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Wim Hof on Waking Up to Your True Potential #127

Oct 13, 2020 1h 31m 21 insights
CAUTION ADVISED: This podcast contains swearing from the start. How long could you last in a freezing-cold shower? And for how long could you comfortably, peacefully hold your breath? My guest today insists you can learn to do both for far longer than you think. And that by doing so, you can battle disease, regulate your mood and connect with your true self. This podcast is a fascinating insight into the mind, work and charismatic personality of Wim Hof, aka The Iceman. Wim has been described as a ‘trailblazer for human potential’ and a ‘modern legend’, thanks to his incredible feats. They include withstanding extreme temperatures, climbing Kilimanjaro in nothing but shorts – even, as he describes to me, being injected with a toxin and resisting illness. But he is no mere showman, there is method to what some might see as madness. Wim wants to convince people they too can do the ‘impossible’ and prove it through evidence-based science. Brain scans now indicate we can take conscious control of our autonomic nervous system. But this sort of ‘top down’ regulation had been unknown in science before. We talk about cold-water immersion – and why he believes that ‘a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away’. He explains that cold stimulates vascular muscle tone, increasing blood flow, slowing heart rate, increasing energy and lowering cortisol. Wim gives practical advice to help all of us build from a tense, 10-second blast of cold at the end of a shower, to comfortably showering cold for two to three minutes a day. And with benefits like reduced inflammation, improved cardiovascular function and immunity, reduced depression and anxiety. Breathing techniques go hand in hand with his cold-water exercises, and we discuss how his particular practice can work to help us achieve peak functionality before endurance events, stressful times and more. Paradoxically, it involves over-breathing and breath-holding, to create a stressful spike in the body. Yet it results in a very tranquil sensation – and builds resilience to all kinds of stress, physical and mental, for the rest of the day. At the end of this podcast, Wim kindly agreed to take me through one round of his technique, so you can give it a try with me and experience the effects for yourself.* It felt incredible, like accessing a different state of calm. I really hope you can feel the positive energy in this unique conversation.  CAUTION: If you have uncontrolled hypertension or heart disease it is not advised that you start practising cold water immersion. If you have any doubt at all as to whether you are fit enough to give this practice a go, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/127 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Happiness, Strength, Health

Focus on being happy, strong, and healthy, as these are the core values of life and everything else is secondary or ‘bullshit’.

2. Dissolve Ego, Find Self

Engage in Wim Hof practices not just for physical benefits, but as a spiritual journey to dissolve the ego and discover your true self, realizing the soul’s purpose.

3. Willfully Control Your Mood

Learn and practice techniques to consciously regulate your own mood, as scientific evidence shows it’s possible to control emotions and achieve happiness.

4. Choose Happiness and Health

Recognize that managing disease and mood is a choice, as techniques exist to influence your immune system and emotional state for a happier, healthier life.

5. Cultivate Response Space

Practice daily techniques like cold exposure and breathing to expand the space between a stressor and your response, enabling you to choose how you react rather than being reactive.

6. Take a Daily Cold Shower

Incorporate a cold shower into your daily routine, as it stimulates vascular muscle tone, improves blood flow, lowers heart rate, and boosts energy, acting as a natural vaccination.

7. Practice Wim Hof Breathing

Engage in the specific Wim Hof breathing technique (30-40 deep breaths, then exhale and hold, followed by an inhale and hold) to quickly access deep states of mind, activate neural activity, and consciously alter brain biochemistry for improved mood and control.

8. Gradually Increase Cold Shower

Start your cold shower practice by ending a hot shower with 30 seconds of cold water, then gradually increase the duration by 10 seconds each day until you can comfortably take a 2-3 minute cold shower daily.

9. Breathe Long Exhalations in Cold

When taking a cold shower or entering cold water, focus on long exhalations and avoid tensing up or contracting your muscles to prevent panic and allow your body to adapt through thermogenesis.

10. Overcome Cold Sensitivity

If you feel sensitive to cold or have low energy, take cold showers to improve vascular muscle tone, reduce oxidative stress, and increase energy, which will make you less susceptible to feeling cold.

11. Use Cold as Stress Mirror

Engage in cold exposure to consciously confront and understand your physiological and mental responses to stress, allowing you to learn to let go of resistance and build resilience against any stressor.

12. Perform Breathing on Empty Stomach

Ideally, practice the Wim Hof breathing technique on an empty stomach in the morning for optimal benefits, but it can also be used in the evening if stressed to pacify the hormonal system and aid sleep.

13. Pre-Performance Breathing Rounds

Before endurance sports or any stressful event requiring full functionality, perform four to five rounds of the Wim Hof breathing technique to cleanse the lymphatic system, optimize pH levels, and enhance performance.

14. Consciously Over-Breathe During Endurance

During endurance activities, consciously breathe more deeply and frequently than you instinctively feel necessary to ensure sufficient oxygen flow to deep tissues, prevent acidity buildup, and sustain performance.

15. Practice Breathing for Immunity

Engage in specific breathing exercises, especially when facing stressors like infection, to willfully activate and influence your immune system and prevent sickness.

16. Avoid Breathing in Water

Never practice the Wim Hof breathing technique in a swimming pool or open water, as it’s a powerful method that can lead to loss of control and is safest when practiced on a sofa or in bed.

17. Progress to Cold Baths

Once comfortable with cold showers, you can progress to taking cold baths as a further step in cold exposure to deepen your practice.

18. Use the Free Wim Hof App

Download and use the free Wim Hof Method app to access guided breathing and cold exposure exercises, making health accessible and effective for everyone.

19. Be a Daily Missionary

Wake up every day with a purpose to spread positivity and help others, as it’s beautiful to be on this planet and anything holding us back from creating that should be removed.

20. Implement One New Practice

Choose one actionable insight from the conversation and commit to implementing it into your daily life to avoid overwhelm and ensure consistent progress.

21. Share Valuable Content

Share impactful podcast episodes with friends, family, and colleagues who might benefit, as it’s a gift of kindness and valuable information.