The cold is an absolute doorway to the soul - Wim Hof
“The cold is an absolute doorway to the soul”
For those who have not sussed out where I live, I pretty much take the opportunity to mention it whenever I can. It is a city called Brighton & Hove in Sussex in the UK. For those who may be reading this blog from elsewhere in the global village, when you look at a map of the UK, find London, scan your eyes directly South. When you reach the sea that’s us.
I mention this because living near the sea is something I like. I grew up near the sea and when I had small kids, I moved back to being close to the sea. I didn’t move to the sea on my own because of the shock of having small kids….we went en masse.
For those who believe in astrology, I am a water sign, the last in the chart, Pisces, the opposite facing fish.
Not sure what this really means, but I guess some of the characteristics I share with this sign. Sometimes, I have difficulty making up my mind, sometimes I have clarity, sometimes I do not.
In all honesty, I have not really looked up the characteristics of a typical Pisces.
For example, I was born the day before my Mother’s birthday. As a small child, I approached life in a very linear way and could not at that stage comprehend a year and the cyclical nature of it. So consequently, I spent a little time confused as to how my Mum gave birth to me, when my birthday was first.
The point being my Mum was different in so many ways to me, so typical characteristics are like everything else, an enormous spectrum. I choose not to really get involved with it.
My overall point, actually, if indeed there is one, is the fact the star sign is a fish and I like to live near water.
I am always a little more at ease when I know I can be near a body of water.
Where I differ hugely from your average fish, is the fact I am not a strong swimmer. I am unaware of any fish which does not possess the propensity to be at one in its watery surroundings. I would like that, but do not have it.
I can swim, after a fashion. I like to swim underwater, although cannot scuba dive as my ears do not equalise beyond 4 metres and even, that is painful, this is an annoyance, as my sister and her husband have a dive school in Paihia, New Zealand.
I can do several strokes ok….but not for long. I obviously expend too much energy too soon and would not be good if I got caught in a rip tide or had to swim to shore from a considerable distance.
Not that I plan on doing either of those things within my lifetime if I can help it.
If I did, my life would shorten considerably more than I would like.
When I was 8, a friend and I persuaded a young couple in a cinema queue to take us in to see the film which has meant, I have not embraced the sea possibly as much as I would like.
This film is of course…….JAWS
For a certain generation, this film has done more to upset our minds in the water than anything else. Yes, I know Great Whites don’t occupy the English Channel. Yes, I know the chances of being attacked are slim and that sharks are an important part of the worlds eco system and should be protected and understood more.
BUT, I can be happily swimming and diving about, when out of nowhere the bow of the cello scrapes along the bass string in my head and the unease spreads throughout my brain
quicker than anyone in the water can shout Plastic SHAAAAAARK!!!
I tried to read the book, not sure if this was before or after the film. It challenged you on the sleeve of the book to see if you could get past the first five pages. I couldn’t, and that was without the musical score.
I am better now as a full-grown adult with more of an understanding as to what is going on inside my head, I am pleased to say, but the unease is always there.
The second part of the issue of being a rubbish fish, is I am appalling in cold water. I am fine until just over my knees, but after that, I am terrible.
I have been lucky enough to have swum in the warmer climes of the Atlantic, Pacific & Indian oceans and have loved frolicking and body surfing in Mautauri Bay in NZ and Mirissa in Sri Lanka, but where I live has waters which remain cold and cynical all year round.
Which leads me to wanting to conquer my fear of cold water. I have read a considerable amount of info on the benefits of cold exposure. My appreciation of Wim Hof and all he has done for people’s health mentally and physically is enormous.
So much so, I have endeavoured to use the Wim Hof Method (WHM) to try and give my appreciation of cold exposure a big rethink.
I have always admired those people who are able to just get into any water no matter how cold and just swim. My brother does this in Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland.
I admire their fortitude and mental strength and I want some of that.
Last March, I started to have cold showers. My normal shower first and then switch to the full cold and see how long I could last, whilst also taking deep breaths in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
If you are starting this and you have not read about the WHM, then the advice is to start putting your body under the cold water gradually, and then have full immersion for 5 seconds. Then each day increase the time spent under full immersion by 5 seconds a day. After 30 days, you will be able to manage 2 mins and 30 seconds of cold exposure.
You may well be asking yourselves why on earth anyone would do such a thing. To a certain degree, you would be right. However, the benefits far outweigh the cons.
The Cons: You feel uncomfortable and cold for a short while.
