Pranaclimb

REMOTE
BREATHING
ASSESSMENT

Non-Invasive Tracking of Critical Power (CP) and W′bal-ODE in Rock Climbing Using BR, RPE, and HRR₆₀

Your breath is the fastest, most reliable guide to effort, recovery, and focus on the wall. The Pranaclimb RBA is a field-based system that gives climbers clear, actionable insights into performance and recovery — without lab equipment.

🫁 BR
Breathing Rate

Real-time effort signal — the fastest marker of intensity on the wall.

🎯 RPE
Perceived Exertion (CR-10)

Internal effort perception, tightly correlated with breathing rate.

❤️ HRR₆₀
Heart Rate Recovery

Recovery speed — your readiness signal for the next attempt.

This protocol blends cutting-edge physiology with practical breathwork coaching, helping you recognise thresholds (CP & RCP) through breathing patterns, train smarter, recover faster, and build resilience through targeted breathwork tools. Breathe strong. Love, Breathe, Climb.

The Protocol
How the RBA Works
Step 01 of 06
ASSESS
Remote Breathing Assessment

The foundation of everything. Your breathing is recorded during a maximal-effort climb — capturing every breath, hold, grunt, and scream to build a complete picture of your physiological response to effort.

  • Breathing Rate (BR)
  • RPE (CR-10) — perceived effort
  • Expressive breathing (holds, grunts, screams)
  • HRR₆₀ — heart rate recovery at 60 seconds
  • Optional deep dive: CO₂ tolerance, PEFR, SpO₂, rib mobility

What's measured in the real world

Step 01
ASSESS
RBA
🫁Breathing Rate (BR) — real-time effort
🎯RPE (CR-10) — perceived load
😤Expressive breathing — holds, grunts, screams
❤️HRR₆₀ — 60s recovery
+Optional: CO₂, PEFR, SpO₂, rib mobility
What's measured in the real world
Step 02 of 06
INTERPRET
Physiological Mapping

Your raw data is translated into meaningful performance insights. Annie maps your breathing patterns to your personal physiological thresholds — identifying exactly where you are relative to CP and RCP.

  • ⛰️ CP ≈ 45 BPM / RPE 8
  • 🔥 RCP > 55 BPM / RPE 9–10
  • ⚡ W′bal depletion & recharge rates
  • 🫁 Effective BR (raw + expression cost)
  • ❤️ Recovery speed (HRR₆₀ + BR return)

What it means

Step 02
INTERPRET
⛰️ ~45 BPM / RPE 8
Critical Power (CP)
🔥 >55 BPM / RPE 9–10
Resp. Compensation Point
⚡ W′bal ODE
Anaerobic Reserve Tracking
What it means
Step 03 of 06
IDENTIFY
Where Performance Breaks Down

Every climber has specific limiters — the hidden factors that make effort feel harder than it should. Your RBA reveals exactly which ones are holding you back.

  • Early BR spike — intensity rising too fast
  • Excessive breath holds / Valsalva
  • High expressive cost (especially in bouldering)
  • Slow HRR₆₀ — poor aerobic recovery
  • Poor CO₂ tolerance — panic before failure
  • Rib stiffness / thoracic restriction
  • High stress → chaotic breathing patterns

Why effort feels harder than it should

Step 03
IDENTIFY
LIMITERS
⚠️ Early BR spike
⚠️ Excessive breath holds
⚠️ High expressive cost
⚠️ Slow HRR₆₀
⚠️ Poor CO₂ tolerance
⚠️ Rib stiffness
⚠️ Chaotic breathing under stress
Why effort feels harder than it should
Step 04 of 06
COACH
Pranaclimb Coaching Protocol (CoPro)

Your RBA findings become a personalised coaching programme. Annie builds breathing cues, pacing strategies, and recovery protocols tailored precisely to your limiters and goals.

