Published date: January 23, 2020
I’ve been practicing this guided Wim Hof Breathing Method for about 3 years now. I first learned about it when I was looking to improve my surfing.
If you’ve ever gone surfing, you know how important it is to remain calm when you are underneath the wave. When I was living in Bali, Indonesia it was super important for me to get comfortable with holding my breath for an extended period of time.
One thing that I try to do in all aspects of my life is to continuously get a little bit better. The best way I’ve found to do that is to find the expert and see who is coaching them. Then find a way to learn from that coach.
After researching a bit about Kelly Slater (he’s my favorite surfer), I noticed that he mentioned this guy Wim Hof a few times… so I dove a bit deeper.
Who is Wim Hof?
Wim Hof is like a mythical man among humans. He’s collected over 20 world records. One of which was him submerging himself in ice for almost 2 hours. He actually was submerged for 1 hour and 53 minutes and kept his core temperature the same throughout that.
Crazy, right?
He’s also climbed Mt. Everest in shorts, ran a marathon through the Namibian Desert with no water. He’s also able to control his nervous system and withstand illnesses.
After hearing this stuff, I had to learn more about this guy. I mean, who wouldn’t want to learn more?
Before you attempt his breathing technique, I recommend you watch this safety video first… you know, safety. It’s important.
Once you’ve gone through the safety video you’re ready.
After watching this, you’ll probably want to get the app that he has. It’s available in both the Google play and iTunes stores and is “The Wim Hof Method Mobile App”
How did Wim Hof get started?
“That’s how it all started. I lost my wife
WIM HOF
but I found conscious happiness from there,
bit by bit, by taking away emotional trauma
and reversing the process into mood control.
That energy flows through your body and through
your mind. I know how to empty myself and become
clean, fresh, new… happy.”
The Wim Hof Method Explained
Let me give you the actual step by step in written form if you don’t want to watch the videos.
Step 1) Get Comfortable
The first thing you’ll want to do is get comfortable. You can either be sitting down or laying down. Most of the time I personally do it sitting up. But it’s up to you and what’s more comfortable for you. Basically you want to be able to take a deep breath easily.
Step 2) Take 30-40 Deep Breaths
Imagine that you are blowing up a balloon. The Wim Hof Official Website says this…
Close your eyes and try to clear your mind. Be conscious of your breath, and try to fully connect with it. Inhale deeply through the nose or mouth, and exhale unforced through the mouth. Fully inhale through the belly, then chest and then let go unforced. Repeat this 30 to 40 times in short, powerful bursts. You may experience light-headedness, and tingling sensations in your fingers and feet. These side effects are completely harmless.
– Source
When I do this, I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. Remember to do this slow and steady while you’re doing this. You might feel a little tingling sensation… it’s normal… although the first time you do it you’ll think its a bit weird.
Step 3) The Hold
After the last exhale, inhale one final time as deeply as you can. Then you just let the air out and stop breathing.
Weird, right? The idea is to hold your breath until you feel the urge to breathe again.
You’ll probably be surprised at how long you can hold your breath after doing this.
Step 4) Recovery Breath
Once you feel the urge to breathe again, you’ll want to draw one big breath and use it to fill your lungs. Think of it like you’re filling your belly and chest with air. When you are doing this and can’t breath in anymore, hold your breath for 10-15 seconds and then let go.
That right there is a complete round. Congratulations! You can repeat this process 3-4 times. I do this as part of my morning routine and on an empty stomach, which is what’s recommended.
After you finish the Wim Hof Breathing exercise you’ll want to relax a little bit and just enjoy the bliss feeling. You’ll feel very calm and it’s a good time to pair this up with some meditation if you are the type of person to meditate.
I recommend meditation, even if it’s just sitting in silence for 3-5 minutes.
Wim Hof BooksIce Baths
