Three 30-minute bouts of exercise (resistance - R; endurance - E; combined - C) were used to assess the magnitude of postexercise hypotension (PEH) and measures of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) through heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) assessment, during an 81-minute recovery period postexercise in 14 healthy postmenopausal women. PEH was significant following C (mean+/-SEM: -6.33(2.20), P<0.016)). The relationship between baseline BP and the magnitude of PEH were posture and exercise dependent following R and E: seated R 5--15, 45, 70 and 75 minutes postexercise (r = -0.587, P<0.048); standing E 20 and 50 minutes (r = -0.716, P<0.0049). No difference between exercise treatments for BRS or HRV was observed. However, increased sympathetic activity was observed following exercise through measures of the LF/HF ratio. The significant PEH exhibited following C cannot be explained through the autonomic assessment techniques used here, suggesting that other techniques or mechanisms may responsible.