World-Record holder ‘The Iceman’ attributes his health to these two easy things!
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Wim Hof, also known as ‘the Iceman’, is famous for his extreme feats in the dead of winter. This Dutch motivational speaker and athlete holds 21 Guinness World Records titles for superhuman stunts — they’re all feats of incredible endurance in freezing temperatures.
These achievements include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, cycling in the North Pole, running a full marathon in the Namib Desert without any water, and being soaked in ice for almost two hours … whilst wearing nothing more than board shorts.
World records aside, Wim is here to tell you that there’s a whole lot more to him– and what he has learned, he’s willing to pass down and help others discover.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wim Hof shared his own tips to stay healthy and less stressed called the Wim Hof Method.
It is the process of taking deep breaths in an attempt to prime the body’s functions ‘even in the most extreme conditions’.
The technique can be broken down into three simple components: deep breathing, exposure to cold water, and a focused mindset.
To do the breathing exercise, simply inhale and exhale deeply about 30 - 40 times.
Then at the last deep exhale, hold for as long as you can. When you feel the urge to breathe, draw in as much air as you can.
Repeat the process around 3 - 4 times.
'By doing the breathing exercises, you'll increase the blood flow everywhere in the body and brain, decreasing inflammation,' he claims.
He dubbed this breath a ‘broom’ that cleans the body’s biochemistry and clears away unwanted toxins and bacteria through inhalations.
He also explained that his breathing technique ‘activates the adrenal access to the brain, reduces inflammation, alkalises the blood, and regulates the body’.
Next up, is something perhaps not everyone will enjoy: exposure to cold water!
Wim swears that this second step in his method can help with depression and anxiety.
Source: Instagram/@iceman_hof
‘What you will see is that your heart rate goes down during the day, reducing your stress levels. You feel more energised. The improved blood flow delivers better nutrition to your cells. You find you don't get sick anymore,’ he said.
Wim recommends getting started by taking a cold shower daily in increasing lengths of time — 15 seconds one day, then 30 seconds the next, and so on until you reach about 2 minutes and 30 seconds maximum.
According to WebMD, cold showers do improve one’s mood by stimulating the production of chemicals that have an anti-depressant effect on the brain. They also improve circulation by naturally increasing our heart rates.
The last component is rather simple.
According to Wim, maintaining the proper mindset and focus is crucial to the Wim Hof Method by letting go of one’s ego and giving adequate attention to one’s body.
In the shock that comes immediately after a cold dip, he recommends thinking about ‘absolutely nothing’ as your body enters ‘fight-or-flight mode’.
'We all have this power. When you go into the cold, you're not thinking anymore, you're just doing,' he said.
Despite promoting a technique that encourages cold showers as well as having previously submerged himself in ice water, the so-called Iceman actually dislikes the cold! Well, sort of.
'When people say “this guy loves the cold”, I say: “No I hate it!” But the therapeutic powers of the cold are tremendous, and because they are tremendous, that is why I love it,' he explained.
For his 63rd birthday in 2021, he spent 63 minutes in an ice-cold bath. Brrr!
Source: YouTube/Wim Hof
As with any article involving medical claims and advice, we here at SDC would like to stress to our members to please seek professional medical opinions should you want to try this method out.
So, what can you say about this story, members? Are you in favour of cold showers and taking deep breaths? Or do you find Wim’s method to be a bit too much?
Please share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below!
These achievements include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, cycling in the North Pole, running a full marathon in the Namib Desert without any water, and being soaked in ice for almost two hours … whilst wearing nothing more than board shorts.
World records aside, Wim is here to tell you that there’s a whole lot more to him– and what he has learned, he’s willing to pass down and help others discover.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wim Hof shared his own tips to stay healthy and less stressed called the Wim Hof Method.
It is the process of taking deep breaths in an attempt to prime the body’s functions ‘even in the most extreme conditions’.
The technique can be broken down into three simple components: deep breathing, exposure to cold water, and a focused mindset.
‘The Iceman’ says the Wim Hof Method is a way of ‘reconnecting people with themselves, to others, and with nature’. Credit: wimhofmethod.com
To do the breathing exercise, simply inhale and exhale deeply about 30 - 40 times.
Then at the last deep exhale, hold for as long as you can. When you feel the urge to breathe, draw in as much air as you can.
Repeat the process around 3 - 4 times.
'By doing the breathing exercises, you'll increase the blood flow everywhere in the body and brain, decreasing inflammation,' he claims.
He dubbed this breath a ‘broom’ that cleans the body’s biochemistry and clears away unwanted toxins and bacteria through inhalations.
He also explained that his breathing technique ‘activates the adrenal access to the brain, reduces inflammation, alkalises the blood, and regulates the body’.
Next up, is something perhaps not everyone will enjoy: exposure to cold water!
Wim swears that this second step in his method can help with depression and anxiety.
Source: Instagram/@iceman_hof
‘What you will see is that your heart rate goes down during the day, reducing your stress levels. You feel more energised. The improved blood flow delivers better nutrition to your cells. You find you don't get sick anymore,’ he said.
Wim recommends getting started by taking a cold shower daily in increasing lengths of time — 15 seconds one day, then 30 seconds the next, and so on until you reach about 2 minutes and 30 seconds maximum.
According to WebMD, cold showers do improve one’s mood by stimulating the production of chemicals that have an anti-depressant effect on the brain. They also improve circulation by naturally increasing our heart rates.
The last component is rather simple.
According to Wim, maintaining the proper mindset and focus is crucial to the Wim Hof Method by letting go of one’s ego and giving adequate attention to one’s body.
In the shock that comes immediately after a cold dip, he recommends thinking about ‘absolutely nothing’ as your body enters ‘fight-or-flight mode’.
'We all have this power. When you go into the cold, you're not thinking anymore, you're just doing,' he said.
Despite promoting a technique that encourages cold showers as well as having previously submerged himself in ice water, the so-called Iceman actually dislikes the cold! Well, sort of.
'When people say “this guy loves the cold”, I say: “No I hate it!” But the therapeutic powers of the cold are tremendous, and because they are tremendous, that is why I love it,' he explained.
Source: YouTube/Wim Hof
As with any article involving medical claims and advice, we here at SDC would like to stress to our members to please seek professional medical opinions should you want to try this method out.
So, what can you say about this story, members? Are you in favour of cold showers and taking deep breaths? Or do you find Wim’s method to be a bit too much?
Please share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below!
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