Having attended a Wim Hof excursion in the Lake District last year, he’s now heading off on a full winter expedition in Poland to take the method one step further…
Also known as The Iceman, Wim Hof is an extreme athlete from the Netherlands, known for his ability to cope with exceptionally low temperatures. He’s held Guinness World Records for prolonged contact with ice and swimming under ice, as well as completing a barefoot half marathon on ice and snow.
So, how does he do it? He puts it down to the Wim Hof Method (WHM) – a programme that combines cold exposure, breathing techniques and meditation, which are reflected in the three main pillars:
It has a range of purported benefits – both mental and physical – including:
The method is discussed in more detail in Wim Hof’s 2020 book, The Wim Hof Method. However, many will be familiar with it from the 2022 BBC show, Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof, where celebrities such as Alfie Boe, Gabby Logan and Patrice Evra went on their own self-discovery journey while taking on sub-zero temperatures.
The Wim Hof Method is about realising your full potential and reconnecting with the natural environment. In November 2021, Richard attended a Wim Hof excursion in the Lake District along with Andrew Mason, a fellow Leeds business owner from Pentest People.
They found that the method helped them in various ways:
Above all else, it helped them with the demands of running high growth businesses in the face of post-pandemic challenges and the current economic climate.
Richard and Andrew enjoyed their Wim Hof experience so much that they decided to take it one step further. They’re now booked onto the Wim Hof Winter Expedition in Poland. It comprises five days, focused on mastering the three pillars – cold exposure, breathing and commitment.
Around 100 participants will dive deeper into the Wim Hof Method in the majestic hills of Poland, culminating in the ascent of Mount Śnieżka. However, that’s about all they know in terms of an itinerary!
Needless to say, travelling to a remote part of Poland with hardly any idea of what’s coming is a daunting challenge. But it’s also a fulfilling one. The expedition is booked for early 2023, so watch this space as Volta Compliance and Pentest People take on the Wim Hof Winter Expedition.