A wellness instructor by day and a musician by night, Faisal Amin is a man of many talents. Apple Sharma chats with him about his personal journey in becoming the only Wim Hof Method instructor in Bahrain, the benefits of the practice and how to embrace it in daily life.

fact: How did you first discover the Wim Hof Method, and what inspired you to become a certified instructor?
FA: The seed was planted a long time ago when a doctor friend of mine was going through Wim’s [Dutch extreme athlete, Wim Hof, who developed the method] research and techniques, trying it out and telling me about it. I had been intrigued by the man and his energy, his philosophy and accomplishments. But it wasn’t until the Covid era when I saw Wim in an Instagram live session and followed along. I decided to do the breathing techniques consistently, started attempting slightly cooler showers and then a year later did my first ice plunge at home. After about a year and a half of practising the method full-on, I decided I wanted to invest time in learning more and being around people who practice the method and that was the only reason I decided to become an instructor.

fact: For someone hearing about Wim Hof for the first time, how would you explain it in simple terms?
FA: The Wim Hof method is a way to reawaken our innate intelligence and connect body and mind mechanisms using simple tools given to us by nature. The three pillars are the breath, the cold and the mindset. It’s a scientifically proven way to keep the body and mind in its optimal natural state.
Wim Hof, also known as the Iceman, has used his time in nature to learn and experiment with his own body, the breath, the cold. He has endured the most amazing physical challenges and broken multiple world records. He has been submerged in ice for almost two hours, has the longest swim under ice, run half a marathon in the ice barefoot and a full marathon in the desert in Namibia without hydration. He also used the practices to regain physical health, composure and mental wellbeing through severe personal challenges.
What launched everything for him was the scientific validation through studies done in Radboud University Medical Center, published in 2014, which showed that Wim and others who trained with him were able to show influence and control over their autonomic nervous system like never observed before.

fact: What benefits have you personally noticed since making it part of your routine?
FA: I have had major improvements with chronic sinusitis and have been healed of a minor autoimmune skin condition that was bothering my leg for over two years, without any other lifestyle change. I rarely get sick anymore, and if I do the symptoms are nothing like what they used to be and I recover faster. I have much more energy throughout the day, have very minimal stress (which is also supported by other habits and a general mindset switch in life), I have much more of a ‘bring it on’ attitude, I recover faster after my Muay Thai workouts, the list goes on and on.

fact: Cold exposure can sound intimidating. What advice would you give to beginners who are just starting out?
FA: You can always start with gradually bringing the temperature down in your showers. There is a cold shower challenge on the app, which you can also find online, which systematically increases the threshold. I’d say the best way is to come to the workshops, learn about the science and methodology, have a group breathing session and let the instructor guide you through your first ice bath. I think we’re close to having had about 200 people in Bahrain do it for the first time in their lives, and it seems like every single one of them is now addicted to the cold!

fact: How can the method realistically fit into everyday life, especially for people with busy schedules?
FA: The simplicity of the method is what makes it so beautiful. Everyone can manage making time for a few rounds of breathing and turning the shower cold. (There are solutions for summer months too, using trays designed to hold ice right under the shower head). The Wim Hof Method app makes it all very easy as well.

fact: For those who want to try the Wim Hof Method in Bahrain, how can they get involved and do you have any upcoming sessions planned?
FA: I am always running workshops, group courses (which go a little bit deeper and help us stay consistent as a group in spans of five or 10 weeks). From January 16 to 17, we have an overnight camp at Learn To Grow farm in Janabiya, which includes the Wim Hof Method – a great way to connect with nature and also learn the method. These workshops are for beginners and practitioners alike, so anyone is welcome. You can find details on my website or follow me on Instagram.

fact: You’re also involved in Muay Thai and play in a band, The Relocators. For a quick reset, what do you reach for first – a guitar, an ice bath or a kick-boxing session?
FA: I can kickbox in an ice bath while playing the guitar… haha. For a reset, it’s always going to be the breath and the cold.

fact: If you had to choose a soundtrack for an ice bath, what would it be and why?
FA: I haven’t been speaking much about this, but nowadays I’m always writing music with Wim Hof himself! So, it would be one of his tracks, which aren’t released to the public yet.. ✤

GO: VISIT FAISALAMIN.NET OR FOLLOW @FAISALAMINSHEIKH ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION.