Wim Hof Method
cold water immersion whm

Cold Water Immersion (CWI)

Cold Water Immersion (CWI) is a form of cold water therapy, which improves the natural recovery process of the human body. A well-known type of Cold Water Immersion, is taking ice baths or cold showers. Cold Water Immersion is a greatway to activate the body’s natural healing powers, and to make it able to relieve symptoms of various medical conditions. When practiced on a regular basis, the positive effects of exposure to cold last even longer. Over time, Cold Water Immersion improves your cardiovascular circulation, reduces muscle inflammation, and facilitates weight loss.

Benefits of Cold Water Immersion

Enhanced circulation of the blood

Cardiovascular circulation is one of the most important processes of the human body. Without a healthy and strong circulation, the blood flow of the entire body gets compromised. The compromised blood flow in turn leads to a stressed heart. Left untreated, a stressed heart can result in headaches, high blood pressure, fatigue, muscle cramping, or eventually a heart attack. Cold Water Immersion boosts the cardiovascular circulation, which is beneficial for a healthy heart, a strong immune system, well-balanced mental health, and a high level of energy.

Reduced inflammation of muscle

After participating in a high-intensity workout, the muscles can feel sore for a couple of days. This is because of microscopic tears in the fibers of the trained muscles, and inflammation of the muscle tissue. This type of soreness, also known as ‘delayed onset muscle soreness’ (DOMS), can be very painful. Scientifically, it has been proven that Cold Water Immersion helps to reduce muscle inflammation. The temperature of the water lowers the damage of the affected tissue, and reduces further swelling.

Weight loss

Cold Water Immersion can be of great help when it comes to weight loss. When practiced on a regular basis, Cold Water Immersion is able to increase the metabolic rate by as much as 16%. As a result of immersing the body into cold water, the body has to work hard to maintain its normal internal temperature. During this process, the metabolic rate increases in order to produce heat for the body. When practiced consistently, this can result in a loss of weight.

Benefits Of Cold Water Immersion

Cold Water Immersion and the Wim Hof Method

As a part of the Wim Hof Method, Cold Water Immersion is one of the most simple and effective ways to let your body improve its own recovery process. With the help of the Wim Hof Method, you will become able to take control over various processes in your body, and thereby improve your overall health. The Wim Hof Method assists you in implementing Cold Water Immersion into your daily life, by teaching you how and when to take cold showers or ice baths at home. The unique method is designed to gradually expose the body to cold, and build up a great resistance within weeks.

Practice the Wim Hof Method


Start your Wim Hof Method adventure today, by signing up to our Fundamentals online video course. By following the Fundamentals online video course, you will learn the basic principles of the Wim Hof Method. The Fundamentals course is easy to combine with a demanding lifestyle, as you can re-watch all of the videos whenever and wherever you want. The online video course is available in English, with subtitles in Dutch, German, French, and Spanish. Many professional athletes and celebrities have already benefited from the Wim Hof Method. Read their testimonials here.

The three pillars

The Wim Hof Method is built on three important pillars. These pillars, which are breathing, controlled exposure to cold, and commitment, together allow us to deal with ‘cold hard nature’. Over time, our bodies have become accustomed to modern-day comforts, and are therefore no longer used to cold conditions. Getting your body ready to cope with cold conditions can lead to some serious health improvements, such as stress reduction, more energetic, and better sleep.

three pillars

Wim Hof Method References

Wim Hof Method is assesed on average with an 9.5 out of 10 based on 2147 experiences written by participants

