I tried Wim Hof breathing … and it went better than most tinder dates

Laying on a carpet and breathing heavily together with complete strangers – well, that was… well… awkward. But then I was holding my breath for TWO minutes! 2 minutes! I mean whaaat???

There are those days when I simply feel overwhelmed – by everything. On those days, not a single routine or ritual does the trick. No caffeine high, no endorphin rush from a dance class, nada. It's like I'm smothered by a thick fog, and it's bloody stressful. The only thing that gives me ease in those moments is my breathing - a lesson I learnt quite recently at a Wim Hof workshop.

Yes, Wim Hof, the crazy Dutchman who bathes in ice water as if it were the Caribbean Sea. If you don’t know the man who can spend nearly two hours in ice water and climbed the Kilimanjaro in shorts, this vice documentary gives you a pretty good idea about how "crazy" he is. I mean, don't get me wrong, these records are wild, but what struck me even more was his breathing technique I learnt at the workshop.

The awkward hippie breathing experience

So there I was, lying on the carpet, ready to breathe with a bunch of people I'd never met before. Feeling awkward? Absof****utely. This was super hippie dippie, but in a very uncomfortable way. The instructor taught us the breathing technique. It’s basically taking a full breath into your belly, then let it rise to your chest, and simply release it. It's not about exhaling forcefully, but rather letting go. Not an easy task when you are nervous like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

But the moment the instructor kicked off the session, the energy in the room shifted – and all awkwardness was gone. Because the task was simple: Everyone had only one job to do: to breathe in this specific pattern. And that’s what we did. In the beginning, I was really afraid that I would faint or that my body would make funny noises. Spoiler alert: All bodies make funny noises when breathing intensively.

Ants running up and down my body

After each round, which lasts mostly between 30 and 40 breaths, you hold your breath until you can’t. Then you take one single breath and hold it for another 15 seconds. The instructor guided us through five rounds, and with each one, the sensations in my body amped up. It felt like millions of ants were marching up and down my legs, arms, even up to my forehead.

My muscles were twitching, my legs shaking, and every time I held my breath, I found myself in a state of complete stillness. Cemetery still. My mind was at ease, and I thought, "Wow, this must be what a meditative state feels like." The moment I had this thought, the state was, of course, over, but well… you win some, you lose some.

Hitting that sweet spot of relief you get after… well, you know…🌋

What really surprised me was that in the final round, I was able to hold my breath for over two minutes. Two freaking minutes! I'd never imagined that was possible. I mean, of course, apnea divers can do it. But me? I felt like Arielle, ready to jump into the ocean.

Speaking of the ocean, now it’s getting a bit delicate. There is this moment after you take that one single breath and hold it again for another 15 seconds. Those 15 seconds! Sooo good. It felt as if I’d reached that sweet spot of relief you normally get when you… well, you know 🌋.

And after that? Pure bliss. I'm talking waterfalls of relaxation – all from the simple act of breathing. Although I have to admit, it’s a bit strange though when you experience this in a room full of strangers. But well, aren’t we all a bit hippie?

I must say, overall, the whole experience was absolutely incredible. Before this workshop, I thought we would just breathe a bit to calm ourselves down to survive the following ice bath. But for me, the breathing became the main act, and I will definitely do a deep dive on the science behind that soon. But for now, I’ll invite you to just breathe. Breathe, feel, and hit that spot. 🌋🍫"

This is what you need

If you want to start with an in-person workshop, you can check the Wim Hof Website. There is a list of all events, instructors, workshops, and retreats.

If you prefer to start alone at home (believe me, I get it) you have all the digital options. I use the app (parts of it are free, other parts you have to pay for)

Download the App for Android
Download the App for iPhone

And last but not least, there is always YouTube, where Wim himself offers a tutorial on the breathing technique and a guided breathing session for beginners.

Attention: Safety First! If you wanna try it, please ensure you lay down properly. Don’t do it while driving or laying in a bathtub. Because it can happen, if you do it intensely, that you lose consciousness shortly. My instructor told me it’s nothing to worry about, but you shouldn’t be in a situation where this can get potentially dangerous.

So here we go!

If you give it a go, please let me know how you felt the breathing in your body? What sensations you had?

Cheers, Katie

P.S. I might have added too many Schitt’s Creek gifs. But uuuurggg… Daaavid. If you haven’t watched the show, do it. Your body will be flooded with endorphins due to uncontrollable laughters.