How Our AI Works
hohm.studio uses cutting-edge computer vision technology to analyze your body position in real-time. Here's a non-technical overview of how it works:
1. Camera Captures Your Movement
Your webcam captures video at up to 30 frames per second. This video stream stays entirely on your device and is never uploaded or stored anywhere.
2. AI Detects Body Landmarks
Google's MediaPipe Pose model identifies 33 key points on your body: joints like shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, plus points on your face and feet. This creates a "skeleton" overlay of your pose.
3. Angles Are Calculated
Our software calculates the angles between your joints. For example, the angle at your elbow when your arm is bent, or the angle at your hip in a standing pose. These angles are the mathematical foundation of pose comparison.
4. Comparison with Reference
Your current angles are compared against reference angles from correctly performed poses. The closer your angles match the reference, the higher your pose match score.
5. Real-Time Feedback
Based on the comparison, you receive instant visual and audio feedback to help you adjust your position. The entire process happens in milliseconds, creating a responsive, interactive experience.
MediaPipe Pose
Google's state-of-the-art pose detection ML model, optimized for real-time performance in browsers.
WebGL Acceleration
GPU-accelerated processing ensures smooth, responsive pose detection without draining your battery.
Local Processing
All AI inference runs locally in your browser. Zero data is sent to external servers.
Angle Analysis
Proprietary algorithms calculate and compare joint angles for accurate pose matching.
Technical Deep Dive
For those interested in the technical details, here's how the pose detection pipeline works under the hood:
MediaPipe Pose Landmarker
We use MediaPipe's Pose Landmarker task, which employs a two-stage ML pipeline:
- BlazePose Detector: A lightweight neural network that locates the general region of a person in the frame
- BlazePose Tracker: A more detailed model that precisely locates 33 body landmarks with sub-pixel accuracy
Landmark Coordinates
Each landmark is returned with normalized x, y coordinates (0-1 range relative to image size) plus a z coordinate representing depth relative to the hip midpoint. We also receive visibility and presence scores for each landmark.
Angle Calculation
Joint angles are calculated using vector mathematics. For a joint J connected to points A and B, we compute:
angle = arccos((JA · JB) / (|JA| × |JB|))
This gives us the angle in degrees, which we compare against reference poses stored in our database.
Pose Matching Algorithm
Our matching algorithm weights different joints based on the specific pose. For example, in Tree Pose, the angle of the lifted leg at the hip is weighted more heavily than arm position. We use an exponential scoring function that provides more granular feedback in the "close but not quite" range where small adjustments matter most.
Accuracy & Limitations
We believe in transparency about what our technology can and cannot do. Here's an honest assessment:
Known Limitations
- Lighting: Low light or strong backlighting can reduce detection accuracy
- Clothing: Very loose or flowing clothing may obscure body landmarks
- Occlusion: If parts of your body are hidden from the camera, those landmarks cannot be tracked
- Camera angle: Extreme angles (very high or low) may reduce accuracy
- Multiple people: The system tracks one person at a time
- 3D estimation: Depth (z-axis) estimation is less accurate than x/y position
For best results, we recommend:
- Practicing in a well-lit room with even lighting
- Wearing form-fitting clothing that shows your body shape
- Positioning your camera so your full body is visible
- Standing about 6-10 feet (2-3 meters) from the camera
Research & Citations
The benefits of yoga and good posture are supported by extensive peer-reviewed research. Here are some key studies that inform our approach:
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Frontiers in Psychiatry2024"Effects of Yoga on Stress in the General Population: A Systematic Review" - Found that yoga significantly reduces perceived stress levels across diverse populations, with effects comparable to other stress-reduction interventions.
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Journal of Physical Therapy Science2016Demonstrated that regular yoga practice improved hamstring flexibility by an average of 9% within six weeks, with sustained benefits for those who continued practice.
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Mayo Clinic Research2021Documented that proper posture reduces strain on muscles and ligaments, decreases wear on joint surfaces, and can reduce the frequency and intensity of tension headaches.
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International Journal of Yoga2020"Balance-focused yoga practice reduces cortisol levels and improves cognitive focus" - Demonstrated measurable improvements in stress hormones and executive function after 8 weeks of practice.
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Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies2018Found that single-leg standing poses improve balance and reduce fall risk by 23% in regular practitioners, with benefits particularly pronounced in older adults.
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American Heart Association2020Recognized yoga as a complementary approach to cardiovascular health, noting benefits for blood pressure, heart rate variability, and stress reduction.
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National Institutes of Health (NCCIH)2022Comprehensive review found yoga helpful for managing chronic low back pain, improving sleep quality, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Our Methodology
Reference Pose Creation
Our reference poses are created by capturing landmark data from correctly performed poses, validated against traditional yoga alignment principles. Each pose includes multiple acceptable ranges to accommodate natural variation in body proportions and flexibility levels.
Session Design
Yoga sessions are designed following established sequencing principles:
- Gradual warm-up before challenging poses
- Bilateral symmetry - poses performed on both sides
- Counter-poses to balance the body
- Appropriate rest periods between holds
- Cool-down and integration at session end
Difficulty Progression
Poses are categorized by difficulty level based on balance requirements, flexibility demands, and strength needs. Our algorithms suggest appropriate progressions based on your performance history.
Safety First
We prioritize safety by:
- Never encouraging users to push beyond their comfortable range
- Providing clear contraindications for each pose
- Including modification options for different ability levels
- Reminding users to consult healthcare providers when appropriate