HRV is often used to assess relaxation and recovery, but it is not clear if it correlates with R&R, or somehow causes it. I think the claim is that it causes it, because HRV is supposed to directly reflect autonomic activity, with higher values indicative of more balanced sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. (But some recovery scores are calibrated to not let the score get too high all at once.)
But HRV is very susceptible to intentional breathing frequency. This can be good or bad, depending on whether this manipulation is considered functional or just gaming the system.
HR naturally slows on the exhale, and speeds up on the inhale, reflecting the dominance of parasympathetic and sympathetic systems, respectively. By adjusting the frequency of breathing to be resonant with some natural rhythm, HRV can be increased optimally.
I tried breathing rates from 4.5 to 6.5 breaths/minute (at 0.5/bpm steps) and found 5 breaths/minute (=6 seconds in, 6 seconds out) to be optimal for increasing my HRV. This is my personal optimized meditation breathing frequency for reducing stress.
HRV is greatest when I take belly and chest breath deep in, then really relax completely on breath out.
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