Nowadays, many people are talking about the Wim Hof Method, a method created by Wim Hof, also known as ICEMAN, a Dutch extreme athlete known for his ability to tolerate freezing temperatures, about whom I will tell you more later. Today I want to tell you about my experience with the cold showers and ice baths with the guidance of two wonderful, certified instructors of the Wim Hof Method: Léandre also known as Léandre ICEBOY, and his cousin Ferdinand Thor.
Also, you will know everything about the Wim Hof Method experience, and I will answer questions like: “What is the Wim Hof Method?”, “What are the benefits of cold showers?”, the contraindications for the practice of this method, and other important related topics.
Continue reading and discover more about the Wim Hof Method…!
Who is Wim Hof?
Before I begin to tell you about my experience with The Wim Hof Method, you might want to know first about the creator of this method, maybe you are asking yourself “Who is Wim Hof?” and why so many people want to try his ice bath method.
According to Wikipedia, Wim Hof was born on April 20th in 1959, and is also known as The Iceman.
He is a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete noted for his ability to withstand very low temperatures.
He has currently won 26 Guinness World Records for swimming under ice and prolonged full-body contact with ice, and previously held the record for a barefoot half marathon on ice and snow.
He attributes these feats to his Wim Hof Method (WHM), a combination of frequent cold exposure, breathing techniques, yoga, and meditation.
Wim Hof has been the subject of several medical assessments and 44 years ago he started with the breathing techniques of The Wim Hof method and ice baths.
I recommend you to read the full History of Wim Hof on his official website.
What is The Wim Hof Method?
As you can find on The Wim Hof Method official website, “The Wim Hof Method is about reconnecting us - to ourselves, to others, and nature. The Method is based on three powerful pillars: Breathing, Cold Therapy, and Commitment.
The first pillar of The Wim Hof Method is breathing, because of its tremendous potential. In every Wim Hof Method workshop, Léandre and Ferdinand teach about how to do the breathing technique properly.
As Wim Hof says: “The cold is your warm friend”, and this is the second pillar of this method. He explains that proper exposure to the cold gives us huge benefits, for example, it reduces inflammation, strengthens the immune system, balances the endocrine system and hormone levels, improves sleep quality, and helps produce endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that make us feel good and naturally elevate our mood.
The third pillar of the Wim Hof Method is the foundation of the other two, we are talking about commitment. Exposure to cold and conscious breathing requires commitment, dedication, patience, and discipline.
When you commit to yourself you will see the wonderful results of mastering your mind and body.
How does the Wim Hof Method work? As Wim Hof explains, and their certified instructors of The Wim Hof Method, “If you can control or influence deep into the vagus nerve you can bring down inflammation.”
When you are in freezing water you are exposed to deep stress.
In this interview with Wim Hof by the famous psychologist Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila Peterson, which you can find on Youtube and is part of Mikhaila's Podcast #36, you can find very important information about how the Wim Hof Method works. For example, Wim Hof explains that “The working principle of the breathing technique is that we alkalize the body because we bring up the PH level so much as we spike it to eight 8 where it normally has to be three seven-point three 37.3, three seven-point four 37.4, and that activates the adrenal axis”
He also explains that “this is a transformational technique that will change mental health care and it is only a matter of time. Cold therapy trains the cardiovascular system and… a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away!”
This happens because “when you go to a cold shower you activate and stimulate deeply the thermal receptors and the anti-pain receptor, pain receptors, thermoreceptors, electro receptors which is the neurology, …they are connected to the skin and they affect the cardiovascular system …so, millions of little muscles are stimulated, they begin to optimize, then the blood flow goes a lot better through the system.”- says Wim Hof.
“Cold showers give you energy and reach our cells with oxygen, nutrients, and vitamins. You can begin with 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, 1 minute, 1:15 minute, you go up to 2:50 minutes a day…this is the vascular system fitness exercise” – explains Wim Hof.
