Wim Hof Method : One month post 10 week program

I already posted a 10 week summary so will only share things I noticed post one month. Focus a bit more on the negative as I know some folks like to hear this side as opposed to the positives.

The negative:

1. I did have some chest pains after having gone in the water 8+ days and running in sub 20 degree weather.  It was a bit concerned but just went with it and pulled back on too much in one day.  The amazing thing is that I did not get these chest pains before, during or after being in the water.  I friend that is doing a lot of cold water immersion (and has not done the Wim Hof program) was experiencing the same thing.  The interesting thing is the heart aching subsided (still comes and goes) after below 20 degree air and below 39 degree water baseball game (we were doing a video for my friends business).

2. I felt light headed and the noise of the cold shower went in an out a few times during longer 10 minute + cold showers with multiple 1 minute + breath holds. It was a calming sensation but a bit concerned if I actually passed out.  

3. Good but ... it hurts. Sometimes when getting in hot tub, especially when very cold in water and going over 8 minutes, the pain of hands and feet is unbearable. A couple of times I had to 

The positive:

1. My son Slade told me on a weekend that we went skiing that it was the best we ever got along and I did not lose my patience.  He said there was not a time were I was relaxed with him on vacation....ever.  Nice to hear but sad for the times I did lose my patience. 

2. I go to bed at night smiling.  Feeling a sense of happiness, contentment, and accomplishment.

3. More energy but more calm. I call it a patient, urgency.  

New revelations:

I finally felt the warm body sensations in the shower when doing the breath holds!  I noticed this only happens when shower water temp is 55 or above.  Water temp before March was 50 or below in New Hampshire.  

Here are some of days videos and pictures:
March 1 : March 2 
March 2
March 3
March 4. Post swim: March 4 
March 5 Post swim: March 5 March 5
March 11
March 13
March 17 March 17 March 17 March 17
March 18
March 19 March 16
March 21
March 24
March 26 March 26
March 29
March 29
March 31

Cold immersion is a journey and not a destination, so let's just breath and jump in.

NH Seacoast Cloud Immersion Facebook Page

Week of May 1st

Spent a good amount of time in the NH seacoast water ways this week.  Solid week of breathing. Going to have to try the recommendations of one Wim Hoffers on the Wim Hof Facebook page regarding 10 breathing/hold cycles. Most I have done is 4.  

Sunday did 15 minutes in what felt like 43 degree water although NH Seacoast web site listed at 46 degrees.  Pictures of swim here:
May 1 at 6:11pm
May 1 at 6:19pm
May 1 at 6:11pm
Did breath holds before going in water of 1.20, 1.40, 1.50 and 2 minutes.

Monday did an 8 minute shower with breath holds of 40 sec, 1 min, 1 min, and 1 min in shower. Shower temp at 48 degrees.

Tuesday did 8 minutes in ocean harbor at 46 degree water temp.  Did breathing before hand with breath holds of 1.20, 1.40, 1.50 and 1.50.

Wednesday - 20 minutes in Hampton Harbor @ 46 degrees. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1120518638010439/

Thursday - 30 min mediation - 1.35, 1.45, 1.55, 2.05 holds ( no forcing).  Did a 6 mile run follow by hot tub. After hot tub, blood pressure was 117 over 78.  Did a 10 min cold shower with breath holds of 40, 45, 1 and 1 minutes.  Shower temp was 55. After shower, blood pressure was 140 over 91.This does raise blood pressure. Talk about doctor visit where blood pressure 150 over 95 and heart rate 90. also, felt warmth in shower like others. only happens when 55 or above. 55 almost too warm.

Friday - 20 minutes with real life swimming in hampton harbor.  46 degree water. My 13 year old son actually swam across the 1/4 mile channel. The rest of us did a considerable amount of swimming.  I could really notice the swimming lowering my body temp. and putting a bit of stress on heart/body.

