Mon. Sep 25th, 2023

HRV-Heart Rate Variability

What is HRV?

Heart Rate Variability is the variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats in milliseconds; and the greater the difference the better! Your heart has electric pulses charging much more than 1 beat per second and the more they vary (go up and down) the higher your HRV. In a human heart without autonomic input or vagal brake, the resting rate would be about 100 beats per minute.  However, during resting conditions, the parasympathetic influence is dominant and the heart rate is typically closer to 70 beats per minute.  When someone is experiencing constant anxiety and stress then the ‘parasympathetic brake’ is less effective because the sympathetic (fight or flight) nevous system is activated – and such people have higher heart rates and lower HRV.

Why is HRV such an effective measure?

HRV allows observation of the specific frequencies resulting from the fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure, and provides insight to autonomic function.  HRV is a very effective method used to help diagnose cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and non-cardiovascular disease (stroke, diabetes, alcoholism, cancer, glaucoma, anxiety and stress etc).

  • High HRV is an indication of healthy autonomic and cardiovascular response.
  • Low HRV may indicate that the sympathetic nervous system is not allowing the ‘vagus brake’ to function as it should.

HRV may be used as a tool to assess levels of stress. It may also be used to monitor any improvements. This is significant for ‘therapeutic education’ as it provides objective assessment criteria.

More information:

HRV Health Zones

Humans are creatures of habit and create patterns and cycles of thoughts, actions and emotions that, in the most part (sub-consciously), become automatic – they define how you ‘normally behave / react’ to a situation or environment.

HRV (Heart Rate Variability) may be used by athletes to track and monitor their bodies reaction to rest, recovery, sleep and physical exercisee and training. HRV will show you if you are ready for an intense session or whether you should take it easy or rest. HRV can also be used as a tool to better balance your thoughts and emotions so you can focus better, be more creative and perform at your best.

HRV tools monitor and provide guidance on focused breathing; they influence the vibrating frequencies of the nervous system, which in turn affect the frequencies of the brain and all other tissues and hormones. Increasing HRV automatically increases parasympathetic tone, and using HRV SELF-CALMING technology, (especially when combined with or followed up with SSP, helps to ‘entrain heart / brain coherence’ and thus increases resonance around the whole body.

HRV-Heart Rate Variabilty is one of the most effective tools for monitoring your own or your clients’ restfulness, sleep, recovery, performance or overall health. It may be thought of as the amount of ‘elasticity’ that your thoughts, emotions and physical functioning have. The more they can stretch & react to stress and then return to normal, the healthier and better balanced you are. For example if you were calm and relaxed but could quickly react to a situation and then quickly calm down again, then this would be a sign that you could ‘self-regulate’ efficiently – you would have higher ‘elasticicity’ – and this could be measured by a higher HRV reading. HRV represents good balance between your relaxing nervous system (parasympathetic) and your excited nervous system (sympathetic).

How you behave is ‘geared by your optimal arousal zone’.

When we experience something; when we sense a change ‘of pattern’ with the ‘firing of neurons’ within our ‘senses’ – then this may positively or negatively impact on which ‘nervous system’ we activate:

Optimal-Arousal-Zone

Humans function better when they are ‘positively aroused’; they produce ‘Parasympathetic Hormones’ that make you feel and function better  – and without stress.

parasympathetic hormones

Parasympathetic Hormones?!

Several lines of scientific analysis ( *Ref 1) confirm that VFP provides experiences that lead to positive stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. The VFP therapy and experiences increase ‘the neural firing in the cortical’ that better lead to increased HRV of the cardiac cycle and increased CCD (Cardiac Cycle Duration). Or in simpler terms – what we provide is quite simply one of the most effective ways to increase HRV!

What factors influence high HRV and what does it indicate?

