So this week the practice becomes a bit more intense with more exercises. Also you are supposed to START with a cold shower, have a hot shower, and end with a cold shower.
Times 1:30, 2:15, 3;00.
I'm laying down during my breathing and I'm noticing because of my tight chest and back from jiu jitsu I'm not able to take a whole lot of air in, or at least not as much as I would like. This makes me want to get into a decent yoga practice.
I'm also wondering how not having the best hydration, being caffeinated, and doing the practice at night after jiu jitsu is playing into my results.
Starting with the cold shower was daunting. It was like I was starting all over again.
I had to stand and focus on the shower. Every so often I would stick my hand in and think "God, I am STARTING to take a shower that is THIS cold?"
I got it done though.
When finishing with the cold shower, it's nothing. It doesn't even really affect me which is interesting considering how much trouble I had with it originally.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
Week 1 - Day 8
Since I missed the cold shower one day I decided to stay another day on week one.
Times: 1:30, 2:20, 2:20
The interesting thing is that the cold shower is getting easier and easier, and when the cold water hits me, I can feel my core immediately closing off to help store the energy in my body. Fascinating stuff.
I'm also feeling myself getting much more flexible in the stretches given.
Times: 1:30, 2:20, 2:20
The interesting thing is that the cold shower is getting easier and easier, and when the cold water hits me, I can feel my core immediately closing off to help store the energy in my body. Fascinating stuff.
I'm also feeling myself getting much more flexible in the stretches given.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Week 1 - Day 7
I decided to take it a bit easier on myself by being more 'natural' during the breathing.
I would breathe in slower instead of forcing it in. In the days before I was going decently fast and filling my lungs to 100% capacity. I believe this was causing discomfort to my chest, throat and abdomen.
This time I was laying down, knees up, and I took an extra second to breathe in, compensated by taking more breaths, and filled my lungs to 95%? capacity.
My times were 1:45, 2:35, 2:30. It felt a lot more relaxing, natural, and in the flow of things. It felt much better.
I am definitely getting more flexible in my legs which is great.
Afterwards I had my cold shower and what I am enjoying is that it is less and less of a shock. It almost doesn't even register now. The back is a bit uncomfortable but it is getting easier and easier.
I felt really good afterwards.
I had a look at what next week has in store for me and it seems like quite the upgrade. I think I'll do this one more day before I head into the 'week 2' practice.
I would breathe in slower instead of forcing it in. In the days before I was going decently fast and filling my lungs to 100% capacity. I believe this was causing discomfort to my chest, throat and abdomen.
This time I was laying down, knees up, and I took an extra second to breathe in, compensated by taking more breaths, and filled my lungs to 95%? capacity.
My times were 1:45, 2:35, 2:30. It felt a lot more relaxing, natural, and in the flow of things. It felt much better.
I am definitely getting more flexible in my legs which is great.
Afterwards I had my cold shower and what I am enjoying is that it is less and less of a shock. It almost doesn't even register now. The back is a bit uncomfortable but it is getting easier and easier.
I felt really good afterwards.
I had a look at what next week has in store for me and it seems like quite the upgrade. I think I'll do this one more day before I head into the 'week 2' practice.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Week 1 - Day 6
I ended up going out to eat after training today and didn’t get around to doing my breathing exercises until 11pm. Not a good time to trying to focus and re-energize. I really need to switch over to a morning practice which would require getting up early, which I'm terrible at.
I went to the doctor for something unrelated earlier in the day (or maybe it is related?) and when checking my throat, asked me if I was feeling sick because it was very inflamed.
When I laid down to do my breathing with my head was pounding. Back too tight, too much coffee, not enough water. I get like this probably once a month due issues with poor posture and training.
After every round I felt as if I was getting sicker and sicker, my throat and nose closing. 1:30, 2:35, 2:30.
It felt exhausting to continue.
I decided to forgo the cold shower, took an Aleve, had a warm shower and went to bed.
I asked the Wim Hof group online about how I was feeling (Nose and throat closing) and they again said it’s very normal for people to get sick in the beginning of the practice. In addition, they added that if I didn’t feel up to it, to stop the cold showers until I felt better.
I went to the doctor for something unrelated earlier in the day (or maybe it is related?) and when checking my throat, asked me if I was feeling sick because it was very inflamed.
