Instead, I signed up for a Wim Hof Fundamentals Workshop. But there was no way I was going to voluntarily hyperventilate on my own at home, cued in by some random YouTube video. Knowing that I am a swimmer and enjoy relatively cold waters, they attempted to convince me to give it a try. I personally heard about the method from a couple of friends in their 50s who discovered it on YouTube less than a year ago and have been practicing since then. And since the episode has aired, interest in Wim Hof and the practice has skyrocketed.
WIM HOF BREATHING METHOD REVIEWS FULL
Even Gwyneth Paltrow decided to put aside vagina-scented candles for a minute to devote a full episode of Netflix’s The Goop Lab to the method. There are more people talking about the Wim Hof Method out there than you can shake a stick at. The Wim Hof breathing exercise is known to alleviate stress and improve athletic performance, but it’s also been linked to the reduction of symptoms of several autoimmune diseases, asthma, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.Īnd all these scientifically proven health benefits, combined with the simplicity of the practice, and the fact that it costs nothing and requires no equipment, have not been lost on those searching for an improved quality of life. Science has proven that cold therapy reduces inflammation, enhances energy levels, improves the quality of your sleep, and boosts your immune system, among other advantages. To prolong the time before taking a breath, Carney wrote that he used two techniques: slowly letting air out and contracting muscles throughout his body, starting with his feet and working up to his head.While the method is simple, the benefits are huge. (Don't use this method for swimming, though, as there's some risk of passing out.) Carney said he's learned to hold his breath for up to three minutes at a time. Then repeat this cycle three or four times. When you are gasping for air, take in a quick breath and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. The technique involves taking approximately 30 quick breaths, then exhaling and keeping your lungs empty as long as possible. Learn to breatheĪlong with cold exposure, Carney practiced Hof's breathing method daily (and continues to do so). But his book contains a strong warning that these behaviors can be dangerous. "Instead of clenching up and heating yourself up with your muscles, let your metabolism do that job, and it will just do that automatically," he said.Ĭarney graduated from cold showers to dips in icy lakes and regular runs in very cold weather wearing just a t-shirt. If you want to do so, here's what to know. But the book has nonetheless inspired to give Jof's method a try. This is anecdotal evidence based on one person, not a controlled scientific trial, so it's possible that Carney's body responded more dramatically than another's might. The CU athletic performance experts said that feat was equal to adding about seven hours of cardio exercise per week. Carney wound up with impressive results: Tests at the University of Colorado Sports Medicine and Performance Center showed that his metabolism switched from primarily burning carbohydrates to burning more fat. Journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney tried Hof's training regimen and described his experience in a book titled " What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength," which was published last year. Some evidence indicates that regimen could provide measurable health benefits including better fat-burning capabilities, weight loss, an improved immune system, and the ability to counteract some effects of Type 2 diabetes. That's the theory promoted by Dutch fitness guru Wim Hof, who goes by the nickname " Iceman." Hof's recommendations include exposing yourself to icy water and practicing specific breathing techniques. When suddenly exposed to changes in temperature and altitude, the physical reactions that our bodies undergo may exercise important and often-neglected components of our physiology. Living in a constantly pleasant 72-degree bubble avoids the environmental stress that might help push our bodies to their full potential.