  • Reflexes (baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, cardiopulmonary receptors)
  • Respiration
  • Renin-angiotensin System
  • Physical or Mental Stress
  • Exercise
  • Cardiovascular (CV) and Non-CV Disease States
  • Age
  • Drugs (beta-blockers, atropine, glycosides, anesthetics, etc)

Respiration:

The interval between beats gets longer (heart rate slows down) when you exhale and shorter (heart rate increases) when you inhale, a phenomenon called respiratory sinus arrhythmia

In addition to respiration, HRV is influenced acutely for example by exercise, hormonal reactions, metabolic processes, cognitive processes, stress and recovery.

Ring Marcus for a friendly chat on –

07931 326 164

HRV / PEMF Therapy:

Be Super Ltd provide therapy / experience sessions that combine our HRV Technology with PEMF.

There are already over 7000 clinical trials using PEMF therapy and although it has many applications we mainly use it for ‘Alpha Training’ to deal with depression and stress relief, overcoming anxiety, panic attacks, relaxation and sleep. We also se it for pain management and recovery of soft tissue injury (sprains, bruises and general muscle soreness).

Unlike cheap TENS devices which work on the surface of the skin to block pain signals, Pulsed ElectroMagnetic fields (PEMF) work through clothing and muscle tissue and have a far larger treatment area.

The combination of PEMF brain and tissue entrainment with HRV ‘self-calming breathing’ – is UNIQUE and allows Be Super to provide sessions ranging from 30 mins to 60 mins on a mobile basis (we can come to you). A course starts with a free consultation (normally over the phone or zoom – or face to face if you live within 25 miles of Rochdale, Manchester. England.) It is then normally run on the basis of:

  • 5 consecutive days x 60 mins (x 2 weeks) – 10 days in total.
  • Optional extension (duplicate of the above) – N.B. If you are seeking to change negative behaviour into positive behaviour then the time period is 9 – 12 weeks (30-60mins every day).

If you are considering the benefits for a larger client base (perhaps for employees  / staff, or within a sports team or office / sales team envoronment – or perhaps within a school or SEN provision, we can arrange a free trial for decision makers / possible clients to experience what we offer on a practical live basis.

Prices are based on time and numbers – we want you to benefit and will provide a pricing package that suits your unique needs.

Ring Marcus for a friendly chat on –

07931 326 164

Read on to find out more . . .

HRV – Heart Rate Variability is best understood within the broader context of ‘Vibrational Frequency Programming (VFP)’.

biofeedback-neurofeedback

VFP is a term used extensively by Be Super Ltd and it refers to the balance and tuning of the different vibrating frequencies of life. These important fundamentals are covered with key words such as:

“frequency, wavelength pattern and intensity; coherence and resonance”

Within this broader perspective other ‘related phrases / terms’ may be included; these are:

Deep Brain Neurofeedback & Brain Entrainment via EEG (ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH), QEEG (QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH), LORETA (LOW RESOLUTION BRAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC TOMOGRAPHY), Z-score (Neuroguide, FDA research standard) –

All of the terms above are related to ‘Brain Mapping’ – which is crucial to resolving complex symptoms or medical conditions. HRV may be used as a secondary and supportive aspect to the above, however, increased HRV may help overcome any illness, providing key factors such as nutrition, hydration, exercise, recovery and rest are harmonised as part of the holistic process. Be Super Ltd do not provide any Deep Brain Neurofeedback services!

QEEGs, as with most non-pharmaceutical (holistic) treatments, are not yet recognised as a diagnostic tool in the UK. These are the most costly to manage, and so for the majority of non-complex symptoms or medical conditions, the following approaches are more commonly considered by ourselves and many other providers:

In relation to monitoring brain frequencies then Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCI) and Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) are very effective (possibly the most effective). DO NOT ASSOCIATE  more ‘popular options with the above’ (not because they are cheaper and easy to access), but ‘becuase they are less effective’ (although perhaps better than a placebo) – such alternatives include sound frequencies such as Isochronic Tones, Binaural Beats and Monaural Beats – commonly found on Youtube or via mobile sound apps. Combined light and sound therapy is more effective than just audio/music because light has greater intensity than sound and reaches deeper (but once again this is not as effective as tDCI or tACS – ALL OF WHICH IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS PEMF:

