Did you know that the cold brings us interesting benefits to our immune system? This is what is known as the Wim Hof Method, the method developed by Wim Hof, a Dutchman who is known by the nickname of the Iceman. The motive? You can withstand very cold temperatures without your body resenting.
Since 1995, this method has been known, which, to this day, has been discovered to it can be very beneficial to improve our defenses. In this article, we want to focus on knowing what the Wim Hof Method consists of so that, thus, you understand the relationship between low temperatures and health.
What is the Wim Hof Method?
It is a method in which breathing exercises are carried out and ends with a cold water bath. The combination of both concepts makes the body oxygenate and alkaline, while the cold helps reduce inflammation, and the body relaxes and is in a state of greater well-being.
This revolutionary method is based on three key concepts defended by Wim Hof, namely:
1. The benefits of the cold. When our body is exposed to the cold, the adipose tissue acts as thermal energy, and this makes bad fat eliminate naturally. In addition, the cold also helps to release a greater amount of endorphins, a hormone with which we manage to sleep better and is ideal for improving the immune system.
2. Oxygenation of the body through breathing. Another pillar on which the Wim Hof Method is based is to argue that conscious breathing manages to increase the circulation of oxygen in the blood and, therefore, we feel more vital and the body is more active in the face of the response to pathogens that can damage our health.
3. Commit to your health. And finally, for this method to work, Hof says it’s important that you create a real commitment to yourself to, every day, take steps that allow you to live better and take care of your health.
How to do the Wim Hof Method?
Now that we already know what this method is based on, we’re going to find out what steps are to be taken if you want to carry it out. Here we leave them:
- The method begins with doing 30 deep breaths, that is, breaths in which you fill your lungs to the fullest.
- When you release the air, you must do slow exhalations and, above all, never run out of air in your lungs.
- Only in the last breath, the 30th, will you have to exhale all the air stored in the lungs and endure as long as you can without breathing.
- As long as you’re holding up the breathe, it’s time you have to activate the body. How’s that? Doing push-ups. You’ll have to stop doing them when you can’t take it anymore without breathing.
- Now, you’ll have to inhale again, filling your lungs as much as you can, and hold on for 15 seconds with the air in your body.
- For a proper operation, you have to repeat the exercise 3 times.
- When you finish all 3 series, the cold action enters: you must take a shower of completely cold water.
You should know that, to follow this method correctly, there is an app that you can download on your mobile to better control your progress and the exercises proposed for each day.
Bibliography
– Saz Peiró, P. M., & Saz-Tejero, S. (2020). Cold training as a health factor (No.. ART-2020-116193).
– Hof, W., & Jong, K. (2017). The power of the cold. Obeliary Editions.