Wim Hof Breathing technique
June, 2020
I started practicing Wim Hof breathing technique a few months ago. At first, I was really challenged to get to a still place, while listening to him, Wim Hof, guide me through the meditation. I was wearing headphones while laying on my back with my arms extended and my palms facing upward. Even before I ever get still, I pray that God would meet me, even for these fifteen minutes. I pray and meditate over the possible life lesson that I’ll receive and get to process.
The first time I was able to get still, I was mentally and emotionally in a place of missing my grandchildren terribly. It was at the beginning of the quarantine, maybe three months in. I missed the hugs, the sweet kisses, and the holding.
I fell into a layer of meditation and prayer, where I saw all my grandchildren running towards me. Ellie and Rosie, my youngest grandchildren, were holding hands and floating about six feet above my head. The others ran towards me to give me long-awaited hugs and kisses. I was aware of Wim Hof’s voice saying softly, “Take it in a circle.” Immediately the grandchildren went from their straight line, into a circle, where I could now receive hugs and kisses continually. This little beauty of loving went on until my session ended. It was a nice visual in my brain to retain forever.
During my second Wim Hof session, during prayer and meditation, I saw myself playing the drums. I used to play years ago and I still played fairly well now, I think. I was holding my sticks and was aware of one stick symbolizing my heart and the other symbolizing my blood. I leaned over my drum skin, as it felt warm and inviting. As I leaned, it was at the same point in the session where Wim Hof says, “Take it in a circle.” I began to make a circular motion with my sticks over the warm drum skin. I became so relaxed, the tension and pain in my abdomen left my body. I saw myself lean all the way over my drum and drop my sticks. I continued to do the breathing technique to the end of the session. I felt really weak but no pain. I realized after this session, that I was beginning to get a glimpse of what mind-over-body may look like. I began investing more time, energy, and effort into this process. If I could achieve this for myself and lessen my pain, I’m all in.
During my third Wim Hof breathing session, I saw myself doing ballet. I was so darn good at it. I felt great and I wished I would never stop. I was simultaneously sitting in a seat in the audience. I was the only audience. I saw myself blow kisses at me and tell myself that I was so proud of me. I walked up to myself after the ballet and told myself that I was brave when I needed to be. We walked off stage together, as the breathing session was ending.
In another breathing session, which I don’t remember well, there was something to do with a bike. I was tight and stressed. I saw some auras, but couldn’t identify whose auras these belonged to. I shut it down.
The combination of my new chemo drugs with the white count stabilizer, always leaves me in a bad way. I receive side effects too numerous to mention. I'm pretty tough physically, so I was not content to be the me that I was potentially going to become with this oncoming pain. I had to give it a go. I had to put into practice this mind-over-body thing. . . the pain warranted it. It started in the night. I ended up doing four sessions before 6 am. All the pain throughout my body was gone, with the exception of my neck or my head. I now know, I must focus and be intentional about my neck and my head to have nearly full control of the rest of my body, regarding pain.
I highly recommend this breathing exercise, for anyone, especially someone who is dealing with pain, be that physical, emotional, spiritual. . .