WellBeings: Dominic Bowden talks to Wim Hof on the superpower of breathwork

As we get to know the “Crazy Dutchman”, we find out just how powerful this practice has been for this man. Little is known about Wim before he became the famed “Ice Man”, and what he tells Dom in this heart-felt interview shows us a man who has had to go through one of the most devasting tragedies a man could possibly face. Left with four young kids to look after, he turned to his breath and the ice and it saved his life. The power of the breath helped him continue to show up as a dad for his kids and it steered him on a path which lead him to finding and fulfilling his life’s ultimate purpose.

As well as becoming one of the world’s most famous extreme athletes, Wim has dedicated his life to helping others reach their full potential through the power of the breath.

With both cutting edge scientific research and a depth of psychological understanding that can only come from experience, Wim speaks on exactly how we can all transform our own lives, our health and get through literally anything.

We all do it 15,000 times a day, for most we do it without thinking, to learn more about how to harness this incredible tool, click here to listen to this weeks episode.

At WellBeings of course, its not about just the learning but the doing, so here is where to start if you want to try the Wim Hof Method (WHM).

A controlled breathing exercise developed by Wim, with a brief period of hyperventilation and then a period of breath holding. 

As it is a controlled hyperventilating exercise, you might feel a little lightheaded or tingling in the hands, so make sure you practice in a safe place. It’s also normal to feel emotional and afterwards to feel energized and euphoric. 

Wim told us its best before breakfast and on an empty stomach. Sit or lie somewhere comfortable, never in water or driving. 

Well Wim has provided a WHM Breathing technique exercise for beginners, where the man himself talks you through a simple 10 minute way to shift yourself through the breath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ

Of course for the full experience Wim suggests a commitment to both the breath and the cold exposure. While Wim and the more experienced might opt for an ice bath, you should work up to that. The best place to start is a simple cold shower. Start with 15 seconds of cold water at the end of your regular shower. Small steps start here, give it try.