Everyday & Easy Hack To Keep Your Immune System Strong

I have this strangely passionate interest in health & fitness; from biohacking (like doing 40 power squads in the restaurant’s toilet before a big carb meal) to some old school “boereraad” or better known as ancestral wisdom (eating as wild and nutritious as possible or super green smoothies in the morning… Lekker maryna!)

Now that we’re in a time where our immune system needs to be strong, oppit and super ready to fight off any Corona or flu, we need to be geared up with any advice we can get. All of us have our own methods and ways or beliefs but I have discovered a hack that helped me not get a flu or cold in more than 14 months.

If you know me long enough, ask my mom, she didn’t have a choice, you would know I use to get a cold or the flu every 3 months… not fun. Then I got into this “optimal life focus” and wanted to thrive when it comes to health – no more colds or flu for standing outside at a braai in evening and if the wind was blowing… BOOM! Next day cold got me. jip, fragile

Immune system... but back in the day!

I changed a few things in my everyday life that I believe was the truning point that helped me cultivate a stronger immune system. Super Green Smoothie for 5 days a week AND a crazy hack that helps fight everyday stress and helps build a better immune system. It’s all credited to this crazy weird but strangely cool guy and his method, called The Wim Hoff Method.

Ok, so the story didn’t start with me jumping in cold baths or the freezing ocean first thing in the morning. It started with breathing…

A few years ago I began researching relaxation techniques to help me overcome the I-might-throw-up stress feeling before I walk onto stage. Most actors know that feeling. I find that having the I-might-throw-up stress feeling is a necessity but only if I can manage it. My research lead me to a relaxation technique called, The Wim Hoff Breathing Technique…

Let’s be honest here – I’ve come across some interesting characters in my life… but this guy is right up there! I watched a few Youtube videos where Wim Hof guided people through his relaxation/breathing technique. I could see he’s not like a cult leader or some whack weirdo looking for youtube hits – there is enough of those already. So, I tried the technique myself.

I don’t know how to explain the feeling other than… Your body goes into it’s most relax state; you get this pins and needles effect that’s weird and AMAZING at the same time. Like after ‘n lekker stywe branewyntjie or full spa-day (manne - you also enjoy that day just as much as your lady does ;)

It’s that feeling when you’re on holiday, sitting on the beach, watching the sunset with your loved ones, someone telling a flou joke, no stress or worries, braaibroodjies waiting patiently - epic cocktail in your hand... you just feel happy.

That’s the feeling. Or like WIm Hof would say, “you get high on your own supply” – oxygen and breathing.

All your worrying thoughts and stress fade away for THAT moment. When I felt this, I knew this is not one of those airy-fairy money-making meditation schemes but I personally experienced it and it had a massive impact on how I conquer the I-might-throw-up feeling or any stressful day ahead.

How does it work?

Step 1: sit or lay down, just get in the most comfortable position you can. Make sure you can expand your lungs freely without constricting them.

Step 2: close your eyes and try to clear your mind as much as you can. Inhale deeply through your nose or mouth, and exhale through the mouth. Fully inhale through your belly filling the diaphragm first, then the chest and then let it go, exhale without any force. Repeat this 30 times in short, powerful bursts of breathing.

NB: “you might experience light-headedness and tingling sensations in your hands and feet but these side effects are completely normal.”

Step 3: After the last exhalation (at 30/40 breaths), inhale one final time, as deeply as you can. Then let the air out and stop breathing until you feel the urge to breathe again… then...

Step 4: after holding for as long as you feel comfortable and feel the urge to breathe again, draw one big deep breath to fill your lungs. Big inhale… Feel your belly and chest expanding. When you reach full capacity, hold your breath for around 15 seconds, then let it go. That completes one round. Repeat this cycle 3-4 times without interval. After you completed your 3 – 4 rounds… take your time to open your eyes and start to move. Feel your body. Relaxed. Tension released. Calm. Peaceful. Happy.

Personally, there have been times where I have experienced uncontrollable belly laughter as I try to keep taking these deep breaths (my cousin and I did this with my brother on his wedding day... we had one of those laughing moments) not knowing why I am laughing, without thinking about anything that’s making me laugh… it just flows out of my body. It’s as if my body needed some sort of release. I have experienced tears rolling down friends faces without them feeling sad or knowing why they are crying. Your body needs to release this built up stress or tension.

Lots of people around me, after sharing this technique, thought it’s just one of those “Spiritual Airy-Fairy” made-up techniques and people “convince” themselves that it works. Not everyone will be open to try this but I have been doing it for quite some time and...

As of today, even my Mom does it every single morning. And mom is the airy-fairy Chuck Norris – not believing in these weird things; not wanting to lie down and start to cry or weirdly burst out in laughter during these exercises – If mom does it, then you know.

This breathing exercise helps you with:

- Stress reduction

- Better sleep

- More focus and mental clarity.

What Wim Hof says: “…by systematically and deeply breathing in and out, the pH-value in the blood increases (making the blood more alkaline) whereas the acidity lessens. Normally, on average the pH-value is 7.4. By exerting the breathing techniques, this becomes significantly higher and can even go up to 7.75.

The body is now experiencing a short-term form of hypoxia, which is a form of stress at the cellular level. Cells are not getting the normal levels of oxygen and their metabolism begins to shift. This stress will signal the body to react and strengthen. The body’s sympathetic responses is activated and the pathways necessary to deliver that oxygen to cells are strengthened. These pathways could include a number of different systems, such as increasing red blood cells, increasing lung capacity, improved circulation and improved metabolic efficiency over the long term.”

I try and do this 5 times a week in the afternoon to let my body know the workday is over and I can now start my evening shut-down routine; being present with my family and friends. Maybe this can help those stressful workdays or just help you feel lekker for the weekend ahead! Even now, to tell Corona, “Jy, TSJEK jy!! Ek skop jou binne-in!!”

Give it a try - let me know what your experience was like. Remember to first do your own research on this topic and then gun it all out!

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