Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises are an important part of the Wim Hof Method. This infamous and powerful method enabled ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof to achieve extraordinary things like climbing Mount Everest in his shorts and running barefoot in the snow for extended periods of time. WHM is like, Tummo and Pranayama, a type of breathwork, but has his own particular features. The WHM breathing exercise will help you gain control over your body and mind, and ultimately help you to influence your nervous system and immune system. As Wim puts it, his method is based on ‘cold hard nature’ and helps you battle forces like cold, heat, and stress.

Practicing the specific breathing exercises of the Wim Hof Method will release your inner fire. The exercises are focused on deep and rhythmic inhalations and exhalations, described by Wim as ‘controlled hyperventilation or power breathing’ and are followed by a retention time, where you hold your breath for a x amount of time. By practicing the breathing exercises, you are releasing more energy, influencing your nervous system and changing various physiological responses. You are inducing voluntarily a short stress response which ultimately will lead to more resilience towards everyday stress, mentally and physiology and feeling more in control.

These breathing exercises are only one of three pillars that form the Wim Hof Method. The other two pillars are cold therapy and training your mindset. When combined, the three pillars will help you to become stronger and gaining better health. Known benefits of the Wim Hof Method include:

• Stress reduction
• Faster recovery from physical exertion
• Better sleep
• Improved sports performance
• Enhanced creativity
• More focus and mental clarity

The Wim Hof Method is also linked to reducing symptoms of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and several autoimmune diseases.

While Wim’s achievements are without a doubt impressive, his method has received a lot of skepticism. However, in recent years, the benefits of practicing the Wim Hof Method are backed by a significant amount of scientific proof. Several scientific institutes including Radboud University and Academic Medical Centre (AMC) have tested Wim’s method, using randomized controlled experiments in the process.

The outcomes of these studies confirm that Wim and other participants are able to voluntary influence their autonomic nervous system, something that was thought impossible until then. Currently several studies are conducted that further explore the effects of the Wim Hof Method in areas as brain activity, metabolic activity, inflammation, and pain.

When combined, the three pillars of the Wim Hof Method provide an extremely powerful tool to awake the dormant energy that is lurking inside all of us. Combine the breathing exercises with power-ups like yoga poses and pushups and discover your real inner strength. Completing Wim’s breathing exercises will prepare you for exposure to the cold.