The Benefits: Your vascular system becomes engaged, which shoots your body full of adrenalin and into fight or flight mode. This makes you feel alive. This is good stress as it is only for a short time.
Boosting your vascular system goes hand in hand with boosting your immune system.
Being able to withstand these colder temperatures allows the brain to clear out any toxic detritus swilling around dragging your thought processes down, which in turn helps with your mental health.
This is why, people swim in the sea all through the year, or go open water swimming in lakes etc. The way it makes you feel is extraordinary. Having this cold exposure creates in us a chemical balance which makes us feel wonderful and, I use this term advisedly…epic.
This is what I wanted.
My cold showers have been up to 5 minutes for several months now. A warm shower to do what I have to do for 2 mins, then 5 mins cold and full immersion. Although I do have to say when you have a bald head and it is the closest to the shower nozzle, the brain freeze can be quite extreme, although I am gradually getting used to this.
Doing breathing exercises, obviously not when your face is upturned towards the nozzle, helps pass the time and reinforces the good chemicals cascading like a furious waterfall around your body. You exit the shower feeling like you can do anything. This helps to build the resilience.
I knew I needed to utilise the resource a mere 1.5 miles away.
The mental blockage of being terrible with the cold water, a less than elegant and strong swimmer and the John Williams beautiful but terrifying score from Jaws were all still playing a part.
Whether it was the natural way of things, or the fact it was the beginning of the year, I do not know. It doesn’t really matter. The fact, I made the decision on New Year’s Eve to go swimming in the sea the next day to bring in the New Year, was the most important thing.
Not early obviously, I am not utterly bonkers, but at a good mid-morning pace, around half ten.
My wife and I took the dog and headed to the beach, with a towel and some sea shoes in hand.
The outside temperature was 12 degrees Celsius, which is ridiculous for Jan 1st in the UK, far too warm. I have no clue as to the temperature of the water, but think it is around +6 degrees C.
The wind was an issue, as it was whipping the waves to be a bit more forceful than is comfortable.
I was on the verge of being really disappointed in not going in, the fear of being dragged out to sea on my first venture played a part. In fact, being dragged out to sea on any other venture also springs to mind.
I then spotted some people who were ready to take a dip. I asked if they minded me tagging a long and they said yes.
They were not going swimming, as it was too rough. I was happy to hear this, they would bathe as much as the waves would allow.
Now was the time. I noticed the four other cold exposure enthusiasts all had neoprene gloves and boots. I just had my lil gripper sea shoes from my sisters dive shop in Paihia NZ and a pair of shorts.
I realised soon after why ankle boots are a good idea. The swell of the sea dragged the shingle up and down the beach and it rakes over your ankles like a popping gun.
Stepping foot into the sea for the first time in Winter was truly not as bad as I had envisaged in my mind.
Before long I was up to that area of your body which, for a man, has a habit of retracting to save itself from the cold. My scrotum shrunk into a pea sized walnut. At least, I think it did. It felt like it. I thought it prudent not to openly examine on a public beach.
The most important aspect of all this, was I was able to bear what the sea had to throw at me, and by that, I mean the cold, the waves knocked me over a couple of times.
It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. Undoubtedly, the cold showers played a part in preparation. I lasted approximately 10 mins of sitting and covering myself with the cold sea.
I came out of the sea utterly euphoric.
I had conquered my fear of the sea cold, probably not of Jaws, that fear is ongoing and being looked at by several medical departments…..
As I type, my neoprene gloves and boots are on their way to me for the next sea immersion.
I can see why Wim Hof does it, I can see why these, mostly women do it. I can feel how good it is for you. I can feel that chemical goodness course throughout my body and I want more of it.
I will not do it every day, but certainly 2/3 times a week is a realistic goal. The people I went in with asked if I would do it again, so we have arranged to meet and take another dip. It really does help having others do this, if nothing else, for moral support.
I will continue with my cold showers alongside my breathing, meditation, qigong & tai chi with the added saltiness of the sea.
It is all helping to give me a greater understanding of my mind and my body.
My wife bought me for the festive season an unusual gift. A Cryotherapy session. I suspect, it may just be a therapy which makes you cry……!
I will be put into a sealed chamber and be subjected to a temperature of -85 degrees C, with just gloves socks and shorts for 3 to 4 minutes.
Now that is cold exposure. I shall let you all know how I get on with that, when I have plucked up the courage to book the appointment.
I guess we shall see if Wim Hof is right and, in the cold, I find the doorway to my soul.