My daughter live in Norway and the Norwegians CANNOT WAIT for the Winter! They love going up into the mountains and spending time in small cabins (Hytutes)where they can ski, showshoe etc.
ReWildUniversity I live in West Norway and sadly we dont always get good winters here, however we can always go to the mountains and ski far out to march even april sometimes
Satrix don’t complain, I live in an area where tempratures go past 40°C and its constantly scorching, there is no mountains, and we might get 2cm of snow every 10 years
+Johan Dale Oh yes . . . I was actually in the Bahamas! That Pina colada afterwards was so refreshing ;) But seriously, I agree -- people will give you the strangest looks if you aren't dressed "properly" in the cold. Here in Wisconsin, many people complain about it, but a few really love the cold weather. =) Kenton
ReWildUniversity I know right it's weird , I used to walk home from the sports centre in shorts and a rash gaurd in freezing temperatures my body just got used to it and people would give me almost condescending looks I just kept walking though never stopped. Your pretty hardcore with it in barefoot I've never tried that before.
Great video. I have recently started taking cold showers. I am a thin guy and I always hated cold temperatures. Initially, I would need to put the water on warm and then gradually make it colder to be able to tolerate it. Now, I can turn it on to the maximum cold setting and have it blast me right away. I am much more tolerant of cold temperatures as a result and noticed many improvements in my health which is discussed in a video on my channel. I am now excited to keep pushing my limits. I want to make the water even colder hahahaha!
Thank you so much. I just discovered your channel. I watched the video of you demonstrating how to self rescue from falling through ice and 2 women doing the same. Subscribed! hahah. I'm gonna go watch more of your videos now!
Modern society has taught us that being uncomfortable is a sin. And offers to sell us an untold number of things to help "cure what ails us" but if we only learned to live with our discomfort we might find something money can't buy *self-reliance*
I just remember my stay in Russia when I was still younger. It was the beginning of February, -25 °C, blizzards every now and then, not possible to go outside for much longer than an hour or two. I only stayed there for about 10 days, but coming back to Austria, where it had comfortable -5 °C, people looked very surprised at me wearing short sleeves and not shivering all over outside. So accomodation works very fast, I guess.
I grew up in the black forrest in Germany. I was working at 1000 meters height outdoors, doing my civil service where I had to take care of the horses, sheep, goats and so on. When winter came, I worked outside freezing like hell. Some old farmers wife, living in the neighbourhood, passed me, stopped and saw me shivering. This is what she told me: "Don't fight the cold, stand outside, relax and take some deep breath for 2 minutes and embrace the cold." I did like she told me. That winter we had minus 25 degrees Celsius for about 2 weeks, 2,5 meters of snow and I was working outside for 10 hours a day, shoveling snow, breaking the ice of the pond to hydrate the horses, doing the staple work and so on. It was one of the hardest winters since 1970. The two weeks passed and the old farmers wife (she must have been 80 years old) invited me to drink a coffee in her kitchen. I sat down and started to undress, taking off the jacket, then the sweater, then the longsleve. I sat there in my t-shirt, drinking coffee. The old woman smiled, pointed at the thermometer that showed 4 degrees celsius, and she said in this old dialect: "Now young friend you have 'the heat' and you won't loose it till you die!" I was stunned, realising that I sat there at 4 degrees in a t-shirt. I still use this technique when it's getting cold, relax, take some deep breath and embrace the cold. While my girlfriend cuddles in two wool blankets in the living room and blaming me that I didn't turn the radiator on, I sit on the couch and it's too warm for me. Like the old lady said, now I have the heat :-) Thank you for this great vid, I feel ya brother. Just one question: Are you doing Win Tsun; Tai Chi or Kung Fu? The way you move your hands and arms look really familiar to me ;-) . all the best, Marc
Hi Marc, I LOVED this story. "You have the heat". Perfect! And that you were able to hear her, even in your state of freezing, to give it a try, and to discover something that gave you a life-long gift. Just incredible. Great eye! I've been doing various martial arts since I was 9 years old, and they're pretty ingrained. I've never had anyone recognize that from simple hand and arm movements, though. You must have taken your own training to a deep level to be able to "spot" a fellow practitioner so easily =) Thanks for this amazing comment, Marc. This is what makes TH-cam a true community, when we share the tales of our lives that have made us who we are. Kenton
ReWildUniversity Hi Kenton, thanks for the nice words. Well you move pretty smooth with your hands, like guiding the energy to where you want to have it. Actually I've practiced WingTsun and was working as a doorman to finance my university time. Therefore watching closely how someone moves (even in little details) makes life much more safer ;-). Once again, thanks for your positive and realistic way you do this here! Cheers Marc
Hi Marc, That's great -- having a job where you had to watch people like that. And it's stuck! That sort of increased perception really opens up the world, doesn't it? We start to notice all sorts of things about people that others would never perceive. Again, I'm so impressed that you could tell even from a single video!