Saturday - 17 minutes in Hampton Harbor in late afternoon.  46 degree water.   My 13 year old son did 18 minutes!

Air temp between 42 and 50 most days.

Thursday, April 14th

I again did a sorta cold shower (in morning), 56 degrees, for 15 minutes in Seattle.  I did breath holds of 40 seconds, 1 minute, 1 minute and 1 minute. Before shower, did 15 minute mediation with breath holds of 1.30, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.10. The breath holds are going well now. Getting visions and body very tingly. Also, did a 5 minute cold shower in evening (54 degrees at sister's house in Seattle) after 5 mile run.

Wim Hof Method : Week 6

Here is the sixth week of data, and my comments.

Summary:  Think this was my best week of breath holds.   Perhaps my big discovery from last week: http://seacoastwimmers.blogspot.com/2016/04/wim-hof-method-week-5.html.  I also did breathing for first time to Wim's video. I checked Wim's breath holds and they were from 1.20 to 2.00 minutes in duration. This is basically what I did this week.  He breaths much quicker then what I was doing.

The push ups moved up to their highest level as well; I do completed up and down push ups so my numbers may not look to impressive.  First week of going under the water while in the ocean (about 15 seconds under). Ocean temp. around 42 degrees. Two ocean swims (only one video):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048369658558671/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048774611851509/

Wim has you hold your breath for 30 seconds but felt comfortable at a minute.  I also had a couple days were I did cold shower and ocean swim.

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) :  Did breathing to the Wim Hof method video this week. Perhaps, I should have done this sooner.  It made me realize Wim does the breathing quicker then I have been doing.  Would have been good to video and track more closely the reaction to the cold ocean water.  Well, I started this week.  As stated before, I found the ocean almost easier then the showers. In the ocean, once you get over the initial shock and pain in the first minute or so, you are numb and at a certain point don't want to get out.  I really enjoyed the stretching exercises the entire 10 weeks.  I sometimes got up in the morning and just did a cold shower without breath holds. It helped to start the day.

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4
1	1.15	1.40	2.05	2.06
2	1.15	1.55	2.05	2.07
3	1.25	1.45	1.55	2.00
4	1.20	1.30	1.45	2.03
5	1.21	1.35	1.50	2.01
6	1.31	1.52	1.55	2.10
7	1.10	1.45	1.55	2.01

Push ups:

Day	Number
1	42
2	44  (not bad, tingling in face in 25)
3	40
4	45 (tingling in body at 32, tingling when done and felt like puking)
5	42
6	45
7	45

Day	Notes
1	I didn't do the shower breath holds. Instead did 10 minutes in the ocean at around 42 degree water temp.  I felt like I was high on drugs afterwards.  I felt light headed, and could not stop laughing.  Did the breathing to the Wim Hof video.   He does breathing much quicker then I do.  His breath holds are between 1.20 to 2 minutes on the video.
2	Breathing felt good and back to where I was before the 10 day vacation.  I like the stretching; not sure if it does anything but it feels relaxing and powerful.  I did a 16 minute meditation today. In shower, did 50 second breath hold at beginning, then 2 minutes more cold water, then hot for a bit, before 50 seconds breath hold in cold.
3	Cold shower in morning with two one minute breath holds in shower.
4	Push ups felt very good today.  8 minutes total in cold shower with two breath holds at 1 minute each.  9 minutes in ocean @ Seabrook / Hampton harbor New Hampshire with video here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048369658558671/ Water temp was 42 degrees, and went under for about 15 seconds.
5	Had tingling on breathing on 3rd and 4th rounds. 6 minutes in ocean at 42 degrees with 10 seconds under the water at end. Facebook post here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048774611851509/
6	5 minute 49 degree shower in the morning. Then did another 5 minute shower in evening with two breath holds of 1 minute in the evening.
7	47 degree shower in the morning with two 1 minute and 10 second breath holds. For a total shower over just over 5 minutes.

