Wim Hof, also known as “The Iceman”, is a Dutch man who’s set many world records in the area of cold exposure. These include swimming under the ice of a frozen lake 57.5 meters, running a half marathon on ice and snow without any shoes, and climbing Mount Everest in nothing but shorts.

And through his method, he has taught thousands of other people to accomplish similar feats. In fact, he claims that we all have this potential inside of us, but that our modern life styles prevent us from accessing these deep parts of our minds.

After seeing a documentary on Wim, we here at Exploring Kodawari (Luke & Yankı) have been experimenting with the Wim Hof method for over 5 months, and we absolutely love it. So in this episode, we explore the psychological and physical benefits that we’ve noticed through trying his techniques.

**Disclaimer: Especially if you have a heart condition, be smart and consult your doctor before taking cold showers or trying any of these other Wim Hof practices**

Time Stamps (clickable on website page)

  • [05:05] The “woo” or “woo woo” that exists in the world of self help and why it doesn’t quite apply to the Wim Hof method.
  • [17:05] Blood oxygen levels and pH while practicing Wim Hof breathing routine.
  • [19:20] Dr. John Sarno and Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) and how it’s helped Yankı reduce her pain.
  • [23:00] Doug Steiny being cured by the Wim Hof method and Jordan Peterson’s first rule about our serotonergic systems that trace back to lobsters.
  • [28:10] Anxiety and balancing the two branches of the autonomic nervous system.
  • [32:12] The psychological benefits of cold showers.
  • [35:20] The fear of the cold and Julian Smith’s The Flinch
  • [40:27] The poem “Yo Soy no Yo” (“I am not I”) by Juan Ramón Jiménez. The link for this is below. It’s a deeply beautiful way to express that deeper presence to consciousness, the quiet and still place that knows what is right and isn’t stirred by seeking short term pleasures or avoiding short term displeasure.
  • [42:43] Another quote from Julian Smith’s The Flinch about people who are unwilling to face their fears and what is does to their minds and bodies.
  • [44:55] How cold water training helps with the meditation/mindfulness goal of responding to things and not just reacting to them.

Scientific Links

Other Links

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