Fitness guru dubbed 'Iceman' claims extreme temperatures can be lifesaving
| Jan 10, 2019, 12:24 IST
Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof claims extreme temperatures can be lifesaving and have immense benefits.
Since his first dive into the chilly waters of Amsterdam's Beatrixpark Canal at just 17, he felt a strong connection with the water.
"I felt this attraction to the cold water," Hof, who has become a fitness guru, told a news portal. "After I went in, I felt this understanding, an inside connection. It gave me a rush. My mind was free of gibberish."
He feels we have lost touch with nature and are not aware of our resilient we as humans can be.
"Over time, we as humans have developed a different attitude towards nature and we've forgotten about our inner power," Hof explains on his site. "This is the ability of our body to adapt to extreme temperature and survive within our natural environment."
Some research has shown that the cold can increase brown fat stores that help us stay warm and can also convert energy that we store up into heat.
To help others reap the rewards, Hof has designed the "Wim Hof Method" - a combination of cold exposure, meditation and breathing.
While many researchers still debate about the benefits, Hof swears by ice baths and cold showers. Ice, he says also can reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, sleep and improve your concentration.
Since his first dive into the chilly waters of Amsterdam's Beatrixpark Canal at just 17, he felt a strong connection with the water.
"I felt this attraction to the cold water," Hof, who has become a fitness guru, told a news portal. "After I went in, I felt this understanding, an inside connection. It gave me a rush. My mind was free of gibberish."
He feels we have lost touch with nature and are not aware of our resilient we as humans can be.
"Over time, we as humans have developed a different attitude towards nature and we've forgotten about our inner power," Hof explains on his site. "This is the ability of our body to adapt to extreme temperature and survive within our natural environment."
Some research has shown that the cold can increase brown fat stores that help us stay warm and can also convert energy that we store up into heat.
To help others reap the rewards, Hof has designed the "Wim Hof Method" - a combination of cold exposure, meditation and breathing.
While many researchers still debate about the benefits, Hof swears by ice baths and cold showers. Ice, he says also can reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, sleep and improve your concentration.