Hi Kenton, thanks for the kind words. But I don't think it's my "personal earning or merit" that I developped this "ability". It's just the circumstances that formed this due to necessity. It's like in the woods or nature in general: If you watch carefully you will survive, like you, who sees plants that are "hidden" for other people (or even for me, unfortunately I'm bad at reading plants, I have to learn much more), or stones that are good for tools etc. The environmet you live in makes your senses more sensible to things your live depends on. In my case this were 3 nights a week for 8 years in a potentially dangerous environment. The more I listened to "old doorman" showing me what to take care of, where to look at or the more I studied all kinds of martial arts, the more I was able to see "signs" of unconscious bodylanguage. Actually this saved me in many situations to anticipate who is standing there and how he might act. In your case it was the moving of your hands when I thought "ok, this guy has a body system". But the initial move you made was your straight punch against your open hand (to demonstrate the confrontation). You didn't throw a hook, you made a straight punch, your wrist made a little twist upwards and your hip moved in the punch a little. This is something only martial artists or boxers do. But a boxer would have moved his shoulders more, so I took this "educated" guess. After all it comes down to one thing in life: Be open minded, listen, watch, learn and hear as much as you can. Some things work for you some don't. But be aware of getting stuck in one point of view because then it turns into religion. This is why I really like some youtubers like you out there, people who share knowledge, experiences and are open minded. This shows the great potential of humans, if we break the borders we will become better beings. Sorry for this epic philosophy post, lol. Cheers Marc
I'm so happy that there is no longer a word limit on these comments =) There is an eighty-year old guy I train with a few times a week, and I always try to take him by surprise by launching an attack during a conversation or when I'm bending over to pick something up. 99 out of a hundred times, he effortlessly blocks my attack and moves right into a lock. He says that "it's not him", just his body. I'd call it mushin, and that reminds me of what you're describing, as it sounds like this perception is so ingrained that it just feels natural. As you note, we can bring this into other areas of our life as well. I loved this comment. I hope that it gets a lot of reads and inspires people to consider the depth of perception that we're all capable of!
I was wondering why I always felt colder in the winter here than my fiance, so this is why I searched this video up. I am going to try conditioning myself to cold weather and see how it will improve my tolerance for cold weather and well-being too. Thank you for the video!
I moved to the UK from a mediterranean country and I am suffering from cold most of the time of year. I decided to beat cold weather this year. I started to take cold showers and do Wim Hof breathing. First week only so far but already started to feel benefits. Good channel Kenton, subbed, wish you all the best!
Kenton, when you started to explain the psychological part of adaptation to cold, I thought: "wow!, It is so similar to what I "invented" for myself. I do exactly the same, I yield to the nature, I imagine myself as a part of the element and go with it. I except cold, rain, snow and wind as it is, and it actually helps even to enjoy it. Sometimes I think about a tree that stands there absolutely naked and open to all weathers, strong and calm, and I try to imagine how would I feel if I were a tree. These psychological tricks work for me.
Exactly! So wonderful that you found this for yourself. I haven't tried "becoming" a tree like that! I will try it with some of the upcoming cold weather here in Wisconsin! Love, Kenton =)
@@ReWildUniversity Hey, Kenton, I just found out that you use the same technique that I described here, you call it a shape shifting (th-cam.com/video/VJK-QfoFeLk/w-d-xo.html) I didn't want to sound silly, so I said that try to imagine "what would I feel if I were a tree..", But in fact I imagine myself a tree, trying to become a tree in my mind. I also do another thing, that I am going to share in the comments section for your video about shape shifting.
