sure what I’ve done but I no longer get a low medium or high alignment after doing a relaxed session! I somehow have also removed the move and rescues that you get while doing an interval workout. I have chatted and no one seems to know how to get this back🙄😡

That’s exactly what I get now! Are used to get a low medium or high alignment read out

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Polyanna15]

I think Fitbit needs to do some work on this! My granddaughter put it on &
got 'high alignment' !!
My oxygen isn't brill when I'm asleep...!!
J🤗

I had similar probs.to you when my exercise wasn't recording...Fitbit
suggested a factory reset but it was no better so they replaced my watch
free of charge...so they must know about these problems...so...I would get
onto them rather than just the Community.
Goo luck!J

Moderator edit: merged reply