When I laid down to do my breathing with my head was pounding. Back too tight, too much coffee, not enough water. I get like this probably once a month due issues with poor posture and training.
After every round I felt as if I was getting sicker and sicker, my throat and nose closing. 1:30, 2:35, 2:30.
It felt exhausting to continue.
I decided to forgo the cold shower, took an Aleve, had a warm shower and went to bed.
I asked the Wim Hof group online about how I was feeling (Nose and throat closing) and they again said it’s very normal for people to get sick in the beginning of the practice. In addition, they added that if I didn’t feel up to it, to stop the cold showers until I felt better.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Week 1 - Day 5
Today was the most intense experience thus far.
I played some music during the breaths and stretching because I found that I was taking things a bit too seriously and was losing out on it being fun and relaxing. Plus I don't want to be trying to 'force' things to happen.
This time I decided to do all of the rounds laying down and hit times of 1:50, 2:31, and 2:36. The experience was much the same as before, except this time I had tingling in my thighs, hands, wrists, forearms, and chest. I was going to go try for a 4th round, but I felt so fully charged or energized afterwards that it didn't feel worth it.
I felt a bit twitchy, high, and it was difficult to write things down. I did the suggested stretching and added a few of my own. Much to my surprise certain parts of my body were able to stretch further than they have for a few years now. During the stretching and afterwards I definitely felt more high/energized/high than I ever have before.
Still floating around, I went into the shower and when the cold hit me the reaction wasn't as strong. In a matter of seconds this time the cold turned to warmth and after a bit of adjustment I was able to put my entire back in the cold shower as I kept my breathing in check.
While in the shower the experience felt amazing and I kept feeling higher and higher, almost like I was on methamphetamine's or ecstasy/MDMA. The more I covered my entire body with the cold shower, the more intense it would get.
It continued to get more intense and my vision started to vibrate and while it was bliss, it felt like there was no limit to how high I would get. I still have a fear I may faint and hurt myself, so I ended the shower after a few minutes.
I played some music during the breaths and stretching because I found that I was taking things a bit too seriously and was losing out on it being fun and relaxing. Plus I don't want to be trying to 'force' things to happen.
This time I decided to do all of the rounds laying down and hit times of 1:50, 2:31, and 2:36. The experience was much the same as before, except this time I had tingling in my thighs, hands, wrists, forearms, and chest. I was going to go try for a 4th round, but I felt so fully charged or energized afterwards that it didn't feel worth it.
I felt a bit twitchy, high, and it was difficult to write things down. I did the suggested stretching and added a few of my own. Much to my surprise certain parts of my body were able to stretch further than they have for a few years now. During the stretching and afterwards I definitely felt more high/energized/high than I ever have before.
Still floating around, I went into the shower and when the cold hit me the reaction wasn't as strong. In a matter of seconds this time the cold turned to warmth and after a bit of adjustment I was able to put my entire back in the cold shower as I kept my breathing in check.
While in the shower the experience felt amazing and I kept feeling higher and higher, almost like I was on methamphetamine's or ecstasy/MDMA. The more I covered my entire body with the cold shower, the more intense it would get.
It continued to get more intense and my vision started to vibrate and while it was bliss, it felt like there was no limit to how high I would get. I still have a fear I may faint and hurt myself, so I ended the shower after a few minutes.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Week 1 - Day 4
Today I noticed that my throat was very swollen and it was difficult to swallow. I wasn't sure what it was really. I thought I might be getting sick but I'm showing no other signs of illness. I remembered during the first 3 days of practice when I inhaled I did so forcefully and my throat would burn on every in breath. I wondered if somehow I caused inflammation in my throat this way or if this is my immune system starting to decline due to the changes in my body. I have noticed I need a LOT more water than normal.
Later I ate and drank a lot of water and it mostly went away.
So far during the practice I have been sitting down with my back supported instead of laying down. On my third round, a bit concerned that my times were lower today (something Wim assures you is OK) I decided to lay down to see if that would help.
Times were 1:30, 1:54, 2:35.
While I'm retaining and later when I take that final in breath to end the round, I'm closing my eyes and focusing on the energy that is inside of my body. To my surprise, my awareness is able to manipulate that energy a bit. I believe this is the beginning of something great.