To be truly adaptable.. to whatever conditions you may encounter is the greatest strength, because you only suffer the true effects of the conditions rather than the expected (and usually dreaded) ones your mind makes up. I think there must be a childlike state of mind that we've all lost. Children may not like to BE too cold, but they aren't afraid of it the way adults are. I have learned to live with hunger, now I will learn to live with cold. It's a bit of a beast if you are a bit older and have arthritis though, lol. It adds a pain dimension to the cold that is unpleasant. Thanks for making the videos.
You have spoken wisdom here, my friend. "You only suffer the true effects of the conditions rather than the expected (and usually dreaded) ones your mind makes up." If we could all come to understand this, it would transform our view of what is "good" or "bad" in life, and we might lose our intense fear of anything outside our comfort zones. Great comment!! =) Kenton
When i was few years old exposed in the kindergaden and elementary school to any kind of virus and childood desease everytime i got sick in the winter my family used to bring me to our home town in the mountains 2 hours car from the city. Back then the house didnt have any radiator, just a fireplace in one room, few days and i was healthier than before having indoor around 5 celsius and minus 20 outside: fever, aches, running nose and sore throat, all gone. Interesting thing i noticed as i move to Sweden is that here small children, often even newborns, are left outside on the balcony or yard in their carriages during their naps in the coldest periods...
Yes indeed! archaic knowledge was empirical, if we lasted this long through all the dark ages of the past without pharmaceutical companies and in extremely aggressive situations it means it definitely works great!
Here’s an update from my last comment: My hands and feet still run cold, but I notice it less now that I am somewhat adapted to the season. Fall hit hard in New England (it’s randomly been 60F for a few days though), but going outside (or indoors in an unheated room) in less and less clothing, walking around cold grass barefoot, and occasionally finishing my showers with cold water has definitely helped this process. Today it was 42F out and I considered it sweatshirt weather! So far, so good. Will update again once winter really hits!
Wow, that's awesome progress! That takes discipline, so way to go! Please do keep me updated!! If you're in New England, you'll definitely be getting some serious cold at some point! We're snowing here in Wisconsin . . . =) Kenton
As a Wisconsin native I got to grow up exposed to the cold and I agree. If you spend time getting used to it, especially growing up not wearing a whole lot in winter, you become very conditioned to it. I actually find it amusing when people are all bundled up and I don't even have my jacket zipped up or a hat on. I don't even really feel the cold in my legs anymore, wearing nothing but jeans in -20F. Same with my feet. I don't even own winter boots. Cold conditioning makes winter camping a real treat at such a magical time of year here in Wisconsin. I'm already looking forward to this winter. Great video, and perhaps some day I'll be able to attend one of your classes.
A fellow dweller in Wisconsin! It's great to hear that you've had the same experience -- it makes such a difference, doesn't it? And then to take that conditioning and head out winter camping -- you really get to experience a world that few people ever dream of. I love those nights when you wake up and there is fresh snow over everything . . . =) Kenton
I don't even own a hat and most of the time I don't wear a jacket in winter. But when I sleep, I get terribly cold. When I sleep outside, I need to package myself like porcelain for transport. Maybe there's a way to learn to heat yourself during sleep.
I saw this video a few months ago. I knew that my old house is drafty and using the heater is expensive. Last winter I was way too cold. I tired your methods over the last few monnths. I have still not used the heater yet this winter. Winter seems to be more pleasant. Now don't laugh but I live in Southern California. However I spent all these winters freezing. I finally was tired of shivering all the time It may not get below 35 degrees here but now I can handle it without being miserable. So thank you this videoo. I am forever grateful.
