Participants fight to control their breathing in the ice bath at the Wim Hof Method workshop. I set out to explore whether the practice - which asks participants to throw out conventions of comfort and face their fears - is overhyped or restorative. Many Hof enthusiasts practice the method with religious devotion.Д«ut the science supporting the miraculous claims is scant, and the method doesn't come without risks. The Wim Hof Method aims to relieve peopleвЂ™s 21st-century woes, treat their trauma, and help combat disease. 'It takes away the shit within and leaves who you are and what you are within your control.'Д®veryone is able to plunge into the cold, Hof says - men, women, children. вЂњThe cold sounds very severe and very merciless, but it is very righteous as well,' Hof tells me. Its creator is a Dutch 60-year-old extreme athlete known as the 'Iceman.' His method is a combination of breathing, meditation, and cold exposure, and it will make you 'happy, strong, and healthy.' Or at least, that's the promise. This is the world of Wim Hof, a trendy movement that prompts people around the world to take an ice bath or cold plunge in the dead of winter. It's the last place I thought IвЂ™d be on Super Bowl Sunday. The air's a brisk 36 degrees, and there's a light drizzle, yet weвЂ™re stripped down to swimsuits, chatting nervously. Additional experience in medical training and physical therapy may also be beneficial.The sidewalk is filled with ski bros, firefighters, Goop enthusiasts, and people who told me they were there to relieve their chronic pain. Make sure you find someone who has completed the training program and has an official license. Ice baths may be part of the program but exposure to cold increases the risks of adverse effects. You will be taught breathing, yoga, and meditation practices. Working with an instructor in person allows you to receive personal guidance and immediate feedback.

They are sometimes done in conjunction with fitness activities or yoga.

These workshops can sometimes be modified to accommodate your specific needs. If you choose to learn with a certified instructor you can participate in a workshop. Take off a few days to rest if itвЂ™s needed. But youвЂ™re encouraged to never force the practice. Typically, the method is practiced daily for at least 20 minutes. YouвЂ™re meant to develop mental strength, determination, and an understanding to reach and recognize your own limits. The course is designed to increase in difficulty as your mind and body adapt to increasing stimuli and different circumstances. Homework will be assigned throughout the training to reinforce your practice. The course includes breathing exercises, meditation, and cold training. All of the techniques and exercises will be thoroughly explained and demonstrated. Upon signing up for the online course you will be guided through the techniques and exercises through video lessons. You can learn the Wim Hof Method on your own at home using the official online video course or by finding a certified instructor. The study suggests that people can learn to control their autonomic nervous system to bring about similar changes. Scientists believe the brain rather than the body helped Hof to respond to cold exposure. More recently, a 2017 case study of Wim Hof found that he is able to tolerate extreme cold by creating an artificial stress response in his body. More research is needed to expand upon these findings. It was useful in preventing AMS and reversing symptoms that developed.

A group of 26 trekkers used the technique while hiking Mt. People who learned the Wim Hof Method also had fewer flu-like symptoms and increased plasma epinephrine levels.ДЄ 2014 report studied the effectiveness of the Wim Hof Method to reduce acute mountain sickness (AMS). Scientists believe this could be especially useful in treating inflammatory conditions, especially autoimmune conditions. This could be due to the anti-inflammatory effect produced by the techniques. Results showed that the sympathetic nervous system and the immune system can be voluntarily influenced. Participants in a 2014 study performed breathing techniques such as consciously hyperventilating and retaining the breath, meditated, and were immersed in ice cold water.

Scientists need to learn if the results are due to the breathing exercises, meditation, or cold exposure. More research is needed to understand exactly how the method works to bring about benefits. Scientists are learning about how HofвЂ™s breathing techniques affect brain and metabolic activity, inflammation, and pain. Currently, there are several studies underway researching the physical effects of the Wim Hof Method. Hof has worked with scientists to gain credibility by proving that his techniques work to bring about health benefits.

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