NH Seacoast Cloud Immersion Facebook Page

Friday, April 1st - April Fools Day

On April fools day, we had 8 folks in the water! This not not an April fools day prank. We had Bob Kerens,Christine Kulac Reuss, Chris Grippo, Tony Choufee, Claudia, Claudia's friend, Ian Kulac, and myself. A lot of records shattered. Christine Kulac Reuss went 8 minutes, I went 13 minutes, first timer Chris Grippo went 8 minutes, and the Bob Kerens went 16 minutes. 39 degree water but air in 60's so good.

Wim Hof Method : Week 5

Here is the fifth week of data, and my comments.

Summary:  Huge discover on breathing!  I collapse my stomach on inhale instead of expanding my stomach. Think this was do to lifting weights were you tense up (not the right way to do it) when lifting a heavy weight. I stopped shivering in cold showers; unlike the week before were there was considerable shivering.  Still working on the right breathing. Tried quicker breathing with less exhale which seemed to work. First time in ocean for 10 minutes. Measured water temp between 45 and 47 degrees. Started to video and track the swims in ocean. First video here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048366991892271/

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) :  Challenging to get back on track with breathing and showers after the 10 days off.  Push ups the first few days had headaches and tingling.  Saw lights during meditation.  I am still working on my breathing. I thought breathing was natural...ha. Apparently, we build up strange habits like collapsing stomach on inhale. I was in the ocean during a very cold day at this point.

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4
1	1.20	1.30	1.50	1.55
2	1.25	1.30	1.50	1.55
3	1.28	1.50	1.55	1.56
4	1.25	1.55	2.05	2.10
5	1.20	1.45	1.50	2.10
6	1.25	1.16	1.40	1.45
7	1.20	1.35	1.45	1.50

Push ups:

Day	Number
1	30 (40 yesterday, headache after)
2	35  (felt like puking, light headed after, tingling in face)
3	40 (headache after)
4	40 (headache after)
5	41
6	41
7	36

Day	Notes
1	Saw lights while meditating - bright pin point lights. Shower was cold at 52 degrees for 10 minutes. Also did 10 minutes in morning in ocean at 47 degrees. So, that could have explained being cold in shower.
2	50 degree 10 minute shower felt good.  No shaking, went on back for 2 minutes when could not yesterday.  Felt warmth in belly.  Also  did 10 minutes again in ocean. Measured water temp at 45 degrees.
3	10 minute shower felt good but not as good as yesterday.  Breathing OK, and push very good.
4	Wow, big revelation.  I tend to suck in my stomach when I am inhaling!! No wonder I am not getting more air.  Also, did quicker breaths with less out breath. Shower cold (10 minutes) but had also done 3.30 minutes in ocean at water temp of around 45 degrees and air temp at 25 (feels like 15!!)
5	Faster breathing helps with less of exhale.  Shower cold from 2-4 minutes with 10 minute total. No shivering in the shower.  Did 5 minutes in ocean (Seabrook harbor) today with Dave.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044417555620548/permalink/1048366991892271/
6	Longer inhale and less exhale.  10 minute cold shower, and felt like warm water was hitting my hitting. Light headed on 3rd and 4th breath holds.
7	10 minute cold shower with no shivering.  Breath holds OK.

NH Seacoast Cloud Immersion Facebook Page

Thursday, March 31st

Seven minutes in ocean today at 39 degrees in the water and a beautiful 67 degrees outside. However, wind in the mid to high 20s made for water splashing in your face. We had Bob Kerens, Christine Kulac Reuss, Claudia Ruess, Logan Laszewski, and Bob's dog. Christine was good for five , and the rest of us, including Claudia and Logan, stayed for a bit over 7. Impressive for Logan and Claudia! Good one! First time for Claudia, she is a cold immersion aficionado day one.
Photo here:photo.php 

Wednesday, March 30th

No ocean today but a 10 minute cold shower at 48 degrees. Only did one breath hold at about 9 minutes for 50 seconds. Today was a bit cold.  As always, the coldest part of my body is my back. I see many people report that it is their front/chest. However, I could do the front for a long time. Back is the coldest and then the sides.  I had another calm and peaceful extended breath holds:
1. 1.10
2. 1.50
3. 2.00
4. 2.10

I once again did a 33 minute meditation before the breathing and show.  I find the last 5 minutes of my meditation (estimated time) that my throat and heart chakras really open up and feel warmth in these chakras.  This time these chakras were very open on the breath holds. 