More flexible and perhaps stronger than any of the above is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy. Depending on the intensity (measured in Gauss) the range of frequencies projected from pemf apparatus can permeat through anything safely and effectively. This means they can be used to influence the frequencies of the brain and any other tissues and body parts (SO THIS IS MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL THAN JUST BRAIN ENTRAINMENT). PEMF is very powerful, because it can increase parasympathetic tone (the safe, calm, creative and positive nervous system) and brings with it all the social, creative and relaxing benefits of calm positivity. PEMF is more of ‘parasympathetic entrainment’ (DO IT FOR YOU KIT) for people who struggle with being able to ‘self calm’.

Open chat
Ring / Text to Join for Free
Become a Free Provisional Member
Simply text 'Be Super' followed by your Full Name to become a Provisional Member - its that easy.
Unyte iLs app
SSP Certified UK Therapist

Some of the negative effects of Covid-19 include:

  • Struggling to deal with loss and / or feeling isolated or lonely..
  • Joint pain, loss of energy and weakness.
  • Feeling unsafe and not knowing why.
  • Confusion and frustration with not understanding what is going on.
  • A lack of trust with people, situations and places.
  • The lack of stucture and order and not knowing what to do with your time.
  • Brain fog - not being able to concentrate or think clearly.
  • Struggling to have longer conversations and discussions about positive and creative opportunities - and too much negative talk.
  • Couples and families stuggle interacting together due to a lack of personal and joint purpose in life.

The severe isolation measures imposed by governments have been traumatic to the psyche of people; to the extent, many have the fear of getting tests done and or divulging the results to authorities for fear of loss of income or further isolation. Others live every moment on the edge of media releases and feel totally reliant on vaccinations and guidance and rules on how to live.

THE BIGGER PERSPECTIVE - FURTHER CAUSES OF NEGATIVITY . . .

Society has created a situation where many people have an overdependence on other people for guidance and regulations on how they live. This can be clearly seen with those people who have retired or are suddenly not working and do not know what to do with their time. For many people walking the dog, watching some form of day time TV and cooking, represent the limits of their activity. Their social interaction and discussions are based around such activity or in discussing the limitaions imposed on them and everyone else -

"very few people do something that is both creative and of benefit for themsleves and others; furthermore, they do not discuss the creative process for making this happen - they have lost (or never developed) this self-relience and love of life - they are lost within an 'auto-pilot' existence" -

THIS IS THE BIGGER PERSPETIVE THAT COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS!

When individals within a relationship or within a family, educational, work or team environment, lack any purpose in life or don't have any creative ideas to stimulate their emotions or thoughts, then they are more dependent on external forces to influence their behaviour. The majority of outside forces are negative, therfore most of the time people will be negative. Covid-19 is not the cause of this negativity - it highlights the hidden problems faced by most people and society.

This post provides a short practical instruction on how to conduct a quick coherence / QUICK CALMING/POSITIVITY PRACTICE:

The optimal times for doing this practice are:

  • first thing in the morning whilst still in bed (before getting up)
  • First thing when you get to work or school etc.
  • every 90 mins once you are active and the day has begun
  • when you get back in bed to settle for a sleep.

It is perfect when combined with other people (especially smaller groups) just before a meeting/lesson/meal.  It may even be used by a family group or a group of friends or work/school/college friends - perhaps in conjunction with an agreed 'positive statement/affirmation'.

Whilst it helps to reduce stress; with the 'the more advanced breathing progression' it is most beneficial in promoting a feeling of wellbeing and positivity; and in activating your parasympathetic nervous system (your feel good system). Once activated this may lead to positive stimulation that facilitates exceptional mental and physical performance, or, if you are relaxing, it will lower your heart rate, lower your brain frequency and promote better rest and natural sleep patterns. When a calm and positive state is maintained for longer and longer periods (with monitoring and practice) then it leads to 'flow' and extends the 'optimal arousal zone'.

