Trigger warning: This article contains mental health issues that may be triggering for some readers.
A couple weeks ago, I did an ice bath with Wim Hof. Yep, with the world-famous “Ice Man” himself. And, okay, technically, it wasn’t with Wim Hof, as he didn’t get into the bath with me. And it wasn’t actually a “bath”, it was an inflatable pool filled with melting ice, set up under a marquee at Sydney’s Luna Park, part of annual wellness festival, Human Kind.
Basically, I sat in icy pool water with 10 or so other swimmers-clad journalists, while Hof stood nearby, coaching us through the two-minute experience. I think that counts.
With a following of over 3.1 million on Instagram, not to mention a staring role in “Freeze the Fear With Wim Hof” and an episode of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Netflix show “Goop” (where I was first introduced to him), it’s safe to say the Dutchman has some fans.
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So, when I shared a photo of Hof and me on Instagram after our, okay, my ice bath, naturally, I got some questions. Everyone (four people, including my manager who was clearly trying to suss whether it was worth me taking the afternoon off) was asking me about it. What was he like? How did you feel afterward? And, the question most asked: how the hell did you last two whole minutes?
I thought I’d answer those questions — plus share bits about the experience no one asked for here.
What Was the Ice Bath Itself Like?
Horrible.
That’s what I tell everyone who asks. I don’t mean to be negative, but I don’t want to lie. It felt exactly how you think getting into an icy cold bath would feel. But I followed Hof’s breathing prompts and tried to believe his repeated “you are okay, you are okay” coaching to ignore my panic.
I was nervous I was going to pass out from the cold. In fact, the only reason I didn’t get out of the water was that I’d passed my phone to someone to film me during the bath, and I knew getting up mid-bath would mess up the content. Plus, no one else was getting up, and I wasn’t going to be the only one.
Eventually, Hof realised no one had been counting the time. Even now, I’m unsure if we did even longer than two minutes. He had us get out, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I’d done it. It was over — and all within 20 minutes.
We then crowded around Hof to hear him talk about ice baths. “This is the new science, people!” and “I want to change the world!”, he told us passionately, while I waited for an opportunity to ask him for a photo. Finally, he turned to me. “You have a question?”
“Can I get a photo with you?” I blurted. He graciously accepted. We took a few snaps, and then he was off.
What Was Wim Hof Like?
I was sure he could’ve gone on and on about the topic if he’d had the time. Frankly? I found it incredibly inspiring. So much so that when I left, I started frantically researching his personal story, hoping to gain some of his passion by osmosis.
Hof had been married to a woman named Marivelle-Maria, also known as Olaya Rosino Fernandez, and had four children with her. Sadly, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and died by suicide in 1995. To get over the pain of her death, he’d jumped into ice water one day.
“The only thing that gave me peace was the cold,” he reportedly said. “Cold, hard nature is the cure. I am convinced of it. It allows us to live, and to handle our grief.”
“I didn’t know all this then, so I couldn’t save her, but I could have. I could have made an intervention. Now, I do work with people who have mental illness. I have helped people who are having suicidal thoughts. My wife’s death inspired this, and it is her legacy.”
How Did I Feel After?
According to the official Wim Hof Method page, regular ice baths help with physical recovery, weight loss and increased activity in our parasympathetic nervous system.
“Exposing your body to cold conditions on a regular basis can make you more resilient to stress,” it reads. “As your body adjusts to the cold, the vagus nerve is stimulated, which is connected to many important organs by means of the parasympathetic nervous system. The resulting increase in parasympathetic activity has positive effects on all kinds of conditions such as anxiety, depression and gut problems.”
Was I buzzing after my one ice bath? Yes! But can I say it was because of the ice bath, and not because I’d just met Wim Hof in person and gotten a photo with him? No. So, yes, I did feel amazing after two minutes submerged in ice water, but I think meeting him and feeling inspired and energised by his passion had played a big role in that.
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Would I Do an Ice Bath Again?
I’d never say never, but with one of my first-ever ice baths being with Wim Hof himself, I’ve probably ruined it ice baths forever for myself. Any other will likely pale in comparison.
I can see their appeal, though. When you’re in icy cold water, you’re so in the moment, focusing on the sensations you’re feeling and, in my case, not passing out, that you forget all the head noise.
In my eyes, the experience is also a metaphor for being able to overcome hardship and, in the end, survive. Facing and conquering your fears, again and again, would likely do wonders for building your self-worth, not to mention priming you to be able to tackle other fears.
So, while to paraphrase Irish singer and songwriter Sinead O’Connor “nothing compares to [an ice bath with] to you“, I’d probably another with other company.
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If this article brings up any issues for you or anyone you know, or if you or a young person you know is struggling with symptoms of mental illness, please contact Headspace (1800 650 890) or chat online. If you are over the age of 25 and suffering from symptoms of mental illness, please contact your local GP for a Mental Health Assessment Plan or call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7.
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