It got cold in Sant Pere de Ribes
Little Paper Towns does Wim Hof and meets Robert James Coaching.
It’s the end of January 2024 and I went to experience Wim Hof Breathing Techniques and Cold-Water Ice Baths! Yes, I know…what on earth were you thinking?!?
I’ve spent too many months seeing cold water immersion on Instagram and reading about the benefits during menopause, for anxiety and supporting your immune system. I wanted to know more and just like that, Robert popped up with his Wim Hof Cold Water Course.
Wim Hof otherwise known as The Ice Man has taken over the online world with his programme, way to live his life and insane feats, including running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle, barefoot wearing only shorts Swimming underneath ice for 66 meters Hanging on one finger at an altitude of 2,000 meters Climbing the highest mountains in the world while wearing only shorts Running a full marathon in the Namib Desert without drinking Standing in a container while covered in ice cubes for extended periods of time.
To make myself feel better I brought a couple of friends along and I must be honest I didn’t realise how nervous we would be on the day! Here is what they both said…
“I am feeling nervous about being in the cold water for an extended period of time but I am doing the cold showers every morning as requested (even if only for a week and not the full 20 days due to late sign-up) and I am feeling exhilarated afterwards. And warm!”
-Hanna
“How do I feel?! Weak!! This morning I managed 7 seconds with the cold water in the shower. I spent time afterwards wondering if my water was colder than everyone else’s. Someone asked me why I’m doing it 😂 but despite my fears of failing, I do know the answer to that. I love to grasp an opportunity to live outside my comfort zone, laugh with friends, and feel alive. So then Wim Hoff, here we go!”
– Katy
Wim Hof Day
10 am and the day starts at a fab little studio in Ribes, we are all feeling nervous and don’t know what is coming. To be honest, when I try new wellness techniques, I try not to find out too much, so I cannot be swayed either way.
It starts with an open circle of discovering what has brought 13 individuals together to try this immersing in cold water. The fascinating part was everyone in the session had a life or mental health experience they were hoping it would help them cope with.
My personal experience is suffering anxiety and menopause (a tricky combination!) and hoped that the breathing techniques and cold-water sessions would help reduce my anxiety levels and build my immune support system.
“Now we have created this modern society in which we have every comfort, yet we are losing our ability to regulate our mood, our emotions.”
― Wim Hof, The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential
The sight of the cold-water bath at the end of the room does keep catching people’s eyes, and a feeling of anxiety can creep through you. The first experience of it comes early on, with 2 minutes of holding just our hands in the ice bath. Wowzers! It was Baltic! The focus I needed to keep my hands in there was intense, and Robert had said the feet and hands are the worst areas to submerge in cold water.
However, he stood by us in small groups and coached us through some basic breathing and explaining the process. Soon enough the time was up, and our hands removed from the bath – bright red, pulsating, and weirdly felt like they had been super moisturised. What I found quite profound was how focused I felt.
At this point, I did question whether I could put my whole body in! Robert explained that the cold water puts our bodies into a survival mode, flight or fight and it has to then work to get the temperature correct. This stimulation increases blood flow and therefore parts of our body receive blood filled with oxygen to parts of our body.
Wim Hof Breathing Technique
After a very pleasant lunch and the chance to talk to others in the session, it was time for the Wim Hof breathing technique – one I had not experienced before and one that takes the shape of a creating a wave of inhale and exhale movements. After 4 rounds and 20 minutes, some of us were in tears, others very silent and some also felt they had experienced quite a psychedelic trip.
We had all wrapped up with blankets, hats and slipper socks, Robert provided special sleep masks (they even had room for your eyelashes!), but even with all this I “came around” feeling super cold and quite shivery.
I have to say I won’t share everything, as the technical focus and reasons for warming up either side of cold water plunging is super important and one you need to be fully aware of!
I would highly recommend this session to teach you all there is to know about Wim Hof breathing and cold-water immersion.
Then…it was time. A full 2 minutes submerged in cold water (2 degrees!), the ice kept being added and the tunes turned to Bob Marley, it put us all in a good mood and helped us get to plunge time. My time had come, after a quick Wim Hof Horse Dance, I was in and up to my shoulders…my eyes closed, Robert sat near me and coached me through controlling my breathing, dropping my shoulders and after a minute my body relaxed into it! It was so surreal, and suddenly the 2 minutes were up, I could have done longer – who knew!
Once we finished a bath, one by one, my expectation was we would all shiver, have goosebumps, and try and get dressed quickly. None of those things happened, we stood around elated, chatting and dancing.
The 5 hours were up, and I was flying! This feeling stayed with me throughout the evening, and I have not felt so amazing in a long time. Now to carve out regular times to practice my breathing, plunge as often as possible and relive the amazing feeling it creates.
Here is what my friends had to say after the session…
“The Wim Hof experience was great. Robert was easy to like and he ran the day seamlessly. We had a chance to get to know each other a bit and give our Wim Hof experience stories of which I had zero and which didn’t matter at all.
We learned the Wim Hof breathing techniques which were amazing. I had no idea I could hold my breath for so long without it being a strain. Throughout the day Robert kept putting more ice into the ice bath and I was getting a little nervous but after his training, you are in the perfect state of calmness to get right on in and actually enjoy it. I surprised myself. After the first minute, which is tough but the controlled breathing really helps, the second minute was easy! I am usually
the one shrieking on the beach if the water is a little chilly!”
– Katy
“I would definitely recommend this experience. Aside from the health benefits it is reported to have it was a good test of my determination and resilience to achieve something I thought I impossible. I am hoping to continue with the
cold showers and the breathing so let’s see!”
– Hanna
More information on Cold Water Benefits
The Guardian recently released an article about Cold Water and easing Menopause.
Charlotte Birch is a local personal trainer and friend, she has taken up menopause support and undergone training to help support those of us suffering in perimenopause and menopause. She has recently written about the benefits of cold water and also holds ‘SAS’, a free cold-water immersion at Terramar in Sitges, at 10 am every Sunday.
I asked what Charlotte thought about COld Water immersion and she said:
“Cold water swimming has been scientifically proven to help with menopause symptoms. In a recent study by UCL, of the 785 women interviewed:
63% said they swam purely to help address menopausal symptoms.
50% said cold water swimming significantly reduced their anxiety.
35% said it helped tackle mood swings.
31% said it helped with low moods.
30% said it helped with hot flushes.
There isn’t anything cheaper and more healing that you can do!“
In conclusion, and with a husband who has a fear of cold water, I would say to anyone to try it and see what it could do for you.
I certainly want to see menopause symptoms reduced and my life would be much more enjoyable if I can achieve that.
I would love to hear your thoughts, so do share, it can be anonymous.