How Long is a Long Duration Isometric?

[Mr Average]

Well I never time myself it could be as little as 30 seconds up to 5 minutes or maybe more, it all depends on what I am doing at work.

[gruntbrain]

Steve Justa used a wide range of timed isometrics : a few seconds to several minutes

[Bruce Tackett]

Again, my experiment focuses on long-duration iso holds, therefore each hold is timed by a second hand. This morning I held each iso for 35 seconds. I will see if I can increase that time in the ensuing weeks.

[fatjake]

Oct 11, 2017 18:56:01 GMT Bruce Tackett said:

Again, my experiment focuses on long-duration iso holds, therefore each hold is timed by a second hand. This morning I held each iso for 35 seconds. I will see if I can increase that time in the ensuing weeks.

have you tried using a metronome instead of watching the clock? I prefer it. I use the Google PC one just set it to 60

[Bruce Tackett]

I like that idea.

[mr potatohead]

I think it would drive be nuts to hear ticking. I prefer music.

[Bruce Tackett]

You have a point. I put on streaming oldies rock 'n'roll when I exercise.

[Michael]

Bruce You ask me how long of holds I use. I honestly don't count seconds or use anything else. I feel counting seconds takes away from the isometric holds. I concentrate on the inhale and exhale. I count my breaths. I timed a breath a couple of times and most of the time it came out to be 10 seconds. So I have use 3 to 6 breaths. You have to breath while doing them so why not use to Your advantage?

[Bruce Tackett]

So, your holds are anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds?

It doesn't distract me to time the holds. I just start a hold when the second hand is on a certain number, and then I look away, concentrating on the iso, and just glance back up at the clock as it is nearing the end.

Again, because my experiment involves timed holds, I will have to be able to say, this amount of time spent on iso holds produced these results.

[Michael]

Oct 12, 2017 0:29:04 GMT Bruce Tackett said:

So, your holds are anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds?

It doesn't distract me to time the holds. I just start a hold when the second hand is on a certain number, and then I look away, concentrating on the iso, and just glance back up at the clock as it is nearing the end.

Again, because my experiment involves timed holds, I will have to be able to say, this amount of time spent on iso holds produced these results.

Yes Bruce, 30 to 60 seconds. I timed my breaths a couple of times to come up with this. For me I feel counting seconds took away from what I wanted to accomplish.

[Bruce Tackett]

Well, I guess whatever works for each of us. Before doing this I was holding isos for the count of 12, but it wasn't set in gold, I'd push and then just start counting slowly to myself, very often pausing between counts, most the time pushing a little harder and longer after the counting was over and then releasing.

[mr potatohead]

Oct 12, 2017 0:43:35 GMT Michael said:

IDK WTF is up w/ the quote thingy on this forum - why it drops what the person wrote, but here's jackrow's quote: "For me I feel counting seconds took away from what I wanted to accomplish."


Same here.

I'd say at the start of a hold, I ease into it*, mostly focused on my grip and adjusting it to be comfortable for as long as possible.
I think that toward the end, though, my focus seems to shift more in the direction of breath awareness. Could be I'm just imagining this though since I'm not doing one right now and when I do a hold, I'm interested in ignoring everything except the feeling that's created by what I'm doing. That may be why my mind skipped out when I was hoping to get a time. I suppose I could set my stopwatch. Maybe I'll try that.
Usually I have an idea of duration by whatever music I'm listening to. Music tracks have varying lengths, obviously, which is helpful. The right background music is a very pleasant way for me to estimate duration, but has no influence on when I "ease into" or out of an exercise.

Using no plan as plan. Having no goal as goal


As Bob White said in that interview on Senior Exercise Central:

Q. What is your personal fitness philosophy or training advice to seniors?

A. Presently I'm more process oriented than goal oriented. My aim is to stay fit, healthy, retain muscle mass and avoid injury. I think of my body as a partner to the mind rather than treat it as a slave to my will. My philosophy is "It's the going, not the getting there, that has to be the fun!"

My advice to fellow seniors is to not worry what you were able to do in the past but enjoy what you are able to do today.