Sadghuru once said, “Only when you explore the ecstasy of simply being, where even to breathe is a distraction, can you call yourself complete.” And the Dalai Lama said, “Everything we require is already there, within our mind.”
Did you know that your breath is one of the most valuable assets you have?
When you take time to focus on your breathing and saturate your body with oxygen, you can accomplish incredible things — like take an ice bath, run a marathon in the snow, or reduce your own anxiety!
It may seem hard to believe, but it’s true. My guest today has created his own breathing method that allows you to gain control of your nervous system and withstand extreme conditions — such as the freezing, bitter cold.
Today, I’m bringing back one of my all-time favorite guests — the one and only Iceman, Wim Hof! We’re diving deep into the scientific and biological effects of intentional breathing and enduring extreme cold have on boosting your immune system and elevating your feelings of joy and happiness.
Whether you’ve been dragging yourself through each day or are waking up each morning with an inspiring vision, this message will give you the tools to experience happiness and pass it on to others!
Who Is Wim Hof?
As a kid in the Netherlands, Wim’s first jump into freezing-cold water was for fun. Years later, after his wife tragically died, leaving him with four young children, he submerged himself in cold water as a way to connect with himself and process grief. Since then, he has subjected himself to extreme feats of cold and earned himself the name “Iceman.”
He set a world record time (two hours, 16 minutes) for a barefoot half-marathon in freezing conditions. He claimed another world record by spending nearly two hours in full-body contact with a solid slab of ice. He also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts.
Through all of these feats, he has learned firsthand that our brains have the power to guarantee us happiness, strength, and health. He says that we can actually regulate our minds and autonomous nervous systems by breathing and being present. To help people do just that, he developed the Wim Hof Method: a natural path to an optimal state of body and mind.
Today, Wim teaches people worldwide, from celebrities and professional athletes to people of all ages, to control their bodies and minds and achieve extraordinary things. I’ve had him on The School of Greatness before, first on Episode #398 and then on Episode #799! I also had the incredible opportunity to go on a retreat with several other entrepreneurs with Wim Hof in Poland — it was an amazing experience, and you can read all about it here.
If you’re ready to learn about simple daily rituals that can improve your health and happiness, you’re going to love this message!
The Wim Hof Breathing Method: How Breakwork Can Heal Your Body
Your brain is extremely powerful. One of the ways we tap into its power is through breathwork. Through breathing, we are able to link the mental and physical parts of our existence. Not only is this the beginning of confidence, but it is the beginning of us being able to overcome disease without medication.
Wim said that losing connection with ourselves is when we open ourselves up to fear and disease. Returning to our sense of center allows that confidence to be restored and empowers our body to restore health in our bodies. To recover this connection with yourself, Wim recommended this breathwork practice:
Sit down, fully present, and take a deep breath. This is what Wim calls the “life force.” Take it in, letting it fill your chest and belly, then let it go. Do it again, each time, allowing yourself to go into your mind deeper and deeper with each breath. Repeat this 30 times.
According to Wim, this breathwork practice actually reactivates and deploys your white blood cells to do their job. That’s why you begin to feel better, and illnesses can even regress or be reversed:
“[With each exhale,] you are blowing off carbon dioxide, which is acidic. … Depression and inflammation mean that acidity is too long present and has deregulated our systems. … [Through breathing] you are changing [your] biochemistry right now. … [Your] heart rate is going down. The inflammation is going down. … [Eventually] it goes as deep as the lymphatic system, and once it is cleansed through this deep breathing, the white [blood] cells — the lymphocytes — come alive because the garbage is gone. Life comes back. … [And] the immune system takes down the intruder.” – Wim Hof
In 30 deep breaths, all that happens. You’re able to battle anxiety, reduce inflammation, and regulate your mood. But the final and maybe most powerful step to this practice is to stop breathing after your last exhale. Here’s how Wim explained it:
“You take one last breath in, you blow it off, and you halt — you stop breathing after the exhalation. … And if you’re able to stay three minutes without air in the lungs, that means you are going deeply within — you are changing, [and] the brain STEM comes alive, survival comes alive. Then the adrenal axis — boom — reset of the body. Amazing! This is why the professors say, ‘This can battle out immune diseases. This is a transformational technique that will change mental healthcare.’” – Wim Hof
30 breaths, guys! With 30 intentional breaths a day, you can guide your physical and mental state towards greatness. If you want to equip your body to better fight COVID-19 or are just feeling a little under the weather with all the holiday activities, stop long enough to take 30 intentional breaths. Your body will thank you!