Wim Hof Method : Week 4

Here is the forth week of data, and my comments.

Summary:  After day 5 I took a 10 day vacation with my boys to the Galapagos Island. Needless to say not a lot of cold water there so took a break for 10 days.  Continued baths and practiced keeping my hands in for a longer time. My hands hurt so bad last week when I put them in the cold water.  I was taking mostly 10 minute showers by this time as the water temp was in the mid fifties in NH at this time. I continued to do more running in low to mid 40s weather with no shirt on and no hat or gloves; only had on running shoes.

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) :  I did not realize I continued cold baths in week 4. I also did not realize I was taking 10 minute showers and/or multiple showers a day. I felt once it got this warm it was not providing same effect, so went with cold bath which is easy to do as you have access to an ice machine.  The 2.30 breath hold was one of my longest of the 10 weeks.  I did get a lot of chakra openings and tingling in body which I now remember but had forgotten about. I also remember shivering a lot in the 10 minute cold showers and the ice baths.  Week 4 is suppose to be two 1 minute intervals of cold showers with warm water in between and one 10 minute shower. I decided to go for as many 10 minute showers as I could.

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4
1	1.31	2.07	2.25	2.30
2	1.31	1.55	1.41	1.42
3	1.06	1.21	1.46	1.56
4	1.32	2.10	2.16	2.05
5	1.26	2.00	2.05	2.10
6	1.22	1.55	2.02	2.05
7	1.30	1.46	1.52	1.56

Push ups:

Day	Number
1	32
2	32
3	40 (felt like puking)
4	39 (tingling in head)
5	40 (tingling in face)
6	35 (first day back after 10 days off)
7	40 (felt like puking, light headed)

Day	Notes
1	Felt like I rushed too much on first breath hold.  More relaxed and open chest on others. Felt  tingling in body after push ups.   10 minute bath in 40-42 degree with hands in for the last 7 minutes.
2	Think the key on the breathing is to relax mind and body but hyperventilate. When breathing today it felt like my mind was not focused. Did 10 minutes in the ocean with water temp at 49 degrees.
3	Ran in 43 degrees with no shirt. Did 10 minutes in cold shower. A lot of tingling and open chakras during the breath holds. Root and crown chakras very open.
4	12 minute 54 degree shower in morning. More rhythmic breathing. Push ups were good but still doesn't feel right with breathing.
5	3 minute cold shower in morning, and 10 minute cold shower in evening at 58 degrees. Tingling in body on 3 and 4 round of breathing.
6	6 minute shower in morning. 6 mile run at 42 degrees with no shirt.
7	After 10 days of vacation with boys, breathing and breath holds not bad.  After 40 push ups, felt like puking, passing out, and tingling in face.  10 minute shower at 53 degrees. Stretching was best ever. Actually touched knee with forehead on front bend on both sides.

NH Seacoast Cloud Immersion Facebook Page

Tuesday, March 29th

Thought this was going to another 'pedestrian' cold immersion day of a 10 minute shower day at 48 degrees. I did this in the morning along with breath holds, out of the shower, of 1.10, 2.00, 2.20, and 2.30 minutes. Did breath holds of 40, 1 min, 1 min, and 50 secs in the shower.  The breath holds out of the shower are going great right now. The one thing I am doing is 30+ minute meditation before the I start the breathing and breath holds.  I am much more relaxed doing the breathing, and during the breath hold. Had huge chakra openings during breath holds in and out of shower. 

