What Next?
From that day on my life changed, my mental health improved, and the depressive and negative self-abusive thoughts reduced. The WHM changed my life very quickly and I knew it could help others in my situation. I contacted Combat Stress and spoke to them regarding how amazing I was feeling. They wanted to send someone out to make sure I was ok mentally after I told them I was lying in rivers at 5.30am, they thought I was insane and needed help, back then the WHM wasn’t as well known as it is now. Deciding to do the 10 week online fundamental course was next as I wanted to know and learn more. As soon as I started the course I knew I had to become an instructor to try and help as many veterans as possible with the WHM.
A year went past then suddenly in August 2020 I received an email from the Wim Hof Academy, asking me to trial the new advanced “Power of the mind course” before it went out for public release. Of course the voice in my head said “Yes” and I jumped at this opportunity. This course pushed the mindset further with challenging 20-minute ice baths and running barefoot.
Even though I was blessed with that opportunity, deep inside my heart the Wim Hof Method was always about how it helped heal the past of my childhood traumas and gave me the inner peace that I unconsciously craved in all aspects of life and continues to do so to this day.
The Present
I’ve returned to the river Clyde countless times over the years and experienced kind concern from passers-by who’ve asked if I’m ok or if I need someone to talk to. Now I smile and explain what I’m doing. Over the years as the Wim Hof Method, open water swimming, and cold therapy has become more popular the locals have got to know me and my friends and always say hello.
To this day I still think back fondly to my first introduction to the Wim Hof Method, where my mental health was back then, and where it is now. Yes I still have down days where the co-dependency conditioning, PTSD, and depression kick in. However knowing I have this powerful beautiful tool inside my head that can change my mind-set within minutes is a deep joy and relief to myself.
I’ve been practicing for 3 and a half years and teaching the beauty and power of the Wim Hof Method to others for 6 months now.
I’ve been practicing for 3 and a half years and teaching the beauty and power of the Wim Hof Method to others for 6 months now. I’ve had the privilege of seeing others embrace its beauty as well as see the remarkable growth it gives to everyone who embraces it as it still does with me.
I still want to teach it to veterans however, in my experience, most veterans have spent far too long in the cold and see the Wim Hof Method as a “hippy” type activity, especially when expressing connection to self and the body through feelings. I learnt that the military dehumanised me, like every other soldier, which sadly needs to be done for the job they do. Unfortunately, this is where the problem lies, dehumanised and de-emotionalised veterans struggle to cope in civilian life. It was through the Wim Hof Method that I learnt to reconnect with myself on an emotional level, feeling and experiencing emotions on an inner deeper level without the feelings of shame, guilt or fear of what others might say.
Even today, aged 48, I can openly and proudly say that I cry on a regular basis during or after performing breathwork. I’m in tune with who I was as a child, who I am growing into, and who I need to be for the parts of me that still need comfort and support. With the Wim Hof Method and its belief of becoming happy, strong and healthy I’m setting out in life embracing every opportunity the Wim Hof method has brought to me. New friends, connections from around the world, as well as here, back home, in Scotland.
Have I met the man himself many ask? The answer is no not yet, however I do thank him from my heart for the gift he has given to the world. A way to access these ancient practices, that are changing the world.
Learn it, Love it, Live it to become Happy, Strong and Healthy
