I’d heard the Wim Hof interview on Joe Rogan a while ago (youtube link no longer available), which was pretty interesting.

Due to the indoctrination of my youth(*), I recognize that I’m predisposed to the idea that the mind can control the body, so the techniques that Wof described in the Rogan podcast seemed plausible.  However, that plausibility wasn’t enough to make me want to spend the money me to purchase his book.

I have to admit that I did try some Wim Hof style intense breathing before jumping in the late fall 50F pool, after some time in the hot tub.  I suspect that I was not doing the breathing exercises correctly.  At that pool temperature, without the ablity to self-regulate my body heat, I find that I don’t warm up, even after a number of laps.

For anybody that finds the idea of body self regulation interesting, here is some analysis of the Wim Hof method on the medlife youtube channel.  It may not be the way to acquire Bene Gesserit like abilities, however,  if you also have the urge to play the hot-tub/cold-pool alternation game, or climb mountains, it does sound like the breathing techniques are worth knowing.

Footnotes:

(*) I grew up Scientology household where the actor at the head of the body-mind-spirit story is an all-powerful entity, somewhat akin to a Jin, but in need of significant re-training.