Winter always seems to feel colder and darker as it drags on. By February, I find myself longing for the start of spring and the warmer months to come. Naturally, our bodies do acclimate to the weather changes but to what extent do we truly accept and welcome the bitterness of the cold? Could there be benefits to our bodies, health and minds if we were to accept the cold?

These are the variety of questions addressed in The Wim Hof Method. Written by none other than someone known as 'the iceman', Wim Hof gives us a chance to see a different perspective on a difficult thing that all humans deal with universally: the cold. Having read the book, I believe that how we deal with cold is also a parallel for how we deal with stress and pain: key aspects in rehabilitation. It is argued by Wim that building a better relationship with these uncomfortable things will lead to a healthier, stronger and even a happier life. And it all starts by embracing the cold.

But before jumping head-first into cold showers, ice baths and the winter weather we should begin by contemplating our existing thoughts and feelings about the cold. Personally, the predominant reaction I feel to the cold is one of avoidance. Stepping outside on a cold winter day immediately creates a feeling of resistance; the body tightness up, face and eyes squint, with a feeling of drudgery in every step. I, like many others, quickly search for an escape and a way to get warmer. Is there possibly a better way to react?

Perhaps my own feelings are a product of growing up blessed in sunny California, but I think many people can relate. Otherwise, his book and method would not be so popular! The truth is, in the modern world most of us live in a state of near-constant comfort. Even in the winter months, we are rarely exposed to the cold for a meaningful amount of time. And when we do feel cold, we push a button and the temperature of our surroundings rises to suit our liking or we throw on layer after layer of clothing. Both efforts reject the reality of the situation and of nature - it is cold. To think our species survived for hundreds of thousands of years without heaters and butt warmers! Yes, our ancestors somehow found a way to thrive while actually embracing the cold.

The consequences of cold-avoidance illustrated in the book is that living in a state of constant comfort, as 99% of us do in a modern world, puts us at increased risk of many diseases, injuries, and mental illnesses to name a few. Our bodies are so poorly adapted to handle external stressors, such as the cold, that we become vulnerable to a host of internal stressors which then manifest as disease. Therefore, the best way to take action is to embrace the thing that we avoid like the plague: discomfort.

With this in mind, the Whim Hof Method encourages gradual exposure to the cold and discomfort to boost our health and wellness. Unfortunately, It’s not enough to just read about it. You gotta do it. And it's not just a 'grit your teeth and do it' mentality either. There's too much resistance in that approach. I believe, in order for it to really work, going into the cold requires a deeper internal alignment before attempting. And because of this, it’s a practice that takes time and effort but may be very well worth it.

If we begin the gradual task of conquering our fear and avoidance of the cold, there's no limit to the health benefits we may reap.

To learn more about the benefits of cold exposure, consider checking out the website: https://www.wimhofmethod.com

Winter always seems to feel colder and darker as it drags on. By February, I find myself longing for the start of spring and the warmer months to come. Naturally, our bodies do acclimate to the weather changes but to what extent do we truly accept and welcome the bitterness of the cold? Could there be benefits to our bodies, health and minds if we were to accept the cold?

These are the variety of questions addressed in The Wim Hof Method. Written by none other than someone known as 'the iceman', Wim Hof gives us a chance to see a different perspective on a difficult thing that all humans deal with universally: the cold. Having read the book, I believe that how we deal with cold is also a parallel for how we deal with stress and pain: key aspects in rehabilitation. It is argued by Wim that building a better relationship with these uncomfortable things will lead to a healthier, stronger and even a happier life. And it all starts by embracing the cold.

But before jumping head-first into cold showers, ice baths and the winter weather we should begin by contemplating our existing thoughts and feelings about the cold. Personally, the predominant reaction I feel to the cold is one of avoidance. Stepping outside on a cold winter day immediately creates a feeling of resistance; the body tightness up, face and eyes squint, with a feeling of drudgery in every step. I, like many others, quickly search for an escape and a way to get warmer. Is there possibly a better way to react?

Perhaps my own feelings are a product of growing up blessed in sunny California, but I think many people can relate. Otherwise, his book and method would not be so popular! The truth is, in the modern world most of us live in a state of near-constant comfort. Even in the winter months, we are rarely exposed to the cold for a meaningful amount of time. And when we do feel cold, we push a button and the temperature of our surroundings rises to suit our liking or we throw on layer after layer of clothing. Both efforts reject the reality of the situation and of nature - it is cold. To think our species survived for hundreds of thousands of years without heaters and butt warmers! Yes, our ancestors somehow found a way to thrive while actually embracing the cold.

The consequences of cold-avoidance illustrated in the book is that living in a state of constant comfort, as 99% of us do in a modern world, puts us at increased risk of many diseases, injuries, and mental illnesses to name a few. Our bodies are so poorly adapted to handle external stressors, such as the cold, that we become vulnerable to a host of internal stressors which then manifest as disease. Therefore, the best way to take action is to embrace the thing that we avoid like the plague: discomfort.

With this in mind, the Whim Hof Method encourages gradual exposure to the cold and discomfort to boost our health and wellness. Unfortunately, It’s not enough to just read about it. You gotta do it. And it's not just a 'grit your teeth and do it' mentality either. There's too much resistance in that approach. I believe, in order for it to really work, going into the cold requires a deeper internal alignment before attempting. And because of this, it’s a practice that takes time and effort but may be very well worth it.

If we begin the gradual task of conquering our fear and avoidance of the cold, there's no limit to the health benefits we may reap.

To learn more about the benefits of cold exposure, consider checking out the website: https://www.wimhofmethod.com