One of my best friends from college is telling me I should try this Wim Hof program for some back problems I have been trying to deal with. I was just wondering if any BBIers have any experience with WHM that they could share?
In case you’re wondering, wtf is WHM, as I understand, it’s a cold therapy and breathing method. Saw something on this years ago on some Netflix thing - think it was Goop. But I don’t know too much else about.
WHM website - (
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Studies seem to back up the benefits although I think scientists are still a bit baffled at to how it works in some of the extreme cases of Wim's accomplishments. I think that aspect plays off of Wim being an expert meditator and the cold augments that.
I can personally attest that the breathing does give me better cold resistance and energy for exercise. The cold shower is actually kind of addictive. It too is a massive boost to cold resistance and I'll just have to see with time if it's boosting my immune system (although COVID norms really fucked my immune system due to my lack of exposure to any kind of illness. This last summer I got a cold three times when we started going out to places again).
I looked for some of these information sessions around here but didn’t see anything.
I looked for some of these information sessions around here but didn’t see anything.
I do the cold shower after my normal shower. I'm up to the 2 minutes like he recommends. Haven't researched what comes after that: more time? whole shower cold? ice bath? I think I'd get tired of doing the whole shower cold, especially in winter time. I'm open to an ice bath, but that just seems like a lot of work to do on a regular basis. Either buying and storing ice bags or constantly working the ice machine.
I already had a bit of tinnitus beforehand and it's gotten more noticeable since I started doing this. I really notice it when I meditate now.
Les Stroud of Survivorman fame also claims he's gotten tinnitus as well and it has not gone away in months. I guess it's fairly common. Maybe something to do with the breath holding?
What would you say has been the benefit? And can you tell me what the regiment is like? My friend from school said he does the ice bath once a week and only takes cold showers. Is that pretty much it?
+1. Oh, and fuck cold showers. I won't go in the pool if the water is less than 85 degrees.