R.E.S.E.T., running, and reduced blood pressure

[Hobbes]

Have been suffering from elevated BP that was 40 points above the ideal for the systolic, and in January, dropped all my strength work to go purely aerobic treadmill running...and dropped it 30 points in 2 weeks. Lost weight in a hurry with a no-starch approach, too.

Stopped watching my numbers, wt and BP went back up, coincidentally (?) with program widening out again to include strength work. Started a different cardio routine (rowing), but BP only dropped about 15-20 points. Chucked all, resumed nearly daily TM running, with a vibratory R.E.S.E.T. flavor (kind of loping)...BP down 30 points again after 1.5 weeks.

Anyone else experienced something comparable?

[Scott Sonnon]

Peter,
One could theorize that you may be using a different breathing pattern than desired or necessary in your strength training. It would be interesting to hear your results of using RESET as your strength training breathing modality.
One of the federal law enforcement officers in our TACFIT unit just sent me his doctor's exam results (upon which his career hinges as a combat pilot). His BP and HR fell from 122/78 and rHR 76bpm to 112/62 and 60bpm on TACFIT and already in great physical shape. I should note that heart disease is the #1 killer of law enforcement personnel.

[Hobbes]

Definitely plan on continuing with RESET breathing henceforth, even when not running. And continuing to track BP, and effects of various training modalities.

Am just glad to see the BP falling to normal levels...once I can demonstrate it's staying here, will re-widen the training. In addition to the once or twice daily 30 minute runs, am already doing Intu-Flow® daily, RESET sessions while at work, and low intensity FlowFit® for compensations.

With nixed caffeine, sodium and starch avoidance, and omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation, none of the above have gotten in the way of the BP drop.

But am wondering if there's been a "disconnect," as though lots of deskwork has allowed a gradual buildup of clench, as it were, that is no longer perceivable. I suspect the RESET-type movements and breathing perform a kind of compensatory unclenching.

[Scott Sonnon]

Peter
See if you can monitor your HR and BP while performing spinal rocks. Exhale on compression is a skill which refines. If you spike BP during the compressive phase, you're most likely still experiencing latent clenching intrabdominally

[Hobbes]

Will try.

FWIW, my prior strength program (on the moderate day of a 4 x 7) consisted of 24 kg KB cleans and presses, alternating with pullups in an ETK ladder format (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) x 3-5 rounds. Did not hold breath, but the slow press up is more a static than dynamic move...

[Hobbes]

Hissing while exerting is a holdover habit from boxing -- might not be so good for BP for more prolonged movements like overhead presses. :embarassed: