My second ice bath!
There’s a new Wim Hof Method course called the Wim Hof Fundamentals course (affiliate link) which inspired me to reflect on my experience of the method over the last three years, write about the difference between the two courses, and share my thoughts.
What is your dream? What do you find challenging within yourself? This time you are going to be able to discover just that. It’s all about life, love, power — in yourself. — Wim Hof Method Fundamentals Course
What is the Wim Hof Method in a nutshell?
It’s a technique that combines physical yogic style exercises, powerful breathing techniques, exposure to the cold (through cold showers, ice baths and more), and meditation. When you practice, it’ll take you deep into yourself and show a part of you you might never knew even existed. Physiologically, you will learn how to access your autonomic nervous system. Physically, you’ll get fit. Mentally, you’ll have the perseverance and drive to do what you really want in life. And spiritually, who knows what the limit is.
The power breath
The Wim Hof Method is so much more than the power breath, but this is still such an important part and something that I’ve done almost daily for the last three years. Here’s a short video I made demonstrating it.
The Wim hof Method — my story three years on
Three years ago I started the Wim Hof Method after making the scary transition to being self employed doing what I love. I’m now pleased to say that I’ve reached my initial goal as well as earning more money than I did in my 9-5 job, learning to ride with fear and feel excited in the process.
I’m writing a follow up article after three years because I haven’t yet discussed what the longer term benefits of this practice have been. To give you some context, I started the original Wim Hof Method 10 week video course purely because I’m fascinated by practices that explore the boundaries and potential of what’s possible for us human beings. I love reading about consciousness and stories about people who have done incredible mind blowing, science defying things with themselves.
In my initial articles, I gave a really thorough overview of what the Wim Hof Method had done for me — it had made me physically stronger, lowered my metabolic age to just 14, made my meditations so much deeper, it gave me energy like several shots of coffee might do, I learnt to love cold showers…
I didn’t mention fear much in those first few articles, because at the time of writing them, I was still very much feeling it. The Wim Hof Method though helped me so much to transition from being employed full time to self employed. Psychologically it was a hard thing for me to do as I can be really sensitive by nature. Also, being 100% self employed and my own boss was never part of my original plan — I think because I thought I wasn’t capable of it.
Without a doubt, doing the Wim Hof Method daily, and being around supportive people, showed me that YES it’s absolutely possible. In this quite emotional transition, I was given the opportunity to really connect with my inner self and go for it. I felt fear, and I lacked confidence, but I rode with it and continue to do so.
Rather than wake up and feel afraid and lost, I made it a habit to wake up and do the Wim Hof Method first thing which set my day off in the right way. During my practice, I was given major headspace, and such a wonderful feeling of bliss and energy during the power breathing. Holding my breath seemed to take me to this beautiful space where everything was OK — then I’d go into the most soothing meditations. Without this, everything would have been a lot harder.
What’s the difference between the Wim Hof method video course and the Wim Hof Method Fundamentals course? Which one should I do?
Recently, a new Wim Hof Method course was created and I’ve had a few people ask me what the difference is, so I decided to check it out which inspired me to write this article.
The word fundamentals implies that this might be a preliminary course before you do the original 10 week one, but really — this newer course, covers everything in the original course, plus a lot more. After reviewing both, if you’re unsure which one to do, I would personally now go with the newer fundamentals course.
In my original article, I’d written in the constructive criticism section that some of the physical exercises were pretty advanced and I though some people might feel like they have to do it in order to complete the course.
This was completely addressed in the fundamentals course and in addition to all of the original exercises you get in the first course, there is an amazing yoga teacher delivering some yoga sequences (including some beautiful Yin yoga sequences) — suitable for all levels from beginners to more advanced.
The Wim Hof Fundamentals course also has a different theme each week which I’ve outlined below. There are also more exercises you can do with ice such as working with ice and your extremities, as opposed to just taking cold showers and ice baths. A lot of scientific research has been done since the last course and if you’re interested in knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing and how it’s specifically working in your body, then you’ll find this really fascinating.
There are no specific themes with the first course, but each week does build on the previous week. Here, the each week also gradually advances but you also have a specific focus so you really are covering all areas of this method.
Here’s the breakdown of the Wim Hof Method Fundamentals Course (affiliate link)
Week 1 – Go deep
The course starts off teaching you how you can ‘tap into you psychology anytime, anywhere, as long as you have the right tools’. You’ll be given the steps to go deeper than you thought was possible. Whether you’re going through a major life transition like I was or not, you’ll feel comforted, more confident and excited about moving forward.
Week 2 – Stress control
It’s mentioned in the fundamentals course that stress is often the precursor to many of life’s diseases and illnesses. This week you’ll learn how to handle the stresses of everyday life by controlling your stress hormones which are adrenaline, cortisol and epinephrine.
Week 3 – Energy management
Week three opens by stating that ‘YOU are your energy manager’. Similar to the teachings of yoga, when the breath is controlled, you have the access and potential to go deep inside yourself — into your cells, increasing the amount of ‘molecules in your mitochondria’, which according to this course, will ‘increase your energy, creativity, and decision making skills’.
Week 4 – Inflammation
This week teaches you how the right breathing techniques can bring oxygen inside your tissue, to help ‘bring down the inflammatory markers that cause inflammation’. I don’t have any direct experience working on inflammation in my own body, but Wim Hof says in the course “ Those suffering from pain and inflammation, this works’.
Week 5 – Endurance
You’re halfway through! This week is about endurance in every respect. We often talk about endurance in relation to sport, but for me, the Wim Hof Method gave me the strength and endurance to pursue my dreams. Here you’ll learn techniques to ‘bring more energy and endurance to your cells’.
Week 6- Longevity
How can the Wim Hof Method increase your longevity? Learn how to protect the enzyme around cell division — which is said to increase your longevity — through the techniques outlines in week six. Being massively into consciousness, I love that this week opens with ‘It’s not only about breathing, the cold, and exercising, it’s about consciousness’.
Week 7 – Under pressure
Whatever is going on in your life — this week addresses the pressures of life which could be anything from feeling physical pain, grief, anxiety or going through a life transition into something different like I was.
Week 8 – Spirituality
Spirituality can be one of those words that means sooo many different things depending on who you talk to. Wim Hof opens week eight by simply saying ‘What is spirituality? Isn’t it just being?’ Learn how to go really deep in this week seeing yourself as the observer, connecting back to who you really are and discovering your inner fire.
Week 9 – Creativity
I love that there’s a week on creativity, and just because you don’t paint, write poetry or play music, doesn’t mean you won’t relate or also love this section. It’s for everyone, and more about unleashing the beautiful creative space which exists in you and everyone. You’ll also learn about the power of the thyroid gland and creativity with no goal.
Week 10 – Life adventure
Ice bath week! It’s also the time to fully embrace and address your goal, mission… whatever it is that lights and fires you up. This is the week to really find what it is for you that makes you excited to get up in the morning and make it real.
Final thoughts
If you’re pretty new to the Wim Hof Method, I know on the outside looking in, it might just seem like it’s all about conquering the cold and making yourself healthier, but it really is so much more. It’s a technique that addresses you as a whole — body, mind, spirit and your connection to everything that is. It’s about unleashing your inner power and strength and riding with it, discovering your true potential, and really enjoying and making the most out of every moment in life.
Try Wim Hof transformative course below
To rediscover your inner power, go to the Wim Hof Method Fundamentals course page here (affiliate link)
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