What is the Wim Hof method?
Yoga in the snow is taking off thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow’s wacky series The Goop Lab.
Snowga is said to remove toxins from the body, boost circulation, burn calories and even slow the ageing process.
In her six-part wellness series on Netflix, we see Gwyneth’s team taking on sub-zero temperatures as they try it out.
Gwyneth says her 13-year-old son does a two-minute version of the ice-cold technique at home. But does the exercise, inspired by a Dutch athlete called Wim Hof, actually work?
The Sunday People gave snowga a go at the Chill Factore indoor snow globe in Stretford, Manchester, in temperatures of three below zero.
A celebrity introduced the class there – Hollyoaks star turned yogi Gemma Merna.
My instructor Gareth Caple explained I could expect to burn as much as 600 calories in one 20-minute session. But for optimal health benefits he suggests going three times a week.
I was told to bring just normal gym clothes, no wrapping up, so my body temperature dips. And while Gareth gives me the option to go barefoot, I decide to keep my trainers on.
We start things off with a five-minute meditation session, which sees me kneeling on the freezing mat with my eyes shut, concentrating only on my breathing.
Amazingly, it focuses my mind and I almost forget how chilly it is.
We then move on to the goddess pose, the child’s pose and the warrior pose – all far harder than they look.
Gareth insists I will get the best night’s sleep ever.
And, just a few minutes in, I am already feeling the most relaxed I have all week. At home
EXERCISE trends like Snowga are growing in popularity because of the Wim Hof method, featured on The Goop Lab. The method is based on three pillars – cold therapy, breathing and commitment.
Hof’s website, wimhofmethod.com, says: “Proper exposure to the cold starts a cascade of health benefits, including the build-up of brown adipose tissue and resultant fat loss.” The special breathing technique involves taking longer breaths.
The commitment takes the form of having the patience to master the breathing technique while in the cold.
Snowga is a good way to do this. Claimed benefits include a better immune system and more energy.