Wow, way to go Sammy! That's huge, to see how you can make a change not by spending more money or adding more comfort, but by strengthening your own resilience. Awesome!!!! =)
in early autum i was heading to the trainstaition on my way home from school. it was raining a bit... then suddenly the clouds bursted and there was water all over the place and everyone started running i saw that and realized: whats so bad about the rain: NOTHING... so i kept walking in a relaxed pace looking up and enjoying the rain i was wet to the bone when i arrived at the station, but it was a wonderful experience. i even had the time to help a homeless guy get his stuff into the dry. I would do it any time again and i do really recommend you guys to try that out aswell if you not allready have ;) Greetings from Germany, Cedric
Cedric, this is IT! It's like you saw through the Matrix, and suddenly realized that you didn't have to fear the rain. Well done! There are so many things in life like this -- may you discover many more!!! =)
ive been doing this for years. and saying practice accepting the cold and you will handle it and enjoy it more. I spend hours and hours every fall and winter outside "under dressed" and find that it makes me much more comfortable topless in below freezing temps. glad to know that im not the only person who does this.
Awesome Jeremiah! That's one of my favorite and most effective methods for cold conditioning -- that wonderful "easing into it" that autumn and early winter provide. =) Kenton
I wear shorts bare legged in the winter because I like the cold&snow melting on my bare legs and it feels so refreshing&shorts are comfortable when its extremely cold outside.
Awesome! You're not only enduring -- you LIKE the feeling! That shows how we can transform what some people think of as pain or discomfort into something wonderful. Way to go setting a great example! =)
As a child I used to run around barefoot, including running around on the gravel forecourt of my father's garage business, which had plenty of glass in it. And I didn't feel the cold much. Admittedly it was not usually as cold as the north of America, but it did have its moments (www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-21189863/the-big-freeze-of-1963-remembered en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_of_1962%E2%80%9363_in_the_United_Kingdom) when the morning was spent digging a path through the snow to the garage then digging out the petrol pumps and the ways down to the road for customers - who were mostly farmers so they had to be kept on the move. The doctor did his round on skis. Kenton, you keep stirring up long-forgotten memories! I seem to have gone downhill since then, and have acquired Reynaud's disease (www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20363571) in recent years. For the last couple of years I have been trying to cure myself of it with gradual cold conditioning (mostly just of the hands). So far it seems to be improving, but it is hard to compare one year to another without having accurate temperature measurements. Has anyone else tried this? I'm not sure I would want to walk barefoot now. I live under some trees where birds roost, and the paths are often covered with bird poop. Yuk!
This makes me wonder about the Wim Hof stuff again -- part of what he teaches is conscious control over the small vessels in the hands and feet. I wonder if anyone with Raynauds has tried it . . .
My partner lives in Dulce, NM and one winter it was -5°F at 10pm on our way home from dinner. I was in awe and I’m moving there next month. I love the cold
I do this all the time, since I’ve been doing this, I NEVER EVEN ONCE GOT SICK. I never get colds, never catch contract diseases, my parents and friends think I’m insane, and that I’ll get sick( which is ironic because they’re the ones who always are sick) I think exposing ourselves to cold weather, bacteria ect, it strengthens our immune system.
I wear shorts in the winter because I like the cold weather & snow melting on my bare legs. It also feels so refreshing, plus shorts are more comfortable.
@@ReWildUniversity on the mild days in the winter I will just wear a t-shirt and shorts and on the very cold days I will wear a jacket and hoodie with my shorts.
That's a huge compliment -- though paradoxically, my hope with these videos is to get people away from devices!! Ha! That doesn't seem like a problem with you, however! I love that you're doing the same thing, using videos to encourage people to get out and adventure! =) Kenton
Lol was just giving a Californian friend advice for her first winter in Berlin out of my own experience as a tropical islander being there for many years and then I searched for some video of yours to send her and you go and say the exact same tips I told her, in the same order even! The one other tip I had for her is, when you are suddenly in a much colder climate than you're used to and you haven't had the ramp up time to adapt, is to calm down and try to identify where it's uncomfortable, rather than being overwhelmed by this abstract fear of cold - usually, it turns out it's just a couple of points in your body that are painful, and when you identify them it becomes much more manageable and you can instead concentrate on the parts that actually feel ok.
