Hollywood Trend: Wim Hof Method
The health trend I’m discussing today has been blowing up lately…
I’m talking about cold therapy… more specifically, the Wim Hof Method.
If that sounds familiar, then you probably know who The Iceman is… If not, I’ll give you a short introduction…
Who is Wim Hof?
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Wim Hof, also known as The Iceman, is a 60-year old Dutch athlete (later turned life guru) that has proven to withstand incredibly harsh winter conditions.
He has set 26 Guinness World Records, with a few examples being swimming under ice down to 188 feet, sitting in an ice bath for almost 2 hours and climbing some of the highest mountains in just shorts.
He might seem superhuman to the untrained eye…
But Wim Hof says otherwise. He says that anyone can become friends with the cold. And even reap a multitude of health benefits from this uncanny practice.
Honestly, I wasn’t a big believer in this method, but something he said in an interview with Destination Deluxe changed my mind:
“I set so many records, that the scientific world began to see what I was doing, and they said, ‘What this man is doing is physiologically and scientifically not possible. But he’s doing it!’
We ended up doing several experiments together, and they found out that I was able to do things that they thought were impossible. I was able to tap into the autonomic nervous system, as well as the immune and hormonal systems. All those systems were considered to be autonomous, but I managed to deeply tap into them.”
After reading the interview, I realized that there’s research behind this method! Even though the results seem absolutely impossible…
As I always like to remind myself, it’s clear from Wim Hof’s experiments that we don’t know everything about the human body.
And seeing that alternative medicine is overlooked enough by mainstream doctors – natural practitioners should be willing to take a closer look at new healing methods…
So that’s exactly what I did.
I’m sure you’re curious by now what are the benefits of the Wim Hof method, other than breaking some world records…
The Health Benefits of The Wim Hof Method
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Well, according to Wim Hof’s website, cold therapy mixed with breathing exercises and meditation will give you…
- Increased energy
- Better sleep
- Heightened focus & determination
- Improved sports performance
- Increased willpower
- Relaxation & eliminated stress
- Greater cold tolerance
- Boosted recovery
- Enhanced creativity
- Stronger immune system
Most of these are things I try to encourage myself through nutrition and natural remedies – so it gives me hope that there are more and more people interested in connecting with their bodies through nature…
Even though you might be thinking… “This sounds great and all, but how do I know those benefits are real? Should I even go through the hassle of taking ice baths just for fake promises?”
That’s what I thought initially too. It’s not exactly an easy treatment to follow, unlike the ones I often share with you here. It’s about months or even years of consistency and even subjecting yourself to some risks (I’ll go over those in just a second).
But apparently The Iceman is very interested in proving these beneficial results through science and has conducted quite a few studies over the years.
One study in 2014 showed that the Wim Hof method (ice baths, breathing exercises, and meditation) helped participants voluntarily influence their immune and nervous system, which CAN lead to a number of the benefits listed above, like increased energy and reduced stress levels.
More recently, a 2017 study on the man himself showed that The Iceman is able to create an “artificial” stress response to the cold, showing that his mind directly affects his ability to withstand harsh conditions.
While more research would be ideal, it’s still clear that the Dutchman has tapped into a long-forgotten survival skill that is extremely useful even in our modern times…
Trying The Wim Hof Method
If you want to try cold therapy out, Wim Hof says that you can start by sitting in a cold shower for 10 seconds and then increasing the time gradually…
However, there are risks involved like fainting and hypothermia. You should consult your personal doctor before trying it, especially if you have a history of heart or respiratory problems.
That being said… I see potential in this method. Maybe I’ll give it a shot sometime and give you my results.
What do you think about the Wim Hof method? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. I would love to know if you’ve tried anything similar to this practice.
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