The InnerFire app by Wim Hof gives any Dad the tools required to overcome daily stressful situations as well as delivering relaxation, resilience to cold and improved flexibility. But how does he do it, and is the InnerFire app worth investing in?

Being a Dad in modern times means taking on an extra load of stress. Factor in the daily commute, debt, long working hours, poor diet and sleep and you’ve got all the ingredients of a full scale melt-down later in life. I’ve been right to the brink of complete burnout and it wasn’t pretty. Thankfully I’ve found a way to counteract a lot of the stress and pressure that Dads face on a daily basis.

Wim Hof is someone who has only recently been recognised and welcomed into the mainstream. He’s been around for decades but a VICE documentary which showed his revolutionary techniques propelled him into world wide fame.

Hof, originally from the Netherlands, is a father who developed his techniques when his wife tragically died leaving him to care for their young children. The results of the Wim Hof method are astounding. Read more about Wim here.

(A screenshot from the breathing instructional video)

wim hof breathing method innerfire app review

The Three Elements of the Wim Hof Method

As an introduction to his method, Hof explains that the purpose is to go deeper into the human physiology – to improve breathing, respiration, circulation as well as flexibility.

The InnerFire app covers the fundamentals of the Wim Hof Method which are:

  • Exposure to cold (Hof is often called ‘The Ice Man‘)
  • Improved and controlled breathing
  • Physical flexibility

All of these aspects are covered in the app which includes short instructional videos of the techniques and the ability to record progress on a daily basis.

I’ve now been using the InnerFire app for a month and have experienced powerful results. Keep reading to find out more:

 

does the wim hof method inner fire app

My Experience of 1 Month of the Wim Hof InnerFire App

1. Bringing Your Focus into Breathing

Probably the most powerful aspect of the Wim Hof method is the breathing techniques. The breathing exercises encourages you to relax and focus on the act of breathing. I get up early and practice the techniques on an empty stomach or in the evening when my kids are in bed.

The effects are incredible – I’ve experienced intense relaxation, euphoria and even a feeling of weightlessness. Plus the relaxation effects can last for several hours.

I’ll also listen to binaural beats or meditation music while doing the breathing. It helps focus the mind. This track is one of my favourites:

2. Using Exposure to Cold for Recovery and Focus

In terms of stress-relief, the cold showers has some of the greatest value. Wim Hof says:

Within ten days of progressive cold exposure, the heart rate drops significantly as the efficiency of the cardiovascular system increases. As a result, stress on the system is reduced, which also has a positive effect on the brain.

I’d read about contrast and cold showers in Gorilla Mindset however, living in Scotland, a cold shower is often less than appealing. However the process Hof describes of building up your resistance to the cold worked well for me. I’m now able to stand under a cold shower, with the bathroom window open, for extended periods of time. And I don’t feel cold or breathless.

3. Incorporating Breathing into Stretching

This won’t be a new concept if you’ve done yoga before – the act of using breathing to increase stretching. However the InnerFire app gives a different take on it which involves forcing oxygen into your joints and ligaments. I’ve used this a few times with good effect.

wim hof innerfire app breathing this dad does

I’m currently running a variation on Jim Wendler’s 531 (I’m going to write about this in an upcoming post) and using the stretches and breathing along with salt baths and foam rolling has been important for recovery and rest.

Is the InnerFire App Value for Money?

Wim Hof offers a full 10 week video course from his website which costs 199 USD (179 Euros) and I’ve heard good things about it. However the InnerFire app is a great introduction to the Wim Hof method and costs less.

A lot less.

In fact I paid just £3.11 for the fully unlocked app. That’s about $5.00!!

I’ve got so much from just one month of the app that I would definitely consider the full course at a later date. This last month has been a period of quite high stress for me but the combination of breathing, cold showers and stretches as been extremely beneficial in managing and balancing life.

And you can’t put a price on that…

Closing Thoughts

Can the InnerFire app completely remove stress from your life FOREVER? Probably not. But the breathing techniques and cold exposure can become a useful weapon in your arsenal as you continue in life being a Dad like a boss!

Like most things, the Wim Hof techniques have value when used in conjunction with other things like the Gorilla Mindset techniques of being in the moment and active mediation as well as using the power of positive frame to relieve and reduce Dad stress.

Buy the app here (Itunes/App Store)

 

P.S. There is an android version of the app – sorry I don’t have a link. But the iOS/Apple version is identical. Buy it here

About Neil M White

Neil has been writing for a number of years. He has worked as a freelance writer both in the UK and internationally and has worked on a number of high profile media projects. Neil spends his spare time hiking, in the gym or hanging out with his family.

4 comments add your comment

  1. Very interesting Neil. I’ve been intrigued by the Wim Hof stuff over the last few months (hearing Mike Cernovich talk about it a lot). But the $199 price has kept me away. I think I’ll give this app a try. Thanks for the recommendation!

    • Hi Ben. Thanks for commenting. Yes I’m the same. I’d struggle to fork out $199 for the course at the moment but the app is a great introduction to the techniques and probably means I’m more likely to do the full course in the future.

  2. Hi Neal, does this include in part, mindfulness meditation?

    Thanks,

    Andy P

    • Hi Andy, not specifically. It’s more about controlling your breathing and exposing yourself to cold temperatures via cold showers. The stretching moves are useful too. It would probably work well with mindfulness meditation but I used to do it in conjunction with prayer.

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