Wim Hof Training Program to Reduce Stress in Antarctic Expedition
Can Wim Hof training help survive extreme stress in Antarctica?
An 8-week Wim Hof Method training program significantly reduced depressive symptoms in expedition members during an Antarctic expedition, while control participants showed increased depression. A study of 13 expedition members (6 intervention, 7 control) found that the Wim Hof group decreased depressive symptoms while the control group increased by 4.6 points over the 8-week expedition period.
The Wim Hof Method works by combining breathing exercises that induce intermittent hypoxia, cold exposure that builds stress resilience, and meditation that enhances body awareness and willpower, helping regulate the stress response system under extreme conditions.