After an hour, the CO2-levels were even lower. Based on scientific research (Kox et al., 2012), Wim Hof’s blood levels indicated, after 30 minutes of implementing the breathing technique, a significantly low dose of CO2. By practicing the breathing technique, you will influence the ratio between O2 and CO2 in the blood.
The WHM breathing technique is designed as such that anyone can reach the largest surface possible. When you breathe calmly, this can stretch up to 70 m2, yet when you inhale deeply this can expand to 100 m2 (Mandigers & Van Straaten-Huygen, 2004). The lungs are the diffusion surface where exchange between O2 and CO2 takes place. The breathing and meditation Wim uses are based on Tibetan Tummo techniques. Also the breath is closely tied to meditation or intention which is one of the three pillars of Wim’s method. In fact, the way you breathe strongly affects the chemical and physiological activities in your body. Breathing is the easiest and most instrumental part of the autonomic nervous system to control and navigate. The amount of oxygen that we inhale through our breathing influences the amount of energy that is released into our body cells. Oxygen goes in through our lungs, whereas carbon dioxide (although necessary), flows out. Every day, we inhale and exhale on average 20.000 times to make sure we absorb sufficient oxygen. Kox and Pickkers concluded that the breathing technique was responsible for this.īreathing is the ultimate life source. Normally the body reacts terribly to this, however the trained volunteers were able to keep the body’s reaction at a far lower level than their untrained counterparts. They all got an injection with an endotoxin from the Escherichia coli bacteria. In this research twelve healthy volunteers were trained in the Wim Hof Method and twelve others were not. The most important scientific result for Hof came in 2014 with the publication of Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response in humans, Kox, Pickkers et al. This set the fire for him to spread his message and for more studies to commence. Wim Hof had conscious control over his immune system.
In 2011, at the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen several researchers found something previously thought of as impossible. Yes, control the parts your not suposed to be able to… A third of this being a breathing technique that allows you to control the autonomous systems of the body. Wim is able to accomplish these feats through using ‘ The Wim Hof Method‘ (WHM).
WIM HOF BREATHING SCIENCE FULL
He has climbed Everest and Kilimanjaro in only shorts and shoes, stayed comfortably in ice baths for hours, and run a full marathon in the highest desert (50 degrees celsius, 122 Fahrenheit) with no water or food. The Dutchman is the holder of 20 Guinness World Records for withstanding extreme temperatures. Tummo uses a combination of breathing and visualization techniques, which is used to enter a deep state of meditation that is ultimately used to increase a person’s ‘inner heat.Wim Hof is our reference point and a big part of Everest’s method. It was practiced by monks in Tibetan Buddhism, and they used it to stay warm in cold conditions. This breathing method originates from an ancient technique called Tummo, which literally means ‘inner fire’. We will be focusing on the breathing aspect, and particularly the origins of this technique, and the science that backs up the claims. This method is composed of three different pillars, which include breathing, cold therapy, and commitment. The Wim Hof breathing method is a simple exercise you can do almost anywhere and has extremely powerful health benefits. However, most of us are unaware of the tremendous potential that breathing techniques can have on the body and health in general. Breathing is something we’re always doing, and most of the time we are unconsciously doing so, as it’s regulated by the autonomic nervous system.