In the afternoon, ended up doing 10 minutes in Hampton Beach harbor at 101 bridge. Bob ended up going 13 minutes. Bob sets new NH seacoast cold immersion record! 13 minutes in water temp of 39 degrees. I did a measly 10 minutes. Bob could have gone 15 or more. He felt so goooood! Video of his last three minutes here: https://www.facebook.com/tom.laszewski/videos/10207125071937507/ 

Monday, March 28th

No swim in the ocean today, but went 'back' to the 10 minute shower.  It was a 48 degree shower with four breath holds of 50 sec, 1 min, 1 min, and 50 sec.  I remember the days of shivering in a 10 minute shower but had very little shivering and didn't feel to cold after.


I did breathing before the shower, and had some of the longest retentions since weeks 4 and 5.  The breath holders were:
1. 1.30
2. 1.50
3. 2.10
4. 2.30

The nice thing was I felt at peace, calm, and nothing felt forced. I had a lot of tingling on the breath holds.  Not sure if this is changing my breath holds (longer), but doing a 30+ min meditation before the breathing the last two days and breathing was much better then has been in weeks.

Wim Hof Method : Week Three

Here is the third week of data, and my comments.

Summary:  A lot of tingling and light headed feelings during breathing and breath holding.  Also, saw some colored and pulsing lights during meditation and breath hold.   I already stated to do longer showers (over 2 minutes, 10 minutes in 65 degree water) and try out ice baths. I travel a lot for work and the temp of the water can be much higher then at home.  I read the book Becoming the Iceman and started to do the ice baths based upon what I heard Wim had students of his retreats do.

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) : This week was the start of tingling and lights during breath holds and mediation. I didn't realize how at peace I felt during breathing, breath holds, and mediation. This is definitely a very spiritual program. I did not realize I started going in ocean and ice baths this early on. In retrospect, pretty intense to start 10 minute ice baths at 43 degrees.  The Becoming the Iceman book gave me motivation and confidence it would be ok. I now remember how hard it was to get in the ice baths this week, and how much I shivered while in the tub.

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4
1	1.25	1.50	1.55	2.00
2	1.27	1.30	1.45	1.46
3	1.45	1.50	1.51	1.56
4	1.27	1.33	2.10	2.15
5	1.22	1.55	2.00	2.02
6	1.25	1.45	1.46	2.05
7	1.20	1.50	2.00	2.05

Push ups:

Day	Number
1	35
2	18 (on knuckles)
3	31
4	31
5	31
6	35
7	35

Day	Notes
1	Shower times were 2 1/2 and 3 minutes.  The method called for two 1 minute showers. Felt good in the shower.  The cold water made me laugh and feel a bit light headed. Could tell within a few seconds when I was at 1 minute on breath hold.
2	Did a two minute cold shower first thing in the morning.  Did a 30 minute run in the cold.  After breathing, did two 1 minute sessions in shower. Cold all day long after cold shower in morning and run in cold.
3	My face was tingling after push ups. Tingling was during the breath holding.  On second breath hold, tongue felt like it was 'vibrating'.  I saw lights (purple, blue, and pulsating) when meditating.  Did two 2.30 minute sessions in cold shower.
4	A lot of arm tingles during breath hold and breathing. Tongue 'vibrating' on third breath hold. Last two breathing rounds felt at peace. Did two 2.30 minutes in shower. 3 minute swim in ocean.
5	Was in warm climate so shower temp high so did ice bath. 10 minute shower at 67 degrees in morning. 13 minutes in 45 degree tub with last three minutes with hands in tub. Felt very, very cold after the bath.  Holding breath felt very calming.  It was hard getting in the tub.
6	Traveling in warm again. 10 minute shower at 65 degrees. Eyes were blood shot. 10 minute tub at 43 degrees. Tingling in face after push ups.  Shaking a lot when in the tub and very cold when got out.
7	10 minute shower in morning @ 65 degrees and 10 minute ice bath at 42 at night. More tingling and light headed during breathing.

