I Tried It: Wim Hof Breathing

Do I have to start a "wellness" podcast now?

I’ll try just about anything once. In fact, that’s the entire original premise of Hey Eleanor!

You’ll find a lot of quirky things to experience at the crossroads of woo and wellness. I’ve dabbled in acupuncture, kooky supplements, Chinese herbs, EMDR, tarot readings, cleanses, and cryotherapy. One time, this dude flung me around a tiny room to heal my past lives.

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While I enjoy these experiences (and you know they’ve given me a lot to write about!), few delivered on their promise. I’ve never had a supplement or vitamin change my life (maybe Vitamin D?). Chinese herbs made me sick. Acupuncture felt relaxing, but as far as curing my ailments? I’d give it a C+. Some of the aforementioned things actually made me more depressed while concurrently draining my bank account.

And yet… I can’t resist trying something new. Trying is different than committing.

A few months ago, a friend suggested I join him for a Wim Hof breathing class.

I’d heard of Wim Hof, and filed it in my folder titled Things Men with Podcasts Do for $500, Alex.

When I said, Not sure that’s for me, he said, Come on. Just try it. You know you want to.

This is what peer pressure looks like at 42.

I arrived at said class at 6:30am on a Wednesday morning, yoga mat in hand. Before picking my little plot of rubber flooring, I introduced myself to our instructor, Nick, explaining I was a first timer. He assured me that starting my morning like this would make the day better.

A few minutes later, Nick laid out how the class would go: First, breathing warmup. Then, he’d walk us through a few series of Wim Hof breathing.

I didn’t really know what Wim Hof breathing was, and if you’re like me and have been pretending like you know what I’m talking about even though you don’t, I’ll save you the google:

1. You essentially hyper-oxygenate your blood by doing a series of quick, deep breaths in and out without pausing at the top or bottom.

2. After 30 of those, you hold your breath for as long as possible— one minute, two, three? More?

3. Once you can’t take it for one more second, you breathe.

4. Then, you take another deep breath, hold for 15 seconds, breathe out, and start the whole process over again. You do this three or four times.

Doesn’t it sound awful?

Nick told us we might feel a numb, tingling sensation in our extremities, light-headedness, or a floating sensation. Apparently it’s not uncommon for people to cry. He assured us all of this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

I know the intention was to quell my concerns, and yet… it did sound like something you might hear before, I don’t know, roasting yourself to the edge of death in a sweat lodge.

He led us through breathing warmups, and then it was time to Wim Hof it up. I laid down on my yoga mat, got comfortable, and waited to trick my body into thinking we were dying.

During our first round of 30 in-and-out breaths, I felt self-conscious. Just try this right now— inhale and exhale without pausing. It feels awkward, especially in front of other people (which I sincerely hope was part of your experience just now). But then I remembered no one was paying attention to me, and we were all doing this together, so who cares! Hyperventilation, here I come!

Once we hit breath 30, Nick instructed us to start our hold. My only experiences with purposely not breathing thus far in life? In a swimming pool as a kid (Mom! Watch! Time me! Time me!), driving by a cemetery from ages 8-13, or peeing in a hot and humid airport bathroom that smells farty.

Somehow, I managed to hold my breath for about 60 seconds— pretty good, but not nearly as long as the more veteran Wim Hoffers. I tried to silently let a little stream of air out, and breathe in without my chest moving, just like I imagine an actor in the movies does when they’re playing dead.

Finally, Nick cued us to let our breath out, and we started the whole process again.

The next round, I held my breath a little longer. My hands did feel a little tingly, and I did not panic. Somehow, by round three, I held my breath a little longer. When Nick instructed us to breathe out, he said we’d been holding for three minutes(!) Though a bit boring, it wasn’t even that hard.

At the end of class, I felt pretty relaxed, if a bit woozy. After rolling up mat, I asked Nick a question he hadn’t addressed in his intro:

So… why are we doing this?

It activates your parasympathetic nervous system, he said. And then something about reducing stress and creating a sense of calm. He told me that his best days are the ones that start with Wim Hof breathing, and to pay attention to how I felt throughout the day.

I walked home, and paid attention to my body. I felt… good, I guess!

As the day progressed, I acknowledged a familiar sensation: a general sense of accomplishment (and maybe endorphins?) having started my day doing something positive for my body.

The next time I saw my Wim Hof peer pressure friend, he asked what I thought of the class.

I told him the truth. It was fine. When he asked if I would go back, I told him the truth again: probably not.

The Wim Hof session I attended was mostly men, and the biggest fans of the practice seem to be men. I’ve been wondering why that is? Is it because it’s a mindful practice that also feels competitive and challenging? Wim Hof says the goal isn’t not breathe for as long as possible… but he also holds something like 26 World Records for shit like Longest Ice Bath (1 hour, 52 minutes, 42 seconds) and Fastest Half-Marathon Barefoot on Ice/Snow (2 hours, 16 minutes, 34 seconds). It’s hard to convince me that there isn’t a competitors mindset at the heart of this practice.

It’s not that I think Wim Hof is a crock (though plenty of people do, and I also understand Wim himself is a wee bit problematic). I genuinely believe doing anything that forces you to slow down and focus on the present moment is fantastic. But if I’m getting up before sunrise for a wellness class, I think I’d prefer a yin or restorative yoga. Something more movement/mobility focused than breath worth. Simply put, I like it better.

I think the key with any “healthy” practice is to do what works for you, and what you enjoy. Life is short, what’s the point of, say, running or Wim Hoffing or ice bathing or playing intramural sports if you hate it?

When it comes to what you incorporate into your daily routine, tune out the men with microphone. Do what’s right for you.

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Have you tried Wim Hof? Do you want to? Because I know a guy.