That advice you give toward the end of your comment is genius -- it calls us to look at the sensations clearly, unclouded by our fears, and thus we will experience cold very differently. =) Kenton
Thank you for a very educational video! I can't wait for first snow to try walking in it. It is true indeed that most of the work has to be done psychologically, but like you said, all of us have the capacity of getting adjusted to cold. I find swimming a great technique also, should you have a lake/river/sea nearby. One time in September, in the northern climate, I was walking to the sea with a towel and a man in the way asked me if I was going swimming and said "but the water is cold". I responded with "Yes it is". We can only affect our attitude towards external factors, not the other way around. Happiness and well-being to you!
I've been doing this the entire autumn. I started to relax after a while. Shivering too early is probably an unrefined reaction unless it's super-cold. You simply waste energy too early. A good posture and contracting your core muscles is a more refined reaction to cold. Shivering and curling up has its place when there are no other options.
Thank you! We do have some fun out here! Check out the Forest Monk online training community, too. It's not classes, but I will be giving monthly training guidelines . . . www.patreon.com/forestmonk =) Kenton
After living in Upstate NY for two years, I easily became accustomed to the cold weather. I'm from the South, but am unable to tolerate hot weather. I get sick in the heat and can't manage it well. In the cold, it is much easier for me to be comfortable. I rarely had to wear a heavy coat. The wind could be uncomfortable, but the cold rarely bothered me, even -25F. I very frequently hiked in the woods as long as the snow wasn't too deep. There were times when the snow was so deep I couldn't walk in it! I really miss that. I love the snow!
I am doing the following this winter: 1. When going from office to the cantine we cross the yard ( about 300 meters ) and i dont take my jacket on for it. 2. When going out with the trash i dont take my jacket on 3. I try to go out with bare feet for 1 minute every day 4. I am just resently trying the gcold showers, but i go in the shower warm, finish my cleaning and then cradualy turning down the heat until cold
Keith, I think you will indeed feel that tolerance come back with practice. I was in Hawai'i last winter, and lost a lot of my conditioning -- it's interesting to see how quickly I became sensitive to the cold, and now that I'm consciously conditioning again, how quickly the cold is becoming enjoyable again =)
I'm starting to lose my tolerance of the heat and anything above 65 degrees is intolerable to me During the Texas snow storm I wore thin hoodie and everyone else was freezing their ass off bundled up and every jacket they own and I just felt at home wearing some flimsy hoodie
I like this idea a lot. The hardest part is putting up with the annoying comments from people in public when wearing shorts and a t-shirt on a crisp fall or spring day.
Hubert Selby Jr, who wrote Requiem For A Dream, said some thing in an interview that stuck with me and it's essentially the same message here; The more you resist, the more you suffer.
what's so interesting to me is after doing cold showers for a few months over winter time - inspired by your falling through ice self rescue video - I went by mistake to a hot yoga class. I hate the heat more than the cold! I was having a lot of stress caregiving for both parents, off work for fracture of L2 vertebra for 3 months before that... and no exercise to speak of. I thought, "I have to get some exercise" when I was helping my dad relocate back home. so went to this new yoga studio and semi freaked out when I realized how hot it was in there! I thought I'd try it anyway, hey I can always leave if it's too much. what amazed me is that I was so much better able to tolerate the heat and exercise than before! usually I would get dizzy, nauseous with that much exercise in that kind of heat when out of shape. Everybody was dripping sweat in the class including me, (normally it takes a lot to make me sweat even when hot), but I managed it so much better than I would have before. I couldn't figure it out... then I thought the only thing different is the cold showers! I think it may help with both temperature extremes? interesting experience anyway.... and of course I am much more cold tolerant than before. thank you again for your thoughtful, informative videos :)
Wow, that's awesome! I've been hoping to hear from people about whether the cold conditioning seems to increase their heat tolerance as well! =) Kenton
When you expose yourself to cold, your body learns how to thermoregulate itself more efficiently. You actually grow new blood vessels in you extremities. That's why you became more tolerant to the temperature extremes. Way to go!
