Deep Breathing and Oxygen Therapy - The Wim Hof Method Explained
Wim Hof also known as the Ice Man is a holder of 22 world records, and well-known for his ability to withstand extreme colds on the mountain top of Kalimanjaro, holding breath under water under real ice and surviving an injection of a an acute virus. You can read more about him with help of Google.
...prior to jumping into the theoretic, I would like to share the author's personal message regarding COVID-19.
The element that gives us life - oxygen
Oxygen is an odourless, tasteless, colourless gas found in elemental form in the atmosphere. The oxygen can be created from the metabolic activity of green plants and is found in almost every plant and animal species. With on exception of anaerobic bacteria, viruses, and fungi, oxygen is vital for maintaining life in all living organisms on platen Earth.
Oxygen deficiency, or hypoxia (oxygen starvation on a cellular level), can lead to prolonged disease. Proper oxygen levels can be reduced by a number of factors:
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poor diet
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alcohol abuse
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smoking
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stress related anxiety
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lack of exercise
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depression
All of the above can deplete your body from the required amount of oxygen available to the cells.
Deep breathing can balance the function of the entire body, including respiration, circulation, metabolism, digestion, elimination, and glandular function.
The issue is our bodies cannot cleanse, maintain and repair itself without the oxygen supplied by breathing. Deep, continuous and easy with full movement of breath predisposes for relaxation, and increased oxygenation can be inductive to a spontaneous emotional release. Negative emotions such as anxiety, impatience and nervousness can be repelled by full breathing.
Breathing through your lymph
There’s a profound impact of breathing on the circulation of lymph. The diaphragmatic motions of respiration mechanically pump lymphatic fluid (produced by our lymph nodes) through the body. When breathing is limited, fluid builds up, resulting in oedema* and the buildup of waste products from cellular biology. Detoxification clearly can be achieved successfully unless lymph circulation is impaired.
Oxygen as a clean-aid
Oxygen is a very important aid in cleansing the body. Extra oxygen is used by the body to oxidise or burn up toxins. If oxygen therapy is given continuously and for an appropriate amount of time, the body can cleanse itself of all toxins. To put it simply, harmful chemicals and the substances will be detoxified and anaerobic microorganisms will be unable to survive or live in the oxygen-rich environment of our bodies.
How voluntary is our breathing?
Breathing is the only bi-modal function of our bodies that we can effectively perform consciously and unconsciously. Controlled by two sets of nerves, the involuntary (automatic) nervous system and the voluntary one. Many illnesses and health issues appear to be the result from an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system. Conscious and focused work with the breath can positively affect the autonomic nervous system and many of its involuntary aspects.
The Breathing Technique
One of the greatest techniques known to men alongside with the holotropic, rebirth breathing is the Wim Hof method breathing. Wim Hof is a master of a deep breath, who has been through some paradigmatic “events” allowing him to suppress a purposely injected deadly virus, running through Sahara without water and aping Mt. Kilimanjaro just wearing his shorts!
The man recommends the following simple breathing routine to eliminate stress, anxiety, relief from emotional upset, increase your metabolism and oxygenate every one of your cell in the body. The latter is known to reduce toxicity and acidity of the body dramatically.
The Wim Hof Methodology
Wim Hof recommends the following exercise that can take up to 10-15 minutes of your time when performed as one of your morning rituals or routines before the start of your day:
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Lay in a comfortable position with straight feet and arms relaxed in a direct outwards position. I would recommend using a cushion for your head support.
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Inhale deeply 30 x times by using your abdominal-chest-head sections cycling through them in order of appearance (or as per the Wim Hof Method video below). Starting with abdominal breathing, then rolling into the chest, pretend your diaphragm is a like a trampoline puffing the air in from your belly button all the way up to your head.
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Breathe in easily and deeply, allowing to exhale without applying any extra force.
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After a 30th breath, now you should hold your breathing for as long as you feel comfortable (to begin it's ok to hold for 1-2 mins). I choose to have a quick exploratory meditation session.
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Continue with the second set of 30 breaths. Upon completion, you should be comfortable to hold your breath (for up to 2:30 min - 3:00 mins)
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The final stage will be your third set of 30 breaths which should propel your mind into an oxygenation paradise sending tingling sensation throughout your limbs and entire body (here you may not want to breathe up to 4:30 mins).
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Some people experience an episode of fainting away for 2-3 seconds which is NORMAL and you shouldn’t worry here at all.
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Upon completion give thanks to Mother Earth for the supply of the everlasting oxygen to our bodies on this planet. Oxygen is God. Breathe joyfully!
__________________________________________________________________________HAUX! HAUX!
If you followed the steps above correctly and with a continuation of at least one month your experience will be expected but not limited to elevated energy levels, better neuron response times and immunity to most known respiratory infections!
If you're best learning mode is by watching, please check out this video below by the deep breathing guru himself.
The video - Breathing tutorial by Wim Hof
*Oedema- a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body.
Nurzhan
I’ll definitely try this technique next time!