Breathing, exposure to cold and commitment. These are the three basic precepts of the Wim Hof method, the technique being used by celebrities such as David Beckham, tennis world number Novak Djokovic, former Manchester United soccer player Patrice Evra or singer Lady Gaga. A physical and mental training that has achieved that its creator, of the same name, has managed to break records that still have a good part of the scientists and doctors at an international level in suspense.
It all started when he lost his wife. Victim of mental illness, Hof's wife took her own life in 1995. He was left to raise the four small children they had together. To overcome it, he says himself, he decided to dedicate his life to "proving that the human will has no limits", and he began to break world records. Among his many feats is running a half marathon in the Arctic Circle barefoot, swimming 66 meters below a thick layer of ice, climbing Everest without assisted breathing and running a marathon through the Namibian desert without drinking water.
According to Wim Hof, exposure to cold strengthens the muscular system that surrounds the veins and improves the blood supply system and reduces heart rate. In addition, this technique improves the immune system and allows daily stress to be tolerated more easily, always according to its ideologue. In addition, some of its practitioners claim to have improved their physical and mental performance, even noting notable improvements in the development of their work activity.
The second basic pillar is conscious breathing. “‘Breathe, it's free! ”, She repeats between laughs in many of her interviews. The method that he proposes consists of performing rounds of 25 to 30 deep breaths, without pause, and performing apneas of several seconds between them. Uri Imperial tells it simply: "When you oxygenate the cells of your body to the maximum, you have more energy and stress levels are reduced." Between the rounds of breathing (it is recommended to start with three a day, little by little), there are parts of the body that seem to really vibrate. Body heat increases, and one is able to hold his breath much longer than he imagines.
To verify its effects, at the Magazine we wanted to experience this revolutionary methodology first-hand in one of the accredited centers for its implementation. This is ICE Barcelona, located in Vilassar de Mar (Barcelona), a company that teaches the methodology developed by Wim Hof. Its founder is Oriol Imperial, also known as the Barcelona Ice Man, a former bank worker who decided to break with everything as a result of the pandemic and dedicated himself to following the philosophy of the Dutch guru.
“Before, it was impossible for me to control my nerves. Since I started practicing it, my character has completely changed.” The moments before getting into the water are one of the most complicated barriers on a psychological level. Imperial has two individual iron bathtubs filled with ice cubes, and a larger one where she holds group baths when she runs workshops.
The temperature, he says, is about 0 degrees. “Look at a fixed point and breathe in a rhythmic way. Count to five on inhalation and do the same when you exhale. It is as if all the pores of your skin are pierced with pins. Little by little, the pain is reduced and the body begins to get used to it. The skin begins to stop feeling and concentration plays a fundamental role to continue holding on impassively at that temperature.
Oriol Imperial clarifies that the effects "can begin to be noticed after a few weeks or many months, depending on the person." In addition, it must also be taken into account that all those with cardiovascular problems, nervous system disorders or respiratory problems should not start the method without first consulting expert medical sources. The same is true for pregnant women.
In 2011, Hof was subjected to several medical experiments to try to demonstrate the effects of his methods on a scientific level. Among the tests, one of them was the injection of a bacterial endotoxin that should have caused symptoms such as fever, cold, headaches and pain throughout the body. According to his account, the super athlete managed to reverse all these symptoms with "the conscious segregation of adrenaline to activate the immune system." However, many of the scientific sources consulted still require more exhaustive research to dare to determine its real effects at a biological level.
