Breath & Ice Event
Breath & Ice Event
HoliMont Embraces New Year with a Brand New Challenge
For many, finding ways to feel comfortable, especially amid extreme temperature changes, is a natural inclination. Whether it’s going from a toasty house to an already-warmed-up car with heated seats or an air-conditioned restaurant to an air-conditioned store, the human body tends to seek comfort above all else, noted Steve Beattie, certified Wim Hof Method instructor and founder of Breathing in Nature. However, the body is equipped to handle changes in our environment far better than most people think. He invites all to experience this for themselves at the Breath and Ice Challenge at HoliMont Ski Club on Friday, January 12th.
This one-day event challenges participants to learn how to use breath and cold exposure to hike up Exhibition Run and then plunge into the mountain top lake. A group of no more than fifty participants will meet inside the HoliMont ski chalet, where Beattie will lead them through a fascial flow movement routine to connect the mind and body. A central practice of the challenge – which is also the central component of Beattie’s Breathing in Nature – is breathwork, and participants will learn the fundamentals of the Wim Hof Method with Beattie.
Wim Hof (L) with Steve Beattie (R)
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Wim Hof and train with him,” said Beattie, who has trained and taught all over the world. “I teach people how to tap into their resilience.” So what exactly is the Wim Hof Method, and how can it prepare one for a January hike up a mountain and the ensuing icy plunge? Beattie explained that this method is comprised of three pillars: breathing, cold exposure, and commitment. By modifying one’s breathing through the Wim Hof Method, one activates the parasympathetic system, which is directly connected to the heart, thereby lowering the heart rate and creating the sense of calm.
The second pillar, cold exposure, has perhaps the most surprising benefits. “When the body is exposed to deep cold, it releases cold shock proteins,” Beattie explained. “The adrenaline flushes inflammation from the body.” Other physical benefits include faster metabolism, reduction of swelling, improved sleep, and a stronger immune response. Beattie has experienced these benefits firsthand. “Chronic inflammation is the root of most diseases,” he pointed out. After several years of dealing with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, Beattie began practicing the Wim Hof Method, and has been symptom-free for 10 years without medication. “Cold exposure exercises your vascular system in ways you just can’t normally do,” he added. In fact, the physical benefits of cold exposure can even be experienced by taking cold showers. “Every other mammal adapts to the cold,” Beattie pointed out. “We’re capable of so much more than we think.”
The third pillar, commitment, is rooted in willpower, which is a key component of enduring change. Conscious breathing and cold exposure require determination and dedication, and the benefits of immersing oneself in challenging circumstances – such as the Breath and Ice Challenge – cannot be overstated. Improved self-esteem, immunity, and wellbeing are just some of the benefits of such a challenge. Additional information can be found at www.wimhofmethod.com.
For those ready to embark on this transformative journey, Beattie invites them to register now for Breath and Ice. The event begins at the Ski Chalet at noon and concludes at 4:00pm. Participants should plan to dress warmly in multiple, loose-fitting layers, bring their swimsuit and towel for the plunge, and the usual necessities for a hike, such as a water bottle and daypack. For the indoor portion of the event, exercise clothes, including warm layers, and a yoga mat are needed. Beattie advised that the hike takes about 20 minutes, though this amount of time may increase depending on snow coverage. For those who want to experience the benefits of cold exposure but may have mobility issues, Beattie says that they can take the chairlift up the mountain. He will be accompanied by several instructors, and the “plunge” into the lake will be in a safe, controlled environment, as participants will be in neck-deep water and not required to swim.
Registration can be completed online through the event listing at www.holimont.com or at https://www.breathinginnature.com/hollimontbreathice/. To learn more about Beattie and Breathing in Nature, visit www.breathinginnature.com or email Beattie at steve@breathinginnature.com.