Everest in a pair of shorts (like Wim Hof himself) to get powerful benefits. The great thing about the Wim Hof Method is that you don't have to climb Mt. Stimulating the vagus nerve with natural remedies-like cold therapy, deep breathing, and singing-can help the vagus nerve function better and help you feel better.Īccording to the Wim Hof Method website, his method helps you increase energy, relieve stress, boost immunity, improve sleep, improve willpower (yes, please), better your concentration and mental well-being, and even relieve some symptoms of depression. If the vagus nerve isn't performing as it should, it can lead to a range of problems such as anxiety, gut problems, and inflammation. The role of the vagus nerveįollowers of Wim Hof and his method know that the vagus nerve plays an important role in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is an autonomic system that regulates many of the body's central organs. Building your commitment to the practice is another one of the ways this method is said to help you take control of your own body and mind. CommitmentĬonsistent exposure to freezing temperatures and conscious breathing require a level of dedication and patience. We'll take the expert's word, because no one spends more time in the cold. Wim Hof also says the cold provides a rush of endorphins, which are "feel-good chemicals" in your brain, putting you in a better mood. Cold therapyĮxposure to cold, through cold plunges and cryotherapy, offers a range of benefits including reduced inflammation, a fortified immune system, and better sleep. The idea is that by becoming more aware of your breath, you'll find new energy, reduce stress, and boost your body's immune response. It focuses on the human nervous system, and our inner power through exercises and cold exposure that helps you get in control of your nervous system to improve how it functions.įocused breathing is used across many different exercise and meditative practices, and it's the first pillar that Wim Hof uses. The Wim Hof self-improvement method consists of three interconnected pillars: breathing, cold therapy, and commitment. In order to regain that inner strength and capacity to thrive in our natural climate, Wim Hof proposes that we need to reawaken our physiology and re-train it, and thus awaken a powerful inner force within us, one which-most probably-we've gone all of our lives without experiencing. By wearing layers and layers of clothing in the winter and taking control of the thermostat indoors, we've regulated the temperature around us, which has essentially made us weaker in the face of nature's true climate. The way we live has helped us atrophy our own inner force (and ability to withstand natural temperatures). The Wim Hof Method proposes that our current lifestyle neglects nature. And that's something we're all about at Pause, our Los Angeles wellness studio.
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As Wim Hof puts it, it's about realizing your full potential. The Wim Hof Method is about reconnecting with natural elements and with our body's inner power, by connecting mind and body. Incredibly, researchers found that Wim was also able to control his immune system, something which was previously thought to be impossible. He's also the creator of the Wim Hof Method, based on his years of taking nature on, breaking world records, and achieving feat after impressive feat, often involving freezing temperatures and-as his name implies-ice. Wim Hof is a Dutch extreme athlete who earned the nickname "The Iceman" because of his ability to withstand being exposed to ice and extreme cold.