Learning how to cultivate a higher level of Heart Rate Variability is very likely the single most important thing you can do to support your physical healing and emotional well-being.
The research around Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and the Self-Regulation methods used to change it, is a medical science breakthrough of epic proportions. This research confirms the innate healing capacity of the human mind and body.
What is Heart Rate Variability?
Heart Rate Variability is a measurement of the variable nature of your heartbeat. A heartbeat that reflects autonomic nervous system balance beats incrementally faster and then incrementally slower.
On the other hand, a heart that beats out a monotonous pattern like a metronome, is a sign of low heart rate variability and reflects system wide distress. Low heart rate variability is both a reflection of numerous disease states, and a contributor to disease.
HRV reflects the balance of your autonomic nervous system. This is the nervous system that’s responsible for your biochemical balance, immune function, mood, organ function … it’s responsible for your overall health and well-being.
The point here is that the HRV measurement tells us whether or not your system is operating in a resourceful, healing mode, or in a stress-induced, disease producing mode.
The top half of the chart below shows an HRV pattern reflecting an active stress response and its harmful implications for your health. The bottom graph is a highly coherent HRV pattern reflecting inner safety and an enhanced capacity for healing.
How Do we Learn to Increase Heart Rate Variability?
Increasing HRV takes practice. The more we practice the Self-Regulating techniques of our choice, the more we benefit because the effects are cumulative. Enhancing HRV is like learning to play an instrument. Daily practice makes for the speediest and most efficient change.
In my personal experience, the most accessible and dependable Self-Regulating practices are: Somatic Focusing, Breathing Awareness, Energy Psychology for addressing limiting beliefs, Heart Centered meditative practices, and Bach Flower Remedies.
What are the some of the Benefits of Higher Heart Rate Variability?
- Enhanced Gene Expression
- Increased Immune Function
- Improved Cognitive Performance
- Adrenal Gland Repair
- Increased DHEA
- Enhanced Emotional Resiliency
- Decreased Inflammation
- Blood Pressure Normalization
- Decreased Anxiety
- Enhanced Detoxification
- Overall Enhanced Healing Capacity
One of the most profound benefits of the science surrounding HRV is that we can finally confirm in an objective manner, both the efficacy of inner development practices and the body’s unparalleled capacity for self-healing.
Dr. Templin offers online courses and consultations, and sees patients personally in his office in Lakeland, Florida. You can learn more about his course Bio-Energetic Focusing: A Revolutionary Medical Model for Self-Healing! here.
Steven Templin, D.O.M., Dipl. Ac., is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, specializing in MindBody Medicine. He is a certified META-Medicine Health Coach and nationally certified acupuncturist. He shares the underlying science and more importantly, the practical tools for resolving the unconscious energetic and emotional roots of illness. In his online course Bio-Energetic Focusing: A Revolutionary Medical Model for Self-Healing! he provides training in Self-Regulation skills, that include Bio-Energetic Focusing, HeartMath and Energy Psychology techniques, Energy Medicine modalities, and Gastrointestinal repair for enhanced immunity, mood, and mental clarity. Dr. Templin is in private practice in Lakeland, Florida, at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland.
Steve is a retired Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, and HeartMath Trauma-Sensitive Certified Practitioner with over 35 years of clinical experience in Energy Medicine, Energy Psychology, and Biofeedback.