“We have lost the natural connection with the depth within us,” he says. “The cold is merciless but righteous. It is my teacher. I have found some techniques in the cold and learned that if you breathe well you will learn how to consciously oppose it.

“If you really go deep within breathing you are able to change the chemistry of whatever emotional trauma you are feeling, and it makes you powerful.

“A whole lot of people are still depressed and victimised by disease, and they don’t know why. I know why…”

“I want to keep on working with brain surgeons and neurologists to show that we are able to tackle depression, PTSD, anxiety, fear and trauma, all residing in the depths of our brain. Together we will make the world a better place.”

Of course, anyone who believes they can eradicate illness and restore happiness to the world with a literal breath of fresh air is bound to be met with scepticism as well as interest. But what’s most intriguing about Wim is that his method has been scientifically proven – and that anyone is able to learn it.

“I’ve got 26 world records. That’s nice. They brought a lot of attention but what was most important was that I got the attention of the scientific community, who were telling me what I was doing was physiologically not possible. But I was doing it.

“That’s where the really exciting journey began. Scientists were talking about the autonomic nervous system, the innate immune system and how we were not able to influence them at will. Now I have shown that we can. And not only me, but within four days of me training people they were able to go into their autonomic nervous system and innate immune system and stop a bacteria which was injected with a 100 percent score.

“For 30 years they called me crazy, irresponsible and a thousand other things. There was a lot of mockery and a lot of cynicism from people that did not have a real sense of happiness or sense within themselves. Then I went to science and now I see I am changing people.

“Everybody is able to tap into their deepest physiology and learn how to control or deeply implement their mood. Everybody wants to be happy but we are too caught up in daily stress and we don’t know how to stop it. These breathing techniques allow us to stop this and they are now validated through science.”

Wim oozes charisma verging on irresistible in the hour in which we speak. He’s often so enthusiastic about his project that he’ll finish his sentences nearly screaming in joyful exclamation.

Such is his own belief in his work, and so contagious his energy, that having heard him speak it would be easy to commit to his teachings, despite the stunningly extravagant nature of his beliefs.

There are still doubts being raised of course. There was controversy after four people died over a two-year period after suffering shallow water blackouts while practising the method, though Wim had warned not to practise it in unsafe surroundings.

And there are some that say that his belief in being able to cure illness may offer false hope to those suffering, particularly cancer sufferers. Speaking to Wim, it’s clear that he does not intend to mislead anyone, though he is evidently reluctant to put any sort of cap on the potential of his method or rule out any possibilities. Nevertheless, it’s a method that preaches a deep-rooted positivity towards nature and existence if nothing else, and there’s an obvious air of spirituality about his teaching.

“We are too alienated from nature now,” he concludes. “We’ve developed non-stimulating comfort-zone behaviour living in houses and walking on pavements and wearing clothes all the time and it’s weakening our systems. We don’t breathe properly.

“What I’ve found is a way to go back into the depths of our body no matter where we are; the jungle, the desert, the North Pole or the city. It’s all the same, but in the cities we deal with a lot of stress that takes away our control.

“In the beginning I was just looking around and thinking that there is more than this. There is so much war and unnecessary greed for things that are not essential for happiness, health and strength, like money and power and houses and cars. Where is the sensitivity? Where is the love? Where is the creativity and the beauty of life? Where is that feeling?

“It’s a fear-based society where they tell you to become this or you won’t succeed. Fucking hell man! I want to turn around the system. I’m doing my best but still, a whole lot more people are doing their best and are still depressed and victimised by disease, and they don’t know why. I know why. It’s because they have lost their connection and live by the system.

“I made myself a test subject. We are researchers of life itself. Because whatever is existent right now is no good and we’ve got to change that and bring more love into the world for everyone. If you emanate happiness you pass it on. There is no speculation about this. We are going to be a light in the life of people and pass it on; become radiant like sunshine.”

It’s certainly hard to argue with that.

To read the rest of Mpora’s January ‘Happiness Issue’, follow this link or to find out more on the Wim Hof Method, click here.

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