WELCOME TO SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS!
Meet your hosts and jump into the cold water! We are very excited to release our new podcast covering the science behind the Wim Hof Method.Once you are practicing the method you’re probably craving more information and might be wondering where to find a reliable source. We’re glad to help!
Joins us on this very first episode and find out more about Dina, Matthias and the mission behind this podcast.
Epiphany Corner
- Meet your hosts, Dina Wittfoth, Ph.D. and Matthias Wittfoth, Ph.D.
- Why we’re doing this podcast
- Translation, please! How we can contribute, plus: find out how you can help us thrive
- Our plans for changing the world… together!
Show notes
- Intro Dina
- Intro Matthias
- Why we do the podcast 6:15
- Why the WHM needs science 6:37
- How you can help us thrive 7:54
- Educate yourself 8:10
- Before you get lost in translation – let us help 8:47
- From neuroimaging to changing the body 9:23
- The podcast journey 12:58
- Wim Hof Interview on Matthias’ other podcast “Inside Brains” 13:27
- Science with Wim @Hannover 13:45
- Science on the Rocks: a platform for connecting scientists with “real” people – we bring their knowledge to you and your ideas to them 14:37
- How the Wim Hof FB community has already contributed enough topics to easily fill the next 2 years 16:46
- Join the ride: listen, rate, subscribe 17:07
- Winter training: people are so hungry for more information 17:31
- 1st vs 3rd person perspective 19:43
- Stay with us, we’ve got some exciting stuff waiting for you 21:50
Dina Wittfoth
MSc in Psychology, Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Head of Functional Imaging Unit, Institute of Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School
Research focus on Emotion Regulation, Posture teacher, Mother of two
Likes: Movement of body and soul, Simplifying stuff, Learning new things, Finding new uses for old things, Connecting people, Listening to interesting stories, Passing on what I learned, Questioning everything, Funny stuff
Matthias Wittfoth
I am currently a full-time psychotherapist and Peak-Performance coach for athletes and musicians.
I change people with the Wim Hof Method to become happier, healthier and stronger.
Previous activities include a Psychology Master in Bremen, Heidelberg and at the Max-Planck-Institute for Cognitive Neurosciences in Leipzig, PhD at the Neuropsychological Institute in Bremen (functional MRI), Head of the “Auditory Neurophysiology” research group at Hannover Medical School’s Clinic of Neurology, Co-Applicant of the Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4All” (total funding: € 28M), and leader of the “Pedophilia” Research Network Neuroimaging Unit.
I just listened to the first episode…
wow, fantastic, just what I was looking for!!! Love the idea, the execution, just everything!!!
I am SO impressed with this podcast as of yet. Most gratitude for taking the plunge and creating this. I added you both on FB, as I’d like to connect further. I have plans of doing my doctorate in Clinical/Health Psychology, and would like to shed more light on the science of WHM and treatment of mental health. Thank you both again.
In the guided breathing, Wim has us exhale completely, and then hold the breath for 1 or 2 minutes. What is happening to Oxygen and Carbon-Dioxygen levels during this magical moment, and why does it present as such a body tingling high? Immediately after this, he has us breathe in fully and hold for 10-15 seconds. This is often even MORE of a high. What is happening during this moment within the body?
Also, he instructs us to flex our stomach and force blood into our head during this last breath holding. I trust Wim quite a bit, but I wonder if this is dangerous to the blood vessels INSIDE the head and brain. What effect will this have in the long term?
Finally, how does the body and particularly the Brain/Nervous System make USE of all this oxygen? What does it do with it when it is overloaded like this?
When we see colors during this process, is our Brain or are our nerves ACTUALLY phosphorescent?
I think some of these answers may be better given from a more esoteric perspective, but I am, like you, quite interested in the actual chemical science of what is happening. I have read many esoteric texts, and some of them have mentioned that oxygen is the carrier molecule for prana, chi, or the universal energy which animates us. Consequently, it is very important to get this prana/oxygen into the proper parts of the brain on a frequent basis if we wish to develop some of our higher internal senses and powers. They claim that after enough time of this, and with proper visualization exercises, one develops certain clairvoyant and clairaudient powers. I wonder if introducing an abundance of oxygen at the same time as activating certain centers within the brain via imagination, visualization, and emotion, etc. wouldn’t “feed” the proper glands (pineal, pituitary, etc.) and make, create, or reinforce certain neuro-pathways which are not usually exercised by us. All Mystics and esotericists will tell you that theirs is a scientific practice that simply takes time to achieve. What if it really is as simple as mapping out the science of Mysticism? I cannot have the physique of Thor, unless I exercise and use my body and muscles the way he does. Regular life does not require me to use those muscles, so I don’t develop them. But if I undertake the proper physical exercise routine and diet, given enough time, discipline, and practice, I will develop his physique. Perhaps it is the same with Mysticism. I cannot have the mind/brain of a Buddha/Yogi/Magician/Mystic, unless I exercise and use my mind/brain pathways the way he or she does. Regular life just simply does not require me to use my mind/brain in that way, so I don’t develop the proper bloodflow, neuro-pathways, attention, etc. But if I undertake the proper physical/mental/emotional exercise routine and diet, given enough time, discipline, and practice, I will develop the mind, senses, and powers of a Mystic.
Anyway, this is where my head/heart are at. I believe it is the task of the West to do now what the ancient Yogis of the East did thousands of years ago: To turn what is esoteric and inexplicable (and to some, unbelievable) into a scientific process and path. I am of an esoteric bent, but I believe there is a science which once uncovered, will benefit and help many many people.
So glad to have found this series of podcasts. I will be listening to them all, in order. One thing I hope to get from listening to these podcasts is a translation of the airy-fairy spiritual language that Wim sometimes uses to something more meaningful. For example, Wim often says, “go deep within”. What does that mean???? I am trained in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) so I want to know what does that mean in terms of my 5 senses, external and internal imagined and internal remembered.
Hi Greg, it is hard to put into words. It is advisable to be instructed and experience this for yourself. Try looking for a workshop near you, it will boost your understanding. Some things are easier felt than described.
Just bumped into this podcast, very glad I found it! I’ve been searching for something like this since I started WHM a couple of months ago. Due to my skepticism, I had my doubts about the breathing method and it’s positive effects (PH increase, etc.), so became unmotivated to continue. Too esoteric, I thought. Now that I found this, I feel I will do the Wim Hof method with more determination and motivation! Sometimes feeling isn’t enough!
Thanks!