WIM HOF, A SHAGGY-HAIRED 63-YEAR-OLD DUTCH GRANDFATHER, is sitting in the driver's seat of a car when he answers my video call. He looks ordinary enough. Yet he's done what no one else has. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he claimed 26 World Records, including the fastest half-marathon barefoot on ice and the furthest swim under the ice.
He attributes his achievements to a method he's developed that combines breathing, gradual cold exposure, and mind-set, easy-to-learn techniques he says anyone can use to control their immune, hormonal, and energy systems. That's profound because it involves changing the body's neurochemistry, voluntarily influencing systems usually considered autonomous. It implies we've always had the potential to heal anxiety, trauma, depression, and diseases without preventative medicine.
He enthuses: 'We're alienated from nature, especially in the Western world, but there is no dualism. We're only making that up in our brains, and we live in stress because we're not in harmony with our inner and outer nature. The cold is merciless but righteous, bringing us back to being hardwired for connection?
Hof's been the subject of countless documentaries, podcasts, news articles and books, counts Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon among his fans, and The Handmaid's Tale star Joseph Fiennes will play him in a forthcoming biopic, The Iceman.
'My breathing app has been downloaded, like, 50 million times. And that's not because I'm a great seller; this shit works! It's simple and scientifically endorsed. That's why people are practising it all over the world, he says.
Why do so many people follow Hof's method, and does it actually work?
This story is from the February - March 2023 edition of GQ South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February - March 2023 edition of GQ South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
58 Do's and Dont's for Getting Dressed Right Now
Is it ever OK to repeat outfits? Should your socks match your shoes? Are Henleys cool? GQ staffers weigh in on all the most pressing style questions of the day
A man of many talents
Fhatuwani Mukheli is a true trailblazer, carving a unique path in his multifaceted career. His journey is captivating story, always evolving and filled with surprises
The man who doesn't play by the rule book
CEO of Red Rocket, Matteo Brambilla is aman onamission to improve big energy
Mastering your money: Financial resolutions for the new year
Setting smart goals and resolutions for 2024 can help you achieve greater financial stability, reduce stress, and work towards the future you envision
BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL
YOU'D EXPECT NOTHING ELSE BUT COMFORT AND LUXURY FROM A RANGE ROVER OR LEXUS. A HYUNDAI NOT SO MUCH. SO WOULD THE STYLISH PALISADE PROVE A SURPRISE? OUR MOTORING ED DIETER LOSSKARN WAS KEEN TO FIND OUT...
The Italian Stallions
Named after breathtaking Italian mountain pass roads Alfa's SUVs are not only but lots of fun to drive. GQ motoring ed Dieter Losskarn took the Tonale across South African mountain passes, and the Stelvio to De Hoop Nature Reserve attractive to look at, some spectacular
10 Perfect Summer Fragrances
Whether you're heading to a beach party, a rooftop bar, or just a casual day out, here's a curated list of scents ideal for those hot summer months
An audience with a master perfumer
Francis Kurkdjian, French perfumer and artistic director of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, shares the sources of inspiration and discoveries on his journey into the world of luxury fragrances
CURATED SUMMER ESSENTIALS
Our Fashion Director Luke Diva shares his summer checklist, from refreshing cocktails to trendy wardrobe items
Taste Makers
The Marble Group the team behind three of Johannesburg’s top restaurants, Marble, Saint and Zioux take us on an urban adventure in dining