I've gone barefoot in the snow for many years. It started one cold day when I was just too lazy to want to put shoes on to go out and get the mail (I don't wear shoes inside). Soft snow feels surprisingly velvety and un-cold actually. Much warmer than ice or cold pavement. Snow is mostly air so is a good insulator with low heat capacity. This winter I'm also trying to live with less heat indoors. My place doesn't have central heating anyhow, so I've just mostly stopped using space heaters in most rooms other than the living room (and turn that one off as soon as I feel warm). 60 degrees F now feels about as warm as 68 used to. Bedrooms don't need to be heated anyhow; that's what extra blankets are for. The ecological impact of burning so much fuel to try and make home interiors feel like it's not really winter must be staggering.
I love this. You're not only making a difference in your life, but in all of our lives by consuming less resources to keep yourself warm. Well done! =) Kenton
ReWildUniversity I like these videos best that are grounded in a way to a certain physiological (or psychological) part, like dealing with the cold in winters. Something very concrete :D Great video again Kenton!
I am from Alaska and run in extreme cold temperatures -14° below zero farenheit with light clothing. I also like exercise in extreme cold. During summer I like to swim in the lakes. I love the cold and the outdoors.
Incredible video. Not too scienc-ey and not to baseless. It all makes sense but you can explain what actually happens to back up what youre saying. Im gonna try going on walks with no coat and just accept the cold. Gonna try 10 mins and work my way up and see how it goes...
Awesome that you are giving this a try! There's a lot of research out there on cold adaptation, but IMO, we don't have a really powerful understanding of it yet. Here's an example: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23867626/ In short, thermogenesis is, like most other physiological systems, a system that adapts over time. Sit inside in the warm house all the time, and the system grows weaker. Do some cold exposure, and it is stressed and thus grows stronger over time. Some of the adaptations seem to be better circulation to extremities and increased non-shivering thermogenesis. The most important benefits might be mental. We're taught to seek comfort, but as we begin to explore discomfort, we open up whole new avenues in life. Our forest monks, after spending months in the woods living in some pretty intense conditions, would often be excited to go home where they could relax on a couch, watch a movie, and have some rich, easy food. Usually, a week after returning, I'd get a call with the person saying "you know, it might sound crazy, but I miss having to deal with the cold, the mosquitoes, hauling my water, and all the other discomforts. I felt so ALIVE." I'd love to hear how your experiments go! Have you tried cold showers? =) Kenton
I'm am ultrarunner. Taking hot cold showers is a hard splash of reality, the same reason spirits come here to incarnate. It's refreshing, delicious, and makes you feel good afterwards and with a calm relief feeling, hard to explain you have to do it. Anyways, I've been doing it sonetimes daily for years and now I do it when I need to feel refreshed or detoxed especially after a night of drinking. You have to be a special tough type of person but hot cold showers will do it to you. Try it!
Such good advice, George, and from someone who knows the benefits of discomfort =) I loved your comparison -- "the same reason spirits come here to incarnate" =)
HAHA I was such a stubborn kid. And I loved swimming all year long. My grandmother didn't like me swimming during the cold. But me... oh I had to prove that the cold didn't bother me. And yeah I had to just feel the cold, its so hard to explain and then eventually you just feel comfortable again. There is nothing like bare feet in the first snow of the year! I look forward to it. There is something so wonderful about shivering once, noticing then deciding to not shiver again. I don't think I could put into words what it feels like for me other than it seems like I become aware of all my muscles in my body at once then decide to relax them.
I'm so glad you described this! It's positively magical when you can cease that shivering. For me, it always feels like I shiver when I am tensing against the cold, and when I just "let go", the shivering leaves. Wow! I love that you embrace the cold so beautifully!!!
I have been trying to aclimitize since the fall started, I leave my heat off whenever possible or on low in the car if I have to fight frost, I feed and clean the bunnies cages on the porch without socks on (cold slate esc floor), I do not wear jackets in the winter if possible, and only throw on light sweathshirts when it is a must. Love this concept and glad to see more of it in action. Thank you.
Hi Ned, Those are perfect acclimatization tools! I especially like how you're doing tasks (like the bunny cages) during your acclimatization. I think this has the added bonus of developing mental functionality while you're experiencing discomfort, and as we all know, that's a situation that occurs again and again when we're out in the woods (like, trying to put up a tarp while the mosquitoes are swarming =)
ReWildUniversity Thanks, always learn a lot from your videos, and the comments. And excellent point about the mental stress being good practice. Did not even think about that.