Tineke, Testimonial Wim Hof
Tineke, The Netherlands
I have severe arthritis in my left hip. By implementing the Wim Hof Method in my daily life, I can deal with this without getting surgery. I love Wim’s purity. His coaching inspires me and gives me energy. I’m almost 66 years old and by practicing the Wim Hof Method I feel much more...
Albert, Testimonial Wim Hof
Albert, The Netherlands
For 12 years now I have had rheumatism. Thanks to the Wim Hof Method I have been able to halve the amount of anti-inflammatory drugs. My goal is to completely stop the use of anti-inflammatory drugs after finishing the video course.
Aivar, Testimonial Wim Hof
Aivar, Estonia
I am 52 years old, and after 10 weeks of the Wim Hof Method I am in the best shape I have ever been. I did 30 push-ups as a test before I started the course, and when I finished I did 100 push-ups for the first time in my life. The Wim Hof Method gives you a good mood, it’s addictive!
Monic, Testimonial Wim Hof
Monic, The Netherlands
It’s only been 4 weeks since I started, but the results are remarkable! Thank you from the heart for changing my life, my health, and my understanding about my own power and the influence I have on this. I’m looking forward to a nice cold winter in the Netherlands.
Mino, Testimonial Wim Hof
Mino, Germany
Learning Wim’s method is like studying from one of nature’s best students. My life long fear of cold is history. I now fully enjoy cold immersions, but the benefits are not limited to cold. I am now a better person and a happier being. I smile when facing life challenges.
Gregor Testimonial Wim Hof
Gregor
After 8 months of daily Hoffing, puffing and cold showers I can claim to be cured of my 5 year burnout. Not having had a single cold or flu, my sore knee is working perfectly again, which was very painful the last 2 years. It is like a miracle, and I’m really grateful that our paths crossed.
Franco, Testimonial Wim Hof
Franco, USA
Wim I hope to train with you someday. I love to jump into that cold water and climb that mountain with you. Your method has truly helped me with psoriatic arthritis. I am no longer taking Humira injections for my symptoms. I am controlling it with breathing, cold showers and ice baths.
Matthew, Testimonial Wim Hof
Matthew, Australia
I would have paid $10,000 for this, but that would not be enough because this has changed my life. I feel like I have taken Valium yet am supercharged. As a clinical psychologist my days can be very stressful. There is a stillness inside me now, and what I am really amazed by is the peace lasts.
Per Kristian, Testimonial Wim Hof
Per Kristian, United Kingdom
After 3 weeks of daily practicing my medication (Naproxen) for long-standing sciatica has been cut by 80%, and my arm pain and 'pins and needles' following a neck injury 50 years ago has been halved!
Arthur, Testimonial Wim Hof
Arthur, USA
I got anxiety 2+ years ago, and have had panic attacks every day since. Medicine helped a little. I came across your videos and started to walk my 2 miles a day in only a t-shirt at 20F degrees. Within 2 weeks my anxiety went away! I found it to be a miracle.
James, Testimonial Wim Hof
James, USA
I’ve had astonishing results battling addiction with the Wim Hof Method. It has saved my life and is the only thing that worked on getting clean and healthy. I go ahead and get my suffering over with in the cold showers, so I don't have to suffer throughout the day. Pretty good trade to...
Georg, Testimonial Wim Hof
Georg, Germany
Cardiac and respiratory arrest began my life. Heart defect and cleft palate pushed diseases. Depression, lack of self-efficacy, and post traumatic stress disorder followed. The Wim Hof Method frees me: I am twenty-nine years old, and I love to live. Thank you!
Grant, Testimonial Wim Hof
Grant, Australia
I was born with Spina Bifida, and was told I would end up in a wheelchair. After incorporating the Wim Hof Method into my daily life I have begun to see results in my pain levels and athleticism. I am no longer looking down the barrel of becoming a paraplegic, and I attribute that in part to the...
Raúl, Testimonial Wim Hof
Raúl, The Netherlands
From the 90s to 2012 I developed hayfever symptoms and had to take daily medications in order to cope. The effect of these medications only lasted for several hours. By using the Wim Hof Method training daily, my body has conquered hayfever symptoms since 2013.
Benjamin Testimonial Wim Hof
Benjamin
I started the Wim Hof method in October of 2018, and now the holes I had in my brain are gone. My neurosurgeon was so impressed by the scans that he told me I don't have to come back anymore. I take this as proof that this method works to regenerate brain tissue.