Wim Hof Fundamentals Course: What Made Me Sign Up

Yesterday I got to experience the Wim Hof method (Wim Hof Fundamentals course) for the first time and it wasn't what I expected it to be like after trying it for myself at home first!

I arranged this experience for my colleagues and I back in January 2022.

I organised it for two reasons, the first being that I wanted a way for my colleagues to get to know each other better and secondly I wanted to understand the technique better with the guidance of an instructor.

I came across the Wim Hof Method after watching a video by Yes Theory shortly after coming out of lockdown in 2021. At this time I felt very frustrated and had lots of pent-up worries and confusion. My mind was obsessively racing and I didn't know where to direct or release these emotions. I would have previously dealt with these emotions and feelings by doing a HIIT workout or pump class, taking my frustrations out by doing an intense squat or plank. However, at this time I was still struggling with my chronic fatigue so this was not an option for me, leaving me a little lost as to what to do.

I watched the video and after seeing the Yes Theory guys releasing emotions and energies through breathing and overcoming that they did not think they could achieve was a lightbulb moment. Also seeing them come together as a tribe and having each other's backs was exactly what I had been missing in my life during all of the lockdowns.

In the summer of 2021, I had my first go at the Wim Hof Method. I downloaded the app and tried to follow along with the breathing technique. However, for me, it was very fast and I got quite frustrated that I could not hold my breath as long as it seemed to expect me to. Plus, while I would get myself to the point my body was tingling and my ears ringing I didn't want to push myself too far without supervision. The video had made me nervous that something bad could happen if I was to try too hard.

I then very quickly skipped over the section on building up slowly with cold showers and went straight for the ice baths. I was so desperate to stop thinking for just a few minutes, feel like I had actually achieved something and prove to myself I was strong. I purchased 1-2 bags of ice from the supermarket, chucked it in a cold water bath and got in once most of the ice had melted. I then took some deep breaths and got my head in the zone before climbing in and submerging myself. I was able to use my breath to try to control my shaking and gasping and it felt incredible. I did this for a period of two weeks almost every day staying in for 15 minutes. I would then have a hot shower straight after and put lots of warm clothes on (do not try that at home, I have now learnt this is very dangerous!).

The breathing and ice bath really enabled me to connect to my primal self and have a greater sense of control. However, I stopped after two weeks as I had got myself back to a place where I could once again cope and life was starting up again. I also knew that although I had watched lots of videos on how to do the method, I was still not sure I was doing it correctly and knew that both the breathing and ice bath could be dangerous if you do not do it right.

I am so glad that I did stop and did the Wim Hof Fundamentals Course!

I am so glad that I listened to my gut rather than my ego and did stop practising the technique before doing it with an instructor first. I was doing it all wrong and I now know that what I was doing was actually very dangerous! I will explain more about this in my next blog post.

Despite not doing the technique correctly I had experienced some of the benefits and wanted to know more. I looked into classes but it never quite felt like the right time, then in January 2022 when looking for a group bonding activity for my colleagues I knew it was time to get it booked.

In the next blog post, I will tell you all about my experience, and my thoughts before, during and after experiencing the breathing technique and ice bath!

MY FIRST WIM HOF EXPERIENCE