It was Hof's eldest son Enahm who turned the three pillars of the Wim Hof Method (WHM) - cold therapy, breathing and meditation - into a global brand, Innerfire. The breathwork Mark's guiding has its origins in the Tummo Breathing Technique practiced by monks in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as in pranayama yoga, while cold water therapy has roots in countless civilisations around the world.īoth were popularised by Wim Hof, a Dutch athlete in his 60s, known also as 'The Iceman' for his record-breaking ability to withstand cold temperatures. When we pulled up to the meeting point, Nicole muttered: 'This is going to be a sausage fest.'īut while it's true that Mark's retreats attract men keen to find a side of themselves that's discouraged on building sites and footy terraces, there are a couple of women here, too.

Photographer Nicole Cleary and I are here on one of Mark's day retreats, 'Don't Think, Do', incorporating strongman activities, gymnastic movement, meditation, breathwork and ice baths. Now that he's given up his building business in Melbourne to teach wellbeing - not just to epiphany-seekers but to corporates and CEOs - he lives in the hinterland of Hepburn, Victoria, with his graphic designer wife Julie. Mark was a plumber before he started teaching wellbeing.

Breathing zone iphone