NH Seacoast Cloud Immersion Facebook Page

Saturday, March 26th

Felt awesome today! Some days you feel the power and some days not. As a road bike riding friend would say, "Some days you are the hammer, and some days you are the nail". Went 10 minutes but could have went longer.  

Dip in the water today. Tom in for a little over 10 minutes and me only about 2 1/2 min outside air temp 42 water temp about 38. Gooood one!

Drew and Logan (my 13 yr old son) went in as well. Both went into to neck. Drew lasted a good 2 minutes up to waist. He was feeling the power as feet were numb and he felt nothing...that is feeling the power.

The picture at the end:
photo.php

Later in day did 30 minute mediation followed by breathing exercise. Best breathing exercise I have had in weeks. Did quicker breathing with less release of air. Did 1.10, 1.50, 2.10 and 2.10. Felt calm and a lot of tingling in body.  Had feeling at 1 minute could have gone forever.

Friday, March 25th

Bob Kerens and I went out for good one today. Bob went a little over 4.30 and I was a little over 7.30. Felt invigorating, and a great hot tub after. Water was still at 39 degrees. Air temp was around 38 degrees with a hardly any wind.

Wim Hof Podcast : Beyond Fear

https://youtu.be/GelokpvYPq8

Great Podcast. 

Wim learned early on that you can calm the 'beehive' in your head. The cold stopped this ‘bee hive’ (or what is also know as the ‘monkey mind’). Wim noticed that breathing become more controlled and deeper when in cold water.

Wim has a mission and a message. Wim’s mission is to take away suffering (anxiety), and make people happy, healthy and strong. Wim method is something anyone can do.

Wim Hof’s method combines mental, spiritual, physical, and physiology practices:
1. mental : focus, determination achieved through stressing yourself, and connecting with yourself
2. spiritual : meditation
3. physical : cold and breathing
4. physiology : cold and breathing
Method is breathing, cold exposure, and believing in yourself.

By shutting off the mind (monkey mind) and going into deep part of mind, you become a witness. Fear holds people back from getting to their potential. Fear is not being tapped into because you need to go deeper into physiology and mind in order to over come fear. The cold, meditation, and breathing allows you to go deep into the physiology and mind.

Methods are not complex. The method is accessible: breathing, gradual cold exposure, most is psychological (have to connect with yourself and your mind). Our mind (placebo effect) works like medicine. People have made this complicated. A couple of techniques. A little bit of cold (stress on the body...yes). Able to change mood, influence immune system, and get rid of disease. This comes from breathing, cold and believing in yourself.

People think happiness is comfort. Comfort weakens your body (immune system) and mind; comfort weakens your physiology. You need discomfort to deal with danger. Stress is danger, grief is danger, disease is danger, many dangers in daily life we can not deal with because of excessive comfortable. Real comfort is control, and happiness, strength, and health.

Shut off the mind and go into a deep part of the brain when stressing yourself. Releases endorphins, adrenaline, dopamine, and other chemicals which removes thinking and to be present in the moment. Placebo effect works.

Science is changing. Autonomic nervous system can be controlled. You bring up the PH level when you do the breathing which controls the autonomic nervous system. Science is too complex. Wim is changing science through what he is doing and learning in nature.

5K run this week in low twenties weather. 

 

Thursday, March 24th - First barefoot run

Probably should not have chosen a 36 degree (low 20's with wind chill) to run first 5K bare foot on the beach.  Had to run some of it in the ocean as tide was coming up.  Lessons learned:
1. Do on a sunny day. Really felt the power/warmth of sun the few small times the sun came out.
2. Having both hands and feet exposed makes a huge difference in keeping both warm.
3. When I went into the 39 degree water, my hands immediately got very cold. Interesting to see how your body is working to force heat to where it is needed.

