TD 1
WHAT IS THE WIM HOF METHOD? The Wim Hof method co
nsists of three phases. The first phase involves 30 deep breaths - you take a powerful breath in, fully filling the lungs, then “let go” of the exhale. You repeat this cycle at a steady rapid pace 30 times. At this stage, you may feel tingling sensations in your body or slight light headedness. Once you complete the 30 deep breaths, exhale fully to empty all the air out of your lungs. Hold the breath here for as long as you can. When you feel the urge to breath, take a full deep breath in. Hold the breath for ten seconds, then let it go. The body may experience a normal head-rush sensation. These three phases are usually repeated for three consecutive rounds. Then at the end of October in 2016, the couple heard about Wim Hof through Joe Rogan’s podcast. “We watched a documentary about him, and it just struck a chord. Wim’s message that you could actually heal yourself, through breathing and cold, was incredible.” This spurred them into action and further online research about it and its attendant benefits. “The benefits that I was really looking for were more energy, a stronger immune system and dealing with stress better,” explains Níall. “And I remember you, Josie, looking over my shoulder reading about it, dealing with grief, trauma and emotional stress. Each of us was looking at it for different reasons. We bought the ten-week course and after watching the first video, I was surprised at how different I felt. That’s when the transformation started to take place.” Josie remembers the initial experience like “breathing into my toes and breathing into the ends of my fingertips… it was like there was oxygen flying around every bit of my body. Initially, I felt a bit woozy. And then I just felt so calm and happy. It changed the whole dynamic of my body. Then we went into the cold [shower]. I didn’t think I’d be able to do that at all because it was the deep darkness of winter and the thought of getting into a freezing cold shower at ten at night was grim. But we got in and did it and the sense of achievement... It was the most life-changing thing I had ever done.” “There are all these proven benefits, but then there’s another part of it which is the empowerment you feel,” says Níall. “As you progress through the ten-week course, there’s a point around week five when you have to take a tenMichelle I live in Lahinch and the thing about Lahinch is that it’s so tidal. So, some mornings the sea is way out and the wind is so strong and so cold. And by the time you even get to the water, my mind would be going, “what are you doing Michelle?!” Once you get in, after a minute and a half it’s nice. The power it gave me just knowing I could do it. It’s just sensational. Over time we started attracting people, and in my local area now there are swims three times a day. There’s a friend of mine Sophie Hellyer and she started the hashtag #risefierce and so there’s a movement now of women all over the world using this hashtag. It’s inspiring women to swim in the sea. Rachel I started a whatsapp group after the first Wim Rise last August. The people I met through it have been great. There’s 50 of us in the whatsapp now. It’s just so nice and I wanted to keep doing it throughout the winter. I’m going down to the Forty Foot at least twice a week now. I live in Cabinteely so it’s handy. Ann-Marie It’s definitely becoming a movement. It’s creating a tribe for people. Because we’re all so distant because of social media. No one connects any more. 46