Quick Coherence only takes 1 - 2 minutes (it is best done with your eyes closed):

Welcome - By following this short process you will feel calm, positive and energised. The process will work even better when you smile during the process and continue smiling after it has finished - let us begin - you may keep your eyes open or close them - do whatever helps you focus . . .

  • Focus your attention on your heart just to the left of centre in your chest. If it helps, place the fingers of your right hand over the heart so you can physically feel your heart beat - then relax.
  • As you breathe in, visualise the air going into your heart. As you visualise breathing in, count to between 4 and 7 and with each count visualise your heart expanding your belly. Continue doing this until you find your own natural timing. Once you have established your natural breathing in cycle move to step 3.
  • As you breath out and feel your belly go down, visualise either:
    • a special place that makes you feel good; or
    • visualise what you are doing that makes you feel so good;
    • and /or visualise a person or group of people that makes your love come out.
    • as you become more familiar with this, and as it becomes easier to do - focus on giving appreciation or gratitude to someone and allow your love to come out.
  • More advanced breathing progression - once you have become familiar with all of the above - then as you continue with the heart felt focus - PROLONG the breathing out stage, so it is between 3 and 5 seconds longer than your breathing in stage. Then continue this staggered breathing cycle for between 1 and 3 mins. This will physiologically activate your parasympathetic nervous system and stimulate creative and happy hormones.

Adopt quick coherence as a pattern of positive performance:

The quick coherence practice, including the more advanced breathing progression, may also be used in the build up to a high performance related activity - especially as a precursor for being in the flow zone. This is perfect for activities such as climbing or skill related performance or even high intense muscular activities such as arm wrestling, powerlifting, strongman event and surprisingly combat sports - because the more you can perceive stress as a positive opportunity, the greater you will maximise your optimal flow zone perform to your maximum potential. When stress is perceived as being negative, it increases anxiety, increases muscle tension, reduces reaction times and speed and reduces power. Negative stress leads to a quicker loss of energy and reduces mental clarity and sharpness.

Smile and be positive.

Group / team coherence:

Imagine the benefits to a team if you all acknowledged gratitude for one another prior to starting a more physical warm up or at the end of a warm just before you went out to compete. This would minimise stress and allow you to perform at even higher levels of intensity for much longer.  

When Phil Jackson began coaching the Chicago Bulls - and later the Los Angeles Lakers - he says he used the Zen philosophy of mindfulness to help build both teams.

sports-team-quick-coherence

Coherence practice is used by the NHS in Derbyshire:

Quick coherence may be used to overcome feelings of anxiety, stress and help calm you or someone else down when they are feeling their behaviour is becoming more challenging to others.

(https://my.dchs.nhs.uk/Portals/0/Health%20Psychology%20The%20Quick%20Coherence%20Technique_1.pdf)

More scientific research on this is available at - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179616/

Monitoring and measuring coherence can be done using new technology and with the correct insights.

Elimination is the lowest level of consciousness and calibrates <20:

The strategy for getting yourself or someone else out of this stage is provided below:

The VFP strategy for achieving higher/more positive 'natural patterns / cycles of being' is to re-tune your mental and emotional energy fields, so they do the 'right things' on an automatic basis (using your autonomic nervous system), rather than a cognitive basis (having to think and feel if what you are doing is working).

This approach is more significant when dealing with those at the lowest levels of consciousness. Such individuals 

  • You must have natural cycles of imbalance in your life. These should be positive in maximising you as a physical being. Look at every situation as an opportunity!
  • You should maximise the functioning and capabilities of your physical body/mind.
  • You should maximise your individual creativity and find purpose in all that you do.
  • You should be your best and give yourself for the benefit of all.

When you do this you will find love will allowed to flow from you and you will attract it!

You can’t tune into Love when you have negative forces influencing you - 'love is felt through tuning in to the truth'.

Love is not felt when someone is holding you back and not caring for you as best they can.