Well? I just realized where I will be spending all my DATA on. I am so glad that I found your channel. There is so much 'Entertainment' out there. It captures us. And it clouds our vision. Maybe someday I will tell you of the birds in the trees, the sound of the car, what the sound of water coming off the tires was like, and how that sound muted the chirping for a moment and paralyzed my legs to where I didn't realize that they had become very wet by the sprinkles of the same rain that made the distracting sound, and kept my nose from smelling the scent of that same rain. I think you understand. Finally I was able to keep hearing the thousand birds, the engine, the water as it made its presence known. The feeling of the sprinkles on my legs, the smell of New rain, and whoa! That breeze is the cherry on top! Eventualy I didn't lose a single one of those. All at one time!. Don't miss a thing! My point is this. We become distracted so easily when a new sensation appears, that we miss 'what was wonderful', before it came along. Why not have the banana split, instead of just going for the cherry on top?
Jim, these words made me laugh and get tears, all at once! I do think I know what you are speaking of -- and I appreciate how you can describe such an experience with such soft eloquence, and still bring in the laughter of banana splits and data allowances! Awake!!! Love, Kenton
im not *_this_* comfortable in the cold but i do tend to generate some concern from my family when I take the dogs out in a t shirt and sandles in peak Michigan winter without a second thought. I just kind of embrace the discomfort, like the burn of a workout or bitterness of shitty coffee or something.
Another good tip is to flex your abs a bit when you're out in the cold, and before you really feel it. The flexing will start to generate a bit of heat in your core and blood will flow into your extremities better. If I do this for the first few minutes I'm outdoors, I need few layers of clothes to keep warm. But I also can walk around with no coat and a T-shirt when it's 50 degrees and be very comfortable because I always allow myself to adjust to the cold weather.
I have always been very resistant to hot temperatures however, I changed my diet November 1st 2015, and now I dislike this heat, I no longer have a resistance to it like I used too. I am going to try your technique since my resistance to cold seemed to be non existent. I say seemed, since I no longer know if this is the case. It's really weird, but in a way I am happy about this change. Thank You for this video.
ReWildUniversity I am starting to get heat tolerance back just slightly now, as well as a resistance to cold. The cold showers are great! I eat vegan, and drink water as much as possible, even though I am addicted to Vanilla Coke lol. Your ability to lay down in the snow and be comfortable with it is astonishing, it's like you're a real life Ice Wizard hahaha.
Christian M. Glad to hear both the heat and cold adaptation is coming along! I laughed about the Vanilla Coke. Hey, we have to have at least one poison, right? =) Mine are dark chocolate and ice cream . . .
just a little notice, when u live in a hot area, and you dont like the very hot weather - like me - u can learn how to adapt to that weather too. Sauna or steam baths, than very cold water. Repeat every day, and after one week, you good for the rest of a summer. 36 degrees celsius and you wont even notice it. Just stress the body with a big temperature rise/drops for a while. It will make u more resilient to hot and cold at the same time. Just a personal experience and opinion. Sorry for a being a bit offtopic, thanks for the videos big man!
I wear shorts all winter long, but on the mild winter days I just wear a t-shirt and shorts. The other days I wear a jacket with my shorts. But I might not wear my coat as often this year.
I walk outside around 30 and under sometimes and i just moved here to MI from FL and i just keep training myself now i can walk no problemo in 40 above barefoot
So very true fundamentaly!! I remember like yesterday when me and two friends in 1986 saw the Rambo movie First Blood. The same day and for weeks to come we where out to play Rambo at the same wheather-condish out in the woods, same clothing att around zero celsius, we where cold but we did not frozen. The mental frequens is the key, ore should we say motivation! Thanks my friend for the rebouster and reminder..
I was born and raised in nw Pa. and am very familiar with sub- zero temperatures. I did exactly as you've mentioned while growing up there. It works! I could walk around in a tee-shirt in cold weather ( staying comfortable. Not trying to be macho) while my city/ town friends would be heavily bundled. Something about living in the boondoggle fosters that type of mindset/ conditioning. Now I live in Florida and I swear my balls off.
