HISKE VAN DEN AKKER ABOUT COLD

In the middle of winter, plunging into natural water, taking cold showers, and immersing in an ice bath is becoming increasingly popular. Hiske van den Akker is one of those people who swear by it. Through breathing techniques, cold exposures, and mindset exercises, she teaches people how to strengthen their resilience, health, and inner strength.

TEXT: EVA VAN MEIJL
PHOTOGRAPHY: NOPOINTSTUDIOS
STYLING: NIENKE ANEMA
VISAGIE: JOYCE WALIAN AGENCY

In recent years, cold therapy has received a lot of attention. Sitting in a bath full of ice water in your swimsuit sounds bizarre. Why would you do that for fun? That's what Hiske thought at first. Yet it triggered something in her. "As a young mother, I was constantly busy juggling everything. I wanted to do well at work, for my children, my friends, and so on. It was a lot. Too much. My body started sending signals that I ignored. Until I literally collapsed and had a burnout. That was a tough time. I wanted to do everything I could to recover and sought the right help. At the time, I was a vitality coach, so I already knew a lot about nutrition and exercise, but I felt I needed more for real change. I noticed that I was too much in my head and I wanted to get out of that. I read something online about breathing exercises and ice baths. I thought: that's completely crazy! But intuitively, I was drawn to it. So I decided to turn the shower to cold for half a minute. It certainly wasn't pleasant, but my body quickly got used to it and I immediately noticed that I had more energy.

'I FELT A CALMNESS THAT I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE'

AT THE MOMENT

Not long after, Hiske takes it a step further and heads to the natural water near her house with a friend. Without any prep, she jumps in. "I thought, I'm just gonna do it. The first few seconds in the water felt like I was having a heart attack; it was so cold! But then I focused on my breathing and felt a calmness I had never felt before. It was so special." Others she tells about it become curious because of her enthusiasm, and more and more people join her. Hiske therefore wants to learn more about cold therapy and decides to take a course that focuses on breathing, mindset, and ice bath exercises. "Your body is capable of so much more than you think. During the course, you also learn to test your mindset. During the course, I stood barefoot in the snow for 25 minutes. It's amazing how powerful your body turns out to be. If you focus and let your breathing work for you, you can do it. Afterwards, you feel such joy, as if all kinds of happy hormones are being released. You've done something you didn't think was possible. It's a great lesson for other stressful moments in your life." In the cold, you get ‘out of your head’ and ‘into your body’. Something many people are looking for, according to Hiske. 'You don't think about other things, like your to-do list. You are truly in the moment. Cold water is good for your heart and blood vessels and gives your body a boost, which can have health benefits. It's not that I never get sick anymore, but I have noticed that since I started cold therapy, I recover from viruses faster than before.

CONNECTION

Hiske now gives ice bath training sessions herself and loves seeing how participants who were initially resistant become enthusiastic afterwards. "You have to let go of limiting thoughts. Cold leads to hypothermia, so you want to avoid that danger. Subconsciously, you hear your mother who always told you to put on your coat before going outside, which doesn't help either. When someone manages to find the right mindset and stays in the ice water, it's a wonderful victory. By seeking out small stress stimuli, such as cold, more often, you train your resilience. What's more, the connection it creates is very beautiful. Where I first went into the water with a small group, we now often stand there with thirty cheerful people. Once you've been, you're sold, or maybe even addicted. Even if you believe it's not for you. I should know, because I was the biggest cold-sensitive person there was. Be aware, though, that it's not without risk. If you want to try this, find someone who can guide you properly. Never just jump into the cold water, as I did the first time, and definitely don't go alone. I also advise against it for people with certain health problems. But you really don't have to sit in an ice bath to experience the benefits of cold therapy. Take a walk in winter without wearing too many layers of clothing; that makes a difference too. In any case, exercising in the cold outdoor air is a wonderful way to clear your head and get in touch with your body.