You cannot hold other people responsible for their imperfections in respect of your relationship. You need to break negative cycles with people - this does not mean you have to stop being with them, or loving or caring for them; but it does mean you must take responsibility yourself for following more positive natural cycles. If you are not capable of allowing love to come out of yourself for your TRUE SPIRITUAL BEING then your imperfect physical being will dominate your life. You must learn to let love come out by turning negative thoughts and emotions into opportunities to help yourself and others.

You must stop feeling sorry for yourself and you must stop using others as an excuse.

You are not an 'imprisoned physical being' - you may feel like one, and may be treated like one - but you have the opportunity to change this.

When your mind thinks with moving pictures rather than thinks with words (self-talk), then the results/benefits are significantly better.

Mental imagery is a more intuitive process than an intellectual one. It allows you to influence and take control of your unconscious and subconscious; whereas self-talk and worded affirmations focus your influence within your conscious mind.

For most people the language of imagery is commonly experienced during REM sleep at night or whilst daydreaming. However, becoming aware of images whilst waking simply requires us to give it more focus than we currently do. Most people self-talk rather than self image!

Scientific research confirms the benefits of imagery for improving health:

Doctors prescribe pharmaceuticals that control the mind through the body; eg. tranquilizers, antidepressants and anaesthetics. In much the same way, we can use the mind to control the body - and imagery is far more effective at doing this than self talk. There are at least two major scientific journals devoted to imagery research; one from Marquette University (The Journal of Mental Imagery) and one from Yale University (Imagination, Cognition and Personality).

Mental imagery may be used as a process for reacting to experiences (negative or positive), however, it is more powerful when used as a way of 'creating new experiences'. After successive repetitions/cycles (21 days being a natural cycle time that changes behaviour) then the physical body attunes with the mind to make the mental imagery reality - THIS IS A PROVEN BENEFIT!

Within the VFP Digital Tuning Chart we have created audio links that explains how to use imagery to help create your own good health (this is an ongoing development).

 

HRV (Heart Rate Variability):

In terms of 'measuring SPIRITUAL BEING REALISATION' or 'SPIRITUAL COHERENCE' - it may be measured on a physical basis by HRV (Heart Rate Variability). However, what you have to realise is that SPIRITUAL COHERENCE extends beyond your physical being and HRV is therefore limited in its potential to measure the higher levels of consciousness. It would be reasonable to estimate that below the level of 200 HRV is low and not smooth. Peak HRV will start and continue at a level of approx 250. Above this level HRV will peak but it will not indicate your level of consciousness - this can be better estimated using the VFP Digital Tuning Chart.

The similarity between SPIRITUAL COHERENCE and HRV, is that HRV maintains 'high activity, smooth sine wave cycles' regardless of the heart rate or brain wave frequency (excitatory or inhibitory) - and SPIRITUAL COHERENCE maintains 'natural/balanced cycles of smooth waves - that can be excitatory or inhibitory' - so they are very similar to measure!

When SPIRITUAL COHERENCE occurs, on a physical basis, the heart and brain waves become more synchronised / tuned in to one another on an autonomic basis. The important aspect to measure is not whether the heart or brain frequencies are high or low - but that the 'HRV is high and smooth', thus showing a willingness and readiness for either positive/excitatory or negative/inhibitory states. Good coherence indicates a wide range of optimal flow zone frequencies (an ability to perceive stress as a positive challenge, rather than something negative to overcome).

Coherence and a good HRV are indicators of:

  • Positive relationships.
  • Creative initiatives between positive people.
  • Problem solving and group decision making.
  • Bonding and mutual support.

Quick coherence practice is only part of the VFP Tuning Protocol; By following the VFP retuning protocol you will reduce and prevent the negative effects of stress, fatigue and exhaustion, sleep disruption, anxiety and burnout - you will feel calm, positive and energised.

VFP uses the Inner Balance App in conjunction with the Bluetooth sensor from Heart Math to measure HRV. By recording your HRV before any interventions/therapy sessions, during the sessions and after the sessions we can better evaluate the impact of our VFP Protocol.