

"Because we wear clothes and artificially control the temperatures at home and at work, we've greatly reduced the natural stimulation of our bodies, atrophying the age-old mechanisms related to our survival and basic function." This is the ability of our body to adapt to extreme temperature and survive within our natural environment," Hof writes of his philosophy. "Over time, we as humans have developed a different attitude towards nature and we've forgotten about our inner power. The Iceman also uses third eye meditation techniques, where the user visualises a third eye on their forehead, to clear the mind and create a focused atmosphere. The final piece to the jigsaw puzzle in the Wim Hof Method is sticking to to the practices.

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The second stage involves taking one deep inhalation, a full exhalation and then holding your breath for around 10 seconds, while squeezing all of your muscles (again, these techniques can be quite advanced and it's best only to attempt after guided training). There are two stages to the practice: the first involves taking 30-40 rapid 'power breaths' where you inhale deeply and exhale quickly (sort of like you're mimicking hyperventilating).


The second pillar is breathing techniques, that draw comparisons to Pranayama (yogic breathing) and Tibetan Tummo 'heat' meditation. Hof believes this can be done in a variety of ways, like switching to a cold shower in the morning, taking regular ice baths, or safely jumping into cold water at a wild swimming spot, depending on where you live (it's absolutely vital this is only attempted after training, with supervision, never alone and only once you know it's safe). One of the perhaps less appealing aspects of the practice involves exposing yourself to icy cold temperatures. His technique centres around a trio of basic principles, which Hof believes can help you voluntarily activate your sympathetic nervous system (this is part of the autonomic nervous system involved in the body's 'flight or flight' stress response). Hof has been practising his methods for decades, setting his first world record for the farthest swim under ice in the year 2000. So what exactly does Hof's approach involve? Here's what you need to know.
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The method recently gained attention after being featured in the Netflix series In Goop Health, with Gwyneth Paltrow and her team of 'wellness gurus' discussing the technique, which has amassed Hof over a million followers on Instagram and many more around the world who claim his philosophy to be life-changing. The 61-year-old says he's able to achieve these extreme feats of survival by using what he's termed 'The Wim Hof Method' () – a three-pillar practice that combines meditation, breathing exercises, and exposure to cold as a means of controlling the body's autonomous response systems. It's easy to see how Hof got his nickname – he's famous for daredevil acts like climbing Kilimanjaro wearing only shorts and shoes, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot, and holding the Guinness World Record for the longest time submerged in an ice bath (one hour, 52 minutes, 42 seconds). IMAGINE if the tools you needed to beat stress, sleep better and recover faster weren't packaged up in an expensive app or pricey health supplement, but were already innately available – all you had to do was learn to unlock the potential of your primitive mind.Īccording to Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, also known as 'The Iceman', we all have scope to tap into these natural human 'superpowers'.
