heal: breathing the wim hof way
Many of you may have already come across Wim Hof. He’s the guy that looks happiest whilst sat chilling in human sized barrels of ice. Going to that extreme is normally something that most of us would only ever consider after running a marathon or at a BBQ when you lose a dare to get something out of the beer bucket with your teeth. Luckily, today we are not focusing on the benefits of cryotherapy. We are going to take it back to something way more basic and even more essential. Our breathing.
If you are learning about “The Iceman” for the first time, this episode of Yes Theory shows how Wim Hof manages both his mind and his body through simple, repetitive breathing exercises. He first got his nickname after breaking records related to cold exposure, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts and running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle in bare feet.
Our breathing is something that so many of us can take for granted. Something that happens so naturally that we rarely have to stop and think about it. Understanding it, working with it and mastering it can not only massively improve our cardiovascular strength and fitness performance but can also help us with anxiety, stress management and sleep.
Wim Hof’s method is one of so many that you can discover online but is a brilliant start if you are discovering breathing exercises for the first time. His first ‘Breathing Tutorial’ sets the foundation helping you to understand exactly how you should breathe and the power that it can give your body. Then his ‘Guided Breathing for Beginners’ blends rhythmical rotations with powerful breath holds. At first, it can feel slightly unnatural but as you work with it more, you notice how your body and mind become stronger and more resilient.
Once you are comfortable working with the beginners phase, you can take things on to the next level. This exercise is slightly more guided and works with added visualisation elements. Working with this as part of your exercise programme can help you to feel more energised and focused.
Try it out. Let us know how you get on and how it makes you feel. Wim even has a free app that you can download. Share it with your friends and your family and have a go at introducing it in to your life each day. Enjoy.