What are the benefits of The Wim Hof Method? The benefits of The Wim Hof Method are a consequence of mastering our mind and body. As I mentioned before, some of the benefits that stand out from the practice of The Wim Hof Method are: improved sleep quality, strengthening the immune system, and reducing chronic inflammation.
Also, other benefits that we find are the improvement of sports performance, recovery after physical exercise, decreases anxiety, increases energy and determination, and our ability to concentrate and creativity.
It also improves some symptoms of depression.
It is wonderful to discover how far we can go if we master our thoughts, and I am speaking from my own experience.
Also, we feel happy and grateful because we have been able to break down the barrier of fear of the unknown.
For me, these have been the biggest benefits.
Also, the reduction of the inflammation and muscle pains in my back is something that I have seen immediately.
Is the Wim Hof Method good for everyone?
Practicing the Wim Hof Method correctly has no contraindications, on the contrary, in the long run, it is a very
beneficial method if you are a completely healthy person.
However, it is very recommended that you read the frequently asked questions before you begin with this
method.
My personal experience with The Wim Hof Method
“Any seeker becomes a finder”, says Wim Hof and that is what I feel I am: a seeker who became a finder.
Since I was 18 years old, I suffer from chronic daily headaches and sometimes back pain.
My father, who is a doctor, tells me that back pain is a common problem most writers have.
Yes, I am a writer of reflections, poems, and sales advertisements with SEO Copywriting.
I love writing, but spending so many hours sitting in front of the computer often causes me back pain.
My solution is to train my muscles in the gym and now, to train my mind with the breathing techniques of The Wim Hof Method.
I heard about Wim Hof in 2018, however, it wasn't until May 2022 that I had the opportunity to experience my
first ice bath.
In this video, I tell you about my experience with my first ice bath at the workshop with Léandre, Ferdinand, and Sanjay, Wim Hof Method certified instructors, that took place in Valencia, Spain on May 1, 2022. Also, I tell you about what I felt when I got into the ice water, and other beautiful moments that I will always keep in my heart.
Before attending the workshop, breathing technique was something that I used to practice sometimes, but I was not so committed. I subscribed to the Wim Hof newsletter and occasionally I received related information.
I kept researching and as a matter of destiny or as I would say "serendipities", I found the announcement of the workshop one day on Instagram.
I didn't hesitate and I bought a ticket to go, even though I currently live in Madrid, I organized everything to travel to Valencia just for the workshop.
On May 1, 2022, a new chapter began for me, more conscious and more disciplined, by incorporating into my daily habits the practice of The Wim Hof Method with the breaths and cold showers.
After 21 days, I have managed to integrate the habit into my daily routine. And today I can say that it is an important part of my daily routine.
Last June 24th I attended my second workshop with Léandre and Ferdinand in Barcelona, Spain. I also traveled from Madrid just for the workshop.
I noticed that each workshop is different, everyone gives you a new experience, a new memory, and you make new friends.
The kindness, experience, and knowledge of Léandre and Ferdinand, make each workshop special, they make you feel at home.
It is an experience that I recommend to everyone.
Be Happy, Strong, and Healthy with The Wim Hof Method
My recommendation to you is that before you start any therapy, treatment, or even The Wim Hof Method, you
should ask a doctor to discard any pathology that may exist.
Also, remember that everybody is different and what may work for one person may not work for another.
Always let yourself be guided by certified instructors of the Wim Hof Method, such as Léandre and Ferdinand.
They will guide you and explain the best way to perform the breathing techniques.
They will also answer any questions you may have about the Wim Hof method in general.
On the other hand, it is important that you "go slowly at your rhythm, listening to your body", this is something
that both, Léandre and Ferdinand, always told me from day one.
For me, having attended the first workshop with Léandre and Ferdinand has been like entering through a magic
door that continues guiding me to that road where I feel free to continue being happy, strong, and healthy.
It only remains for me to invite you to try it too.
Because living the moment by yourself is better than someone telling you about it.
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