Breathing is the most fundamental function performed by humans and doing it consciously can bring about great changes in you. Extreme athlete and Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof swears by the “controlled breathing” technique that can “unlock” the deepest emotions.
Health experts and psychologists have echoed Wim’s beliefs about breathing and the power it has on the human mind. As with breaking a panic attack in four simple steps, a “scientifically approved” breathing method is said to help you heal from trauma.
How breathing consciously ‘unlocks trauma’
In an episode of The Diary of a CEO, Wim explains what trauma is, before dwelling on the impact of breathing on pent-up emotions.
He says trauma is nothing but “stored chemistry” that’s been suppressed and needs an outlet. When asked how conscious breathing unlocks trauma, the extreme athlete responded by saying:
“Trauma (s) are stored up chemistry. It’s unprocessed. It’s when you can’t deal with an experience when it happens. You can’t process it if you don’t understand.”
“It turns into biochemical stored in the deeper tissues. Our conditioned mind is not able to get into it. We know something is wrong, but we can’t connect with it,” he adds.
He says, changing the pattern – when breathing and thinking go hand in hand – “controls the heart”. By doing this, you can regulate your mood, he claims.
An article by Stanford University backs the athlete’s claim by stating: “Most of the time breathing is automatic, like digestion, heartbeat, and other bodily functions, but you can very easily take over and control your breath, which then affects your overall physiology and stress response.”
Step-by-step guide to controlled breathing
Wim’s website has a comprehensive guide to controlled breathing involving below steps:
- Pick a comfortable position. You can sit or lie down. Wear loose clothing in which your belly can expand fully.
- Close your eyes, clear your mind, and inhale through your nose or mouth while pushing your belly outward. Let go of the breath through your mouth when your lungs are full. Repeat 30 times.
- Hold your breath until you feel the breath again after the final exhalation.
- The recovery breath involves taking one giant breath until your belly expands fully, holding it for 15 seconds, and letting it go. With this, the first cycle concludes.
“Feel free to repeat the full cycle 3 to 4 times. Stay focused on your breathing and try not to let your mind wander,” the website notes.
Symptoms such as light-headedness and tingling sensation in your fingers and feet are “harmless, and will pass as you resume regular breathing.”
Wim Hof, Aka The Iceman, is a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete known for his ability to withstand low temperatures. He held a Guinness World Record for swimming in ice water. He’s an advocate for conscious breathing techniques, which he says helped him withstand extreme temperatures.
