The Iceman cometh – How I learned to love the cold
I’m a tough cookie, but there are two things I REALLY don’t like: deep dark water, and freezing temperatures. Despite this, two winters ago I found myself standing on the edge of a very deep, dark, and freezing lake in my bathrobe. Wim Hof, the physical phenomenon who had climbed the highest mountains on earth in only shorts, was egging me on: “You can do much more than you think you can!” I took a deep breath and started taking off my bathrobe…
Wim ,The Iceman, (56), believes that the human body is capable of superhuman feats once you find the flow within your physical and mental state. He likes to demonstrate this by running a full marathon in the Namib Desert without a drop of water, or holding his breath for 6 minutes in ice-cold water. “What I am capable of, everybody can learn,” is his motto. Which is why I found myself on that cold winter’s day, walking into a freezing lake, facing my two biggest demons.
Nothing could have prepared me for the shock of the cold. I literally thought I might die. But once I got my breathing under control, (Wim had taught us special meditation and breathing techniques) I made conscious contact with my heart, autonomic nervous system and immune system. In other words: I felt more alive than ever!
Nowadays, I take a cold shower first thing in the morning. My thermostat is set at a nippy 18 degrees Celsius, and I step outside without a coat. My mom would kill me but I feel great! Not just because my immune system is stronger than ever, but because I conquered my biggest fears. Am I turning into the Ice woman? Definitely not! But I love what the cold does to me: Awaken My Senses, again and again.
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MD Friends
Building bridges
From the Erasmus Bridge and the Mercedes-Benz Museum to Qatar’s metro network; Ben van Berkel’s iconic landmarks bring people together in rapturous beauty, again and again. I talked with the Dutch architect and educator about sensuality, ‘healthy’ buildings and the remarkable parallels between our designs.
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More than a feeling
Don’t ignore your emotions; they are much more powerful than you can imagine. By linking the magical world of emotions with hard science, Dutch scientist Pierre Capel, professor emeritus in experimental immunology, shows us the consequences of our feelings and the power of our minds. The message: we can do much more than we think. “Meditate. It’s the single best thing you can do for your health.”
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Marlies Says
Keto curious?
The fact that I feel bikini-confident all year round is, of course, a nice bonus. But for me, the biggest payoff of following the keto diet is the way it optimizes my health and gives me tons of energy.
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Marlies Says
Super (skin) food
‘If you can’t eat it, why put it on your skin?’. I pretty much live by this beauty adage. After all, with your skin being one of your body’s largest organs, anything – and I mean anything! – you put onto your skin will end up in your bloodstream.
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