SEGA Wellness Lab · CO₂ Tolerance is the true marker of pranayama depth
SEGA SEGA IntercontinentalYoga Alliance
Home  /  Wellness Tools  /  CO₂ Tolerance
// Pranayama Breath Lab · CO₂ Tolerance · VO₂ Max

Test your CO₂ tolerance and estimate VO₂ max

Elite pranayama and endurance sport both depend on the same physiology — the nervous system’s tolerance of rising carbon dioxide. This lab uses two classical measurements — the Control Pause (CP) and Max Pause (MP) — to place you on a Siddha breathwork tier and estimate your VO₂ max, then hands you a personalised 4-week protocol.

Before you start: Sit upright, breathe normally for 3 minutes. Do NOT force a deep inhale before the test — the CP measures the delay before your first involuntary urge to breathe after a normal exhale.
Safety: Do not perform breath-holds if you are pregnant, epileptic, have uncontrolled high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or are within 2 hours of a meal. Never do these tests in or near water, while driving, or standing on stairs.

1. Choose which test

CP is the standard entry test. MP is the advanced test done after a rest of 3–5 minutes. You can measure both today.

2. Live breath stopwatch

Exhale normally — do NOT gasp a big inhale first. Press Start the moment you finish the exhale. Press Stop at your first involuntary urge (CP) or maximum comfortable hold (MP).

00.0

Control Pause (CP)

Sit tall. Exhale gently. Start stopwatch. Stop at your first involuntary swallow, throat contraction, or urge to inhale.

3. Confirm both values

You can retype either value if the stopwatch was interrupted, or fill in what you already know.