Anyone here ever try Wim Hof breathwork?

Frederick Foresight said:
Hmm. I don't know. It sounds a bit woo-woo. But as you said, you've not been doing it for very long. I'd be interested to know how it compares after a time with what you were doing before, that is, just regular mindfulness or breathing meditation.
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You may be right, but I have never achieved the same sensation while meditating, but admittedly I suck at meditation.
 
I agree it differs with the individual. The more you push the further away you’re going to push that line. But at some point there should in theory be a point that you are here and then you vanish lol. But I’m sure ur reflex wouldn’t allow you to reach that point.
 
CaptainObvious said:
I think, don't know, but think at some point it would just be a reflex to breathe if you were approaching a danger zone, but again, that time will vary from person to person.
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ElCubano said:
I agree it differs with the individual. The more you push the further away you’re going to push that line. But at some point there should in theory be a point that you are here and then you vanish lol. But I’m sure ur reflex wouldn’t allow you to reach that point.
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That was my thinking, too. That our natural reflex to breathe would prevent us from doing ourselves harm. But per the link I posted earlier:

When we hold out breath for long durations, oxygen levels decrease and carbon dioxide accumulates in the body. That changes the concentration of free hydrogen ions, which makes these cells more excitable, leading to abnormal functions.

In the heart, a lack of oxygen can cause abnormalities of rhythm and affect the pumping action of the heart. It can damage your kidneys and liver as well.

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/...people, it's safe,pumping action of the heart

This would suggest that the breathing reflex might not prevent damage with chronic exposure. At least that's my layman's interpretation. I would like to pin it down more precisely, with perhaps a relevant range of acceptable breath hold durations if there is such a thing, but I haven't found such a source. If you guys have any relevant links, I'd be much obliged if you'd share them.
 
tango29 said:
On another note, the showers are getting cold again, at least here.
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Oh, yeah. The way I describe it to my non-participating friends is that during the summer, cold showers are like ice-cream for the body. In winter, it feels more like a cross between being electrocuted and being attacked by wild animals. But perhaps I exaggerate a tad for effect. :D

I'm no longer using a watch to time myself. Rather, I have an 8-step sequence, each of which lasts about 15 seconds. And so, I count to 15 for each step. It keeps my mind occupied and very much in the moment, and I'd like to think I exceed 2 minutes by a small margin.
 
Frederick Foresight said:
That was my thinking, too. That our natural reflex to breathe would prevent us from doing ourselves harm. But per the link I posted earlier:

When we hold out breath for long durations, oxygen levels decrease and carbon dioxide accumulates in the body. That changes the concentration of free hydrogen ions, which makes these cells more excitable, leading to abnormal functions.

In the heart, a lack of oxygen can cause abnormalities of rhythm and affect the pumping action of the heart. It can damage your kidneys and liver as well.

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/what-happens-when-you-hold-your-breath#:~:text=For most people, it's safe,pumping action of the heart

This would suggest that the breathing reflex might not prevent damage with chronic exposure. At least that's my layman's interpretation. I would like to pin it down more precisely, with perhaps a relevant range of acceptable breath hold durations if there is such a thing, but I haven't found such a source. If you guys have any relevant links, I'd be much obliged if you'd share them.
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Interesting. I don't time myself so it would be hard to apply it in my case. I sometimes push the bar, but for the most part I inhale when I feel the need to breathe. Like Captain pointed out, it feels like an eternity sometimes as my mind is so still that I am lost in that moment.
 
tango29 said:
On another note, the showers are getting cold again, at least here.
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I'm now looking at the possibility of stopping the cold showers. When I first started them about 15 months ago, I did them everyday, including after my workouts. Then I learned that post-workout cold immersion of any sort can impede the hypertrophic response. Some observers suggested that one should wait anywhere from 4 hours to a full day post-workout before the cold exposure to sidestep its hypertrophy-attenuating effect. But the argument has been made that anyone seeking hypertrophy rather than, say, performance-related recovery, should probably avoid cold exposure altogether. While this conclusion appears too all-or-nothing, it does make some logical sense. Since a hard workout takes some days from which to recover, and adaptations, if any, come afterwards, then where in such a schedule does cold exposure fit? It seems to be edged out.

Any thoughts by my fellow weekend warriors would be much appreciated.
 
Frederick Foresight said:
I'm now looking at the possibility of stopping the cold showers. When I first started them about 15 months ago, I did them everyday, including after my workouts. Then I learned that post-workout cold immersion of any sort can impede the hypertrophic response. Some observers suggested that one should wait anywhere from 4 hours to a full day post-workout before the cold exposure to sidestep its hypertrophy-attenuating effect. But the argument has been made that anyone seeking hypertrophy rather than, say, performance-related recovery, should probably avoid cold exposure altogether. While this conclusion appears too all-or-nothing, it does make some logical sense. Since a hard workout takes some days from which to recover, and adaptations, if any, come afterwards, then where in such a schedule does cold exposure fit? It seems to be edged out.

Any thoughts by my fellow weekend warriors would be much appreciated.
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I never take them after working out for this reason. I take mine in the morning. When I shave it is cold from the beginning, otherwise start with warm and then flip it to cold and soak the whole body. For whatever reason I let it hit the top of my head for a minute or so then move to the back of the head, and then the neck. After that I hit the rest of the body, and I would guess it is a total of 4 to 5 minutes. I am due for my monthly ice bath, and that is still painful getting into. I don't warm up after I just shiver it out. I'm hoping someone will be around this year for a jump in Lake Michigan on New Years day.
 
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