Esquire Colombia, one of Latin America’s most respected lifestyle publications, has published a feature dedicated to the Wim Hof Method. Written by Adrián Lora and published on March 22, 2026, the piece introduces the method to the magazine’s wide readership as a practice that has “gained popularity in recent years” — a recognition that continues to reflect the method’s growing presence in mainstream media across the Spanish-speaking world.
How Esquire Colombia frames the method
The magazine opens by describing the method as a combination of conscious breathing, controlled cold exposure, and mental focus, framing it as a path toward “a healthier and more resilient lifestyle.” Notably, Esquire Colombia also writes that beyond physical performance, the method is considered “a tool for improving personal discipline, increasing pain tolerance, and fostering resilience in high-pressure situations” — a framing that speaks to a broad audience well beyond the athletic community.
When introducing Wim Hof himself, the publication describes him as a Dutch athlete who turned his record-breaking feats in extreme cold into a life’s mission. Esquire Colombia also writes that he has spent his career “teaching this technique, leading workshops, and collaborating with universities to scientifically demonstrate the effects of his method on health and human performance” — a detail that underscores the credibility the magazine attributes to the practice.
On the three pillars
Esquire Colombia dedicates meaningful space to each of the method’s three pillars. On breathing, the article explains that the controlled technique “can generate more energy, reduce stress, and improve the immune response,” while also helping to regulate blood pressure and improve muscle oxygenation for recovery after intense exercise. Esquire Colombia also writes that cold exposure — introduced gradually, from cold showers to ice baths — “has been associated with better blood circulation, reduced inflammation, and an increase in endorphin production, which naturally improves mood.” On the third pillar, the magazine makes a point that will resonate with longtime practitioners: mental focus is what holds everything together. Esquire Colombia writes that without it, “the other two pillars don’t work,” and goes further to note that the practice “fosters mental clarity and the ability to stay calm under pressure, making the method a useful tool for everyday life.”
On the science
Rather than shying away from the nuances of the research, Esquire Colombia addresses the scientific evidence directly and with balance. The article references the landmark 2014 Radboud University study, the 2019 findings on reduced inflammatory markers in spondyloarthritis patients, and the 2020 endurance results in cyclists. Esquire Colombia also writes honestly about the 2021 study that found no improvements in sprint performance — and concludes that while results from institutions such as Radboud University and journals like Wilderness and Environmental Medicine are encouraging, “more clinical studies are still needed to validate all the benefits.” It is a measured, fair-minded take that reflects well on how the method is being discussed in serious media.
Cold as more than a physical stimulus
Perhaps most striking is how Esquire Colombia closes its feature. The magazine moves beyond the physiological and offers a more philosophical reflection, writing that within the method, cold “is not only a physical stimulus, but a true teacher that instills resilience and discipline.” Esquire Colombia also writes that facing extreme temperatures “forces the body to adapt and the mind to find calm in discomfort” — and that in a world defined by comfort, cold “reminds us that discomfort can be the path toward a fuller, more conscious, and stronger life.” It is a conclusion that captures something essential about why so many people around the world have been drawn to this practice.
Read the full article (in Spanish language) here.