My ears began ringing lightly in the first round and continued to intensify as I continued into the later rounds. I found while focusing my awareness, I was able to control how much ringing was going on by focusing on my head to intensify it, or moving my awareness down towards my stomach would make it go away.
It was an interesting experience and from the hints I'm getting from other people a bit further ahead of me in the program, I believe this plays a big part in the upcoming weeks.
When I did the stretching afterwards my chest hurt during my in breath, but I believed it to be from tight muscles from yesterdays training.
After everything was finished, I felt extremely light and high which lasted longer than the previous times. I think I felt this way for a good 10-15 minutes.
Later I had my shower and felt in the zone as opposed to preoccupied with anxiety surrounding the cold water to come. I focused, shut off the hot and stood there waited for it to hit me. It's REALLY cold, too. I would be curious to see what a thermometer would read it as.
It still sucked, but this time I was able to take a lot more and played around with holding my breath while in the water. I put a good majority of it on my back but I don't think I'm at a point yet in my concentration where I could withstand turning my back completely to the cold water instead of doing half and half. I have had ice baths before after training to improve recovery time, and yet something about the way the water hits you in a shower feels different (worse) than submerging into a bath tub.
I am already very excited to check out what week two has to offer me. I have stopped my regular meditation practice during this time and I think I need to make more of an effort to resume it as I have a strong desire for going deeper inside myself.
Later I ate and drank a lot of water and it mostly went away.
So far during the practice I have been sitting down with my back supported instead of laying down. On my third round, a bit concerned that my times were lower today (something Wim assures you is OK) I decided to lay down to see if that would help.
Times were 1:30, 1:54, 2:35.
While I'm retaining and later when I take that final in breath to end the round, I'm closing my eyes and focusing on the energy that is inside of my body. To my surprise, my awareness is able to manipulate that energy a bit. I believe this is the beginning of something great.
My ears began ringing lightly in the first round and continued to intensify as I continued into the later rounds. I found while focusing my awareness, I was able to control how much ringing was going on by focusing on my head to intensify it, or moving my awareness down towards my stomach would make it go away.
It was an interesting experience and from the hints I'm getting from other people a bit further ahead of me in the program, I believe this plays a big part in the upcoming weeks.
When I did the stretching afterwards my chest hurt during my in breath, but I believed it to be from tight muscles from yesterdays training.
After everything was finished, I felt extremely light and high which lasted longer than the previous times. I think I felt this way for a good 10-15 minutes.
Later I had my shower and felt in the zone as opposed to preoccupied with anxiety surrounding the cold water to come. I focused, shut off the hot and stood there waited for it to hit me. It's REALLY cold, too. I would be curious to see what a thermometer would read it as.
It still sucked, but this time I was able to take a lot more and played around with holding my breath while in the water. I put a good majority of it on my back but I don't think I'm at a point yet in my concentration where I could withstand turning my back completely to the cold water instead of doing half and half. I have had ice baths before after training to improve recovery time, and yet something about the way the water hits you in a shower feels different (worse) than submerging into a bath tub.
I am already very excited to check out what week two has to offer me. I have stopped my regular meditation practice during this time and I think I need to make more of an effort to resume it as I have a strong desire for going deeper inside myself.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Week 1 - Day 3
I feel great today.
I did the daily practice again. Times were 1:45, 2:01, 2:09.
On the last round my eyes were closed, the tingling in my body intensified, my ears started to ring and I saw a bit of a white light. I tried to focus on it, but it quickly went away.
Afterwards I tried to start my cold shower with my back facing it. The water was just too cold for me to be mentally stable enough to start on my back. I jumped out after a few seconds, and restarted it chest first.
I felt fairly disappointed, and want to challenge myself by on making sure my entire back is covered the next go around tomorrow.
I did the daily practice again. Times were 1:45, 2:01, 2:09.
On the last round my eyes were closed, the tingling in my body intensified, my ears started to ring and I saw a bit of a white light. I tried to focus on it, but it quickly went away.
Afterwards I tried to start my cold shower with my back facing it. The water was just too cold for me to be mentally stable enough to start on my back. I jumped out after a few seconds, and restarted it chest first.
I felt fairly disappointed, and want to challenge myself by on making sure my entire back is covered the next go around tomorrow.
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