When we began to receive reports of the corona virus and it’s symptomatology, the VERY FIRST thing I thought of was the Wim Hof method of breathing and that I need to get started again with it right away. I have practiced the Wim Hof method (which is more than just breathwork) on and off for years now.
Wim Hof, nicknamed the Iceman, is a Dutch extreme athlete who originally became famous for setting many Guinness World Records and his incredible feats like: running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot and wearing only shorts (in the snow), swimming underneath ice for 66 meters holding his breath, climbing Mt. Everest in a pair of shorts, and so much more. See his documentary by Vice: The Superhuman World of Wim Hof: The Iceman.
While these feats are beyond amazing, the training methods he developed to accomplish his goals are what are of importance to us today. Wim’s whole system is absolutely worth exploring, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll be focusing on the breathing method because it’s incredibly easy to practice, can have very profound effects on the immune system and lung function, and is free to learn how to do.
Wim figured out, and this has been shown scientifically (see video below), how to willfully influence his autonomic nervous system and innate immune response. This was literally thought to be impossible until Wim came along.
So what does this mean for us? Practitioners of the Wim Hof Method have a stronger immune response to pathogens compared to others.
As I outlined in my earlier post Breathwork Part 1, many breathing exercises can increase lung function and improve airway clearance (the ability of the lung to move mucus and phlegm and ultimately clear it out of the airways).
Well before the corona virus, I advised many of my patients that have decreased lung function and are prone to lung infection, bronchitis, and pneumonia to practice Wim’s breathing technique with great success. So if the science isn’t enough, I have personally felt and seen the positive effects of his breathing method clinically.
The method is very easy. It includes a series of quick deep breaths followed by some breathholds and other small details. Instead of trying to summarize it, I’d rather point you to instruction from Wim himself and resources from his website.
To learn all about the breathing technique and how to do it follow this link to the Wim Hof Method Breathing Page which also includes his Breathing Bubble, a guided video on the breathing method narrated by Wim.
On a side note, I’ve personally combined the Wim Hof breath work with nasal breathing to get the immune benefits of nitric oxide production. I do the method just as Wim instructs with inhaling through the nose and exhaling through my mouth.
Are there any contraindications? On the FAQ page, under the question Is this method for everybody? states, “The Wim Hof Method can be practiced by every healthy individual. If you are dealing with a serious medical condition, we advise to counsel a healthcare professional before attempting any of the WHM techniques.”
Follow these links to learn about The Science Behind The Wim Hof Method, and the Wim Hof Method Benefits. These benefits (both physical and mental) go well beyond just the immune system and lung function and have been scientifically shown to improve many of the pre-existing conditions associated with more severe cases of COVID-19 infection.
For those of you that want to explore the whole Wim Hof Method, you can start with his Free Mini Class.
For those of you interested in diving deep into the method like I have, you can take either of his online courses: Fundamentals or the Classic Video Course. I purchased and went through both of them many years back.
I would say the Fundamentals course is gentler and meant more for those that have a low level of fitness or health problems. The Classic Video Course is more bare bones and probably better for more athletic types in decent shape. Wim is offering discounts on his courses during the pandemic time, so be sure to look out for the coupon field at checkout and enter the code CORONA35.
And finally, a quick video on Wim Hof’s take on Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Take care all and breathe!!!!