Pre run looking good:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153757971013961&set=gm.1089964721065831&type=3

Wednesday, March 23rd

Actually took yesterday off as in NYC of work, and need to thaw out from the many days in ocean and running in cold.  This morning did 11 minute cold shower at 47 degrees with the following breath holds:
1. 50 seconds
2. 1 minute
3. 1 minute
4. 1 minute - Did feel a bit light headed after this hold.

My crown chakra was wide open during the breathing and breath holds.

After having not taken a cold shower (doing mostly 39 degree ocean swims from 5 - 10 minutes), it was different being in the shower.  I still remember the first 10 minute shower where I was shivering pretty bad the last five minutes, and took hours to warm up. Now shivered after shower and was warm within an hour.  

Did 5K run at 39 degrees feels 32 with only shoes and shorts but did last mile with shoes off running in 39 degree water.

Monday, March 21st

Great day in the Seacoast to NH to do some cold immersion with snow flying and on the ground from last night.   No cold water but did a run today in solid snow storm at 29 degrees with wind chill around 21.  Interesting run today:
1. Car turned around to snap photos
2. Two guys swimming (they were actually swimming) on north beach. They go ever weekend. Potential new 'members' .... Good

Breath holds as follows:
1. 1.15
2. 1.46
3. 1.47
4. 1.55

Did 10 minutes horse stance in snow before the run, and finished with a snow angel. Had epiphany at 5 minutes doing horse stance to two questions I get about doing what I do:  
1. Why cold - Because the cold focuses you.   At 5 minutes the 'monkey mind' (what Wim calls 'bee hive' mind) calmed and I was totally presented.  This was because of the cold.
2. Why that long - If you just go from 1 or 2 minutes or even 3 minutes you don't get to that state of peace and calm. It takes that long to get into to a state of focus and presence. 

Pictures after run:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207025029996521&set=pcb.1087035281358775&type=3&relevant_count=2

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207025030156525&set=pcb.1087035281358775&type=3&relevant_count=1

Wim Hof Method : Week Two

Here is the second week of data, and my comments.  I wish I would have started measuring the shower temp at this time but did not until week 4.

Summary: As I did with the first week, I extended the shower times as much as I could. Wim had you do three cold rounds at 30 seconds. I did most of mine over a minute for each round.   By the end of the week, I was doing breath holds in the low 2 minutes; I noticed that very, very deep in breaths helped with breath holds. I have seen others that have breath holds in the mid and high 2 minutes, but I never did have this.  I pretty much stayed in low 2 minutes, and still there even 4 weeks after completing program.  I went from 20 push ups during as my base and went up to 34. I thought this was great. I know others have done 50 or more push ups but never got there. I do complete up and down push ups so I bit different then what I see in Wim videos.

The visions I mention of skiing with two friends were like movies happening with my eyes closed.

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) : Crown and root chakras really opened up early.  I have mediated for 20 years and have never experienced the opening of the crown and root chakras like this.  Have had opening in the other chakras similar to this but this is very intense.  Openings happen during the breath hold. I didn't realize I started running in the cold this early on. I actually started in mid-30's weather with a t-shirt on.  Interesting I did this as I can now run in sub 30's with no t-shirt on but felt very hesitant to even go in mid or upper 30's with t-shirt on in the beginning.

