I took a cold bath for 21 days... which turned into every other day since. Here’s why:

Ice/Cold Baths

After discovering the Wim Hof breathing technique, I just had find out more about this guy... so it all just got weirder for me.

They call Wim Hof the Human Iceman.

Wim Hof has a Guinness Book of World Records for the longest swim under ice… Why would you even do this?? I’m seeing that guy’s face in the film, Cool Runnings, after he heard he needs to go to Canada to compete in the Winter Olympics, “ICE?! You mean, as an ICE, ICE??!”

He basically does these things to artificially induce stress response in his brain which then creates super benefits for the human mind and body.

A cold bath or shower can help you with:

- Reducing stress levels

- Higher alertness

- Improve your immune system

- Increase your willpower

- Weight loss

Doesn’t this sound like something to give a go? Not convinced?

I slowly started incorporating these cold baths. A quick cold shower over the weekend before a busy day; or quick cold shower on days I just felt tired and couldn’t seem to wake-up (not even a koffietjie helped, then I knew it was time for a cold bath/shower).

During the December ‘19 holiday, Izel and I would go take these 2-3min morning swim sessions in the ocean. The water was LEEU-koud (meaning... well... moerse cold).

It’s like a cleanse for the body and mind. You know that feeling, after having a good swim or quick goof, you just feel fresh and joyful.

But I have read about the benefits by then and wanted to push myself even more.

So I did. I took on a challenge early in 2020, which I found on Wim Hof’s app called, WHM, and I did a 21-day cold bath challenge every morning. 2 minutes in cold water, and then I go through my normal routine, adding the warm water and taking my normal bath.

The effects:

- I usually got a cold like Cheslin Kolbe got through a gap, quick and easy. Now, it’s been a year after slowly incorporating these cold showers and breathing and I haven’t been sick in over a year. I might add, my change in nutrition definitely added to it.

- I feel much more energized in the morning. Lots of energy and much less brain fog.

- In a weird way, I feel I have already accomplished something challenging for each day. It might be placebo, but if it works, I don’t care wat ‘cebo it is.

- I can’t fully ascribe this to the cold baths; but it’s helped me just be more present and joyful. To allow myself to listen to my body and become aware and feel grateful of how happy and healthy I am.

Guess who joined me? Mom is doing it now as well. Yes! My mom. Listen, Miss Chuck Norris of airy-fairy ideas, says she literally wakes up excited to do the breathing and cold showers… Mom is thriving with less migraines and giving me a go on the tennis court once a week. Serena van den Berg!

I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice to anyone, so please go do your own research before attempting these exercises on your own. There are epic resources which will help you see what the Wim Hof technique is all about.

Where can you find trustworthy resources? There is a show on Netflix called, The Goop Lab, and in episode 2 they deep dive into Wim Hof and his breathing technique and cold baths. This is a great start! Youtube is another resource with lots of videos, and his app, WHM, is also a great way to get a safe way to start exploring these challenges.

What this all comes down to for me is that we were designed to be happy and healthy. I truly believe that. The world moves in a way that makes it “easier” to follow in that stream everyone else is moving; or we can sometimes turn around and swim upstream to experience the things we miss out on. We miss out on these moments and health and happiness because of this daily rush of the world and people around us. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to cultivate a more present, healthy, adventurous, joyful and creative life.

If anyone has done the Wim Hof workshop in CPT please let me know where I can get in contact with them, would love to do this workshop. And let us know if you tried it and what you experienced?

Ok, lekker maryntjies! Stay home, keep growing and don’t forget: Be Wise, Sanitize!