The Iceman ‘on hold’

[Esperanto]

As a "sunman," I have never been that interested in the Iceman Wim Hof's method. Besides his scientifically controversial insights, it seems that this guru is also falling from his pedestal, just like his admirer, neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Andrew Huberman.

He is also the man who presents himself as a teacher in love. “I want to reach billions of people,” he said in an interview, “and teach them how to live in love and dispel their inner darkness.” Apparently, the method didn’t work in this regard…

Because not everyone is fluent in Dutch, here is a translation of the article from the NRC, a Dutch quality newspaper:

PRODUCTION OF FILM ABOUT ‘THE ICEMAN’ WIM HOF ON HOLD DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS

Breathing guru Wim Hof came under scrutiny following allegations from his ex-wife and her children regarding humiliation and physical abuse. He denies the violence.

Wim Hof, internationally known as The Iceman, has millions of followers and an extraordinary life that lends itself to a biopic. One was in the works, but on Monday, Genesius Pictures announced to *de Volkskrant* that the production of a film about the life of the ice swimmer has been halted. The reason for this is revelations about Hof's private life.

His ex-wife and her three children, the youngest of whom is Hof's, accused him on Saturday in a reconstruction in *de Volkskrant* of humiliation, physical abuse, and coercing her into sex in exchange for alimony payments. Their account is supported by a conviction for abuse, medical records, and statements from several therapists who confirm that the woman and the children discussed this dark side of Hof in sessions. He has denied almost all the allegations and provided the newspaper only with a written response, in which he speaks of "lies and manipulation of the truth."

It was previously known that Hof regularly left his four teenage children from his first marriage alone after their mother's death while he "subjected himself to the elements" and moved in with his second wife. The four children are now part of the business behind the so-called 'Wim Hof Method.' The business brain is his son Enahm. Attempts by *NRC* to contact him were unsuccessful on Monday afternoon.

Breathing Techniques

Wim Hof (65) gained fame through stunts in which he forced his body to perform superhuman feats, such as climbing Kilimanjaro with his torso exposed and running a marathon in the desert—without water. A 2015 Vice documentary about the eccentric record-breaker propelled his ideas and breathing techniques to a global audience. Several researchers have documented a certain effect among followers of his method, which reinforced his belief that he could influence the autonomic nervous system through breathing.

However, the Wim Hof Method has also received negative attention due to fatal accidents. Relatives of a seventeen-year-old American girl who drowned after becoming unconscious in water due to breathing exercises filed a lawsuit against him. The court found Hof not liable for her death, as revealed earlier this year.

Negligence

Wim Hof was born as half of a twin, but he was not expected. His older brother from the family in Sittard (with nine children) is the later documentary maker Rob Hof (Sporen uit het Oosten). He is estranged from Wim. *De Volkskrant* reported that Rob even filed a complaint against his brother for reckless negligence regarding his method. According to Rob Hof, this has already led to thirteen deaths.

After the Wim Hof Method had already raised concerns, it is now Hof's private life that haunts him. Hof admitted to abusing his oldest stepchild in 2011 in front of the police judge, *de Volkskrant* wrote. He received a community service sentence of 40 hours and a fine of 350 euros. "I must have given him a smack," he later told Child Protection Services. Now he only speaks through a lawyer to *de Volkskrant*, referring to it as "a struggle."

Since 2013, the children of his ex-wife have not seen Wim Hof. After the British production company informed them a year ago that a film about Wim Hof was coming, they feared that his private life would be misrepresented. They therefore shared their story with *de Volkskrant*. The film plans—actor Joseph Fiennes (among others from *The Handmaid’s Tale*) was to play the title role in *The Iceman*—have been put on hold until further notice.

[Source](nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/09/30/pr...

Nevertheless, for some of us, cold showers or swimming in cold water can sustainably increase dopamine levels by 250% (he assumes a normal situation, not someone with PD), as Huberman has researched.

youtube.com/watch?v=QmOF0cr...(Not working as expected?)

(from 1:30-1:40)

However, the fact that his method is not without danger is evident from the estimate that at least 13 people have died….

[penny1507]

Well, goodness. Thank you for posting this.

[TomandDon]

Here is a YouTube link that covers some very interesting facts about Wim Hoff from someone who at one time was a devoted follower.

youtube.com/watch?v=eu5Ckka...(Not working as expected?)

It's long, but very revealing.

[Esperanto in reply to TomandDon]

Unfortunately, the YouTube link can't be opened by me. What is the title of the video?

[TomandDon in reply to Esperanto]

"The Rise and Fall of the Wim Hof Empire" on the Scott Carney channel. Scott actually wrote a book that was very positive about Wim Hof "What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength" but recently has started warning people about how some of Wim's teachings have resulted in numerous deaths.

[Esperanto in reply to TomandDon]

Indeed, it’s a long watch, but it provides a well-founded view of the Wim Hof Empire. What is most shocking are the reactions on YouTube—unconditional support for Wim Hof. Why are people unable or unwilling to see the nuances and blindly follow their guru? Scott Carney himself still claims to stand behind the original method, but he rightly believes that he must warn about the life-threatening excesses. Apparently, this cannot happen in a cult.

[OKWY]

I find his breathing techniques and cold showers very beneficial. People lack common sense doing hyperventilation and breath holds while in water or driving a car, but he now puts a warning on all of his videos.