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4
1	1.13	1.20	1.23	1.14
2	1.00	1.21	1.27	1.30
3	1.00	1.10	1.22	1.21
4	1.03	1.19	1.30	1.21
5	1.25	1.10	1.24	1.20
6	1.25	2.00	2.03	2.10
7	1.20	1.45	2.00	2.10

Push ups:

Day	Number
1	20
2	30
3	31
4	29
5	31
6	33
7	34

Day	Notes
1	Shower times where 45 seconds, 1 minute and 45 seconds.  Went deeper on the inhale this week and seemed to help. Felt light headed, warm lungs, dizzy and blackness when eyes shut on breath hold. Felt weak, tired after push ups.
2	Many different tingling and other feelings in mouth during breathing. Tingling and numbness in body during breath holds.  Did 40 secs, 1 min, and last one 40 secs. in cold shower. First 40 was by far the hardest.  Run for 33 minutes in 34 degrees with only T-shirt (no hat or gloves).
3	Shower times were 50 secs, 55 secs, and 53 seconds.  Ran in cold in under 40 degrees and did last mile with no shirt.  Did about a 3 mile run; tested running bare chested the last mile.  Still feel like not doing something right with breathing.  Too much in? Too much out?
4	First time had strong tingling in all of body during breath hold.  Crown and root chakras really opened up during breath hold. Had 'scary' clear visions of skiing with Jen Waterson and Carey Sperry; two friends. Felt very confident and power in body. Nose was running during breath holds.  Shower times of 1 min, 1.20 mins, and 1.10 mins.
5	Tingling and warmth during round two of breathing.  Ringing in ears after round 4 of breath holding.  Did 1 min, 1.30 and .30 in shower. 7 mile run with shirt off for last 3 miles; temp outside was 38 degrees.
6	Did breathing with mouth and throat open.  Crown chakra open and tingling on first round of breathing. Tingling and light head during all rounds. Shower was 1 min, 1.15 mins, and 1.05 mins with not much warm water in between.
7	1.20 mins all the times.  Felt very flexible during stretching.  During breath holds my lungs felt very full.

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Wim Hof Method : Week One

Think I will see how posting a week goes with one entry. Some weeks have more notes so may make sense to have one post per day.

Summary: The breath holds got easier and more comfortable by the end of the week even though I had my best hold on the first day. The shower this week was only 30 seconds but I upped this amount by the second day as 30 seconds was very, very easy. Day 6 did two 1 minute dips in Atlantic Ocean (about 50 degree water) just to see what it would feel like.

'Looking in rear view mirror' (after having completed program and seeing patterns) : First round of breath holding still not all that good or comfortable even after 10 weeks. Holding breath in cold and water is very difficult. Lastly, I forgot about full submersion in Atlantic Ocean water on week one. In some ways, be immersed in cold water easier then a cold shower (when shower is below 50 degrees).

Breath holds:

Day	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3
1	1.02	1.27	1.43
2	.25	.47	1.01
3	.52	1.07	1.26
4	.50	1.02	1.07
5	1.02	1.10	1.40
6	1.15	1.20	1.33
7	1.12	1.23	1.34

Day	Notes
1	Felt like choking the first two rounds. Te last time felt comfortable after some initial choking impulses. Then felt like could go a long time. 30 second shower was easy.
2	Felt like I was suffocating on all breath holds. The timings above reflect that feeling. Did not feel like I could hold my breath at all.  Shower felt fine. Did for over 4 minutes and did not feel cold until 3.30 minutes.
3	Shower at home much colder then where I took shower the first two days. Still did about 50 seconds. Breath exercise much better then day 2. Last one felt at peace, calm, and in meditative state. Crown chakra was wide open.
4	1.28 in very cold shower. Felt breathing went pretty good. Felt relaxed when breathing. Felt very comfortable during first 40 seconds of breath hold
5	1.55 in shower (very cold water but did not measure temp yet). Head and side felt good with cold water.  On first breath hold saw lights on bottom of eyes. Felt relaxed.
6	Let's see how week two goes but when breathing outside (40s to 50s for temp) stuck in the mid minutes range for max hold.  Did two 1 minute sessions in atlantic ocean in NH seacoast (Hampton, NH). Temp of water is 50 or below this time of year.
7	First round of breathing feels more like a warm up round, and does not feel comfortable. Did outside on the roof so cold impacts the breath hold.

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