  • 🧭 Zone-based breathing cues: ≤CP → efficiency & calm · CP/Grey Zone → rhythm & control · >RCP → power without chaos
  • 💨 Expressive efficiency — use power exhales, reduce stacked holds & wasted screams
  • 🌬 Recovery optimisation — sigh resets, nasal downshifting, HRR₆₀ breathing protocols

What to do differently

Step 04
COACH
CoPro
🧭 Zone-based breathing cues
💨 Expressive efficiency training
🌬 Recovery optimisation
🧘‍♀️ CO₂ resilience & calm
🧩 Integrated breath awareness
What to do differently
Step 05 of 06
ADAPT
Training & Behaviour Change

With consistent practice of your personalised programme, breathing patterns change — and performance follows. The changes are measurable, progressive, and lasting.

  • Breath-aware pacing
  • Better crux timing (RP Sync)
  • Faster recovery between burns
  • Improved composure under stress
  • Reduced injury risk (ribs, diaphragm, over-bracing)

Change becomes automatic

Step 05
ADAPT
✅ Breath-aware pacing
✅ Better crux timing
✅ Faster recovery
✅ Composure under stress
✅ Reduced injury risk
Change becomes automatic
Step 06 of 06
CLIMB
Respiratory Intelligence in Action

The result is a climber who understands their own physiology — who can read their breath, manage their energy, and perform with precision at their limit.

  • Hold CP longer
  • Push RCP with control
  • Recover faster between attempts
  • Stay calm under pressure
  • Climb with precision at your limit

✨ Love. Breathe. Climb.

Step 06
CLIMB
STRONGER
⛰️ Hold CP longer
🔥 Push RCP with control
❤️ Recover faster
🧘 Stay calm under pressure
✨ Love. Breathe. Climb.
Core RBA Protocol
The 4-Minute Test

Ideal for field use (projecting), coaching sessions, or post-climb reviews. No lab equipment needed.

01

2 Min Baseline

Calm nasal breathing before the effort. Establishes your resting BR and parasympathetic state as a reference point.

02

4 Min Maximal Climb

A maximal-effort route with a focused 1-minute crux segment. BR is tracked via microphone or smartphone audio. CP identified near BR ~45 BPM / RPE 8. RCP near BR >55 BPM / RPE 10.

03

1 Min Recovery

Passive recovery. Record HRR₆₀ (heart rate drop) and BR return to ≤30 BPM. This is your recovery fingerprint.

Extended Deep-Dive
Five Pillars of Breathing Intelligence

Optional extended markers that build a complete Respiratory Resilience Profile (RRP).

💨
PEFR
Power

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate — expiratory strength & airflow power. Strong exhale delays respiratory fatigue.

🌬️
CO₂ Tolerance
Control

Pranaclimb MBT — breath-hold control & composure under rising CO₂. Delays hyperventilation on the crux.

🩸
SpO₂ + PI
Oxygen Delivery

Oxygenation + circulation quality. SpO₂ ≥95% & PI >1% = strong recovery signal.

🏗️
BIQ
Flexibility

Breathing IQ — thoracic mobility & rib mechanics. Larger tidal volume = lower breathing cost.

🧘‍♀️
NRP
Calm

Neural Recovery Protocol — parasympathetic reset. Faster W′ recharge & emotional regulation.

Who It's For
The RBA is For You If...
🧗

Coaches seeking real-time on-the-wall diagnostics

🧠

Climbers of all levels connecting breath with performance

🌬️

Breathwork practitioners integrating physiology into sport

🔬

Researchers exploring field-based respiratory energetics

Athletes in other intermittent or tactical sports

BOOK YOUR
REMOTE
ASSESSMENT

Work directly with Annie Anderson — researcher, breathwork specialist, and lifelong climber — to map your breathing thresholds and build a programme that transforms how you climb.

Available remote (video call) and in-person (Cornwall).

Read the full methodology →

Remote Breathing Assessment

1:1 with Annie · Remote or In-Person
Book Your RBA Email Annie Directly