@sozzy edits 95% of canadians live along the US border, idk why you guys act like it's much different at all, in fact most new england people are above half of the canadian population lol
@@KeithKillingly don’t forget about the half that live above it, especially the ones that live inland away from ocean currents- our winters usually have a low between -25°C and -40°C with my city last year hitting a crisp low of -50°C one night
thank you for sharing, for me cold is one of my biggest weakness, my back specifically cant handle a drop of cold water or even cold touch, my legs are totally fine, for this reason I am taking this as a challenge to improve this weakness. unfortunately I live in a country where the winter temperature doesn't go below 18c. however I have great tolerance for hot weather. subscribed.
supernova1976 Cold can really be challenging. Though hot can be just as tough (I used to wither in the heat!). I would probably envy your heat conditioning! Thanks so much for your subscription. Much appreciated!=) Kenton
I had planned on doing a similar video for my channel. just not as extensive :-) some of that I didn't even think of but I have notice over the years of working outside that it seems a lot easier and people call me crazy for the walking around in a tshirt when its below freezing. I really enjoyed your video because its something I practice. I do the shower technique and sleeping without a blanket as you spoke. I have to say I don't walk bare foot in the snow though. thank you for sharing it.
Hi Travis, Awesome to hear that you're already doing much of this! Those of us who practice it certainly do get people looking at us like we're cracked, don't we? =) Thanks for sharing some of the techniques that have worked for you -- I think that will help others as they give it a try themselves.
ReWildUniversity I hope you don't mind me going ahead and doing the video. by the way me and Justin would like to have you on his live video he has been doing every other week, you would have a lot to offer
Survive Without Hi Travis, I'd LOVE to see your cold conditioning video! The more the better! And I'd be honored to take part in your and Justin's live video. Thanks so much for thinking of me.
Well past few winters I have really suffered and come to hate winter.. anything below 12c and my hands turn very hold like ice.. I start layering up straight away, but since it’s now early autumn I will try this and see how I feel going through this coming winter
Keep me updated -- I do feel like it can be reversed, but as each year passes and we gravitate toward comfort (as we're taught by our culture), we lose a little more conditioning. Eventually, as you say, we can start to just hate the cold. I would be super interested to hear about your progress -- have you considered cold showers?
@@ReWildUniversity hi, yes I agree, I also find as we get older we do way less, when I was younger I’d be out on my bike or walking somewhere for hours.. and my jobs were usually a lot more labour based.. not that I’m old now, only 24 but my job is super easy no physical work really and I tend to drive everywhere so I find that is also something that makes you feel cold, I don’t have cold showers but I don’t turn the water really hot either I try to have it so it’s kinda cold but bearable I’ve tried cold showers in the past I found they just made me feel cold all day haha and also catch a cold
Yesterday I went for a walk around my area in just a t shirt everyone else was wearing coats and jumpers so will try to avoid wearing jumpers etc and expose myself to the cold I’ll keep you updated for sure 👍🏻
@@sniperjordan8216 Nice! You're already doing it! Our bodies and minds are strong when we give them some carefully placed stressors -- you're proving it!
I'm sure I've commented on this video before and a few months ago I said I was going to try to bundled up a bit less this winter than usual. I refused to dig out my long johns with the first early cold spell and haven't put them on yet this winter. Temperatures in central Ohio go up and down like a yoyo all winter so back into the 40's again after a few days way below average. I'm surprised how balmy 40 feels as long as it's not rainy and windy. Maybe I am getting a bit cold acclimated! Love to you and yours in sunny Hawaii!
You know I never had the patience to meditate in cold, Always hated cold. However Im able to do the same thing you do if I put thought into it. It all started when I was very young and I study a meditation art of Kuji Kiri, which uses focus to become aware of internal processes and at some point you can then control things humans are typically never even aware of. Other tricks like Brain Hacks deal with balance, So when walking on a beam if you look at something and focus on the color. Youll find the more you focus on the color the more you stop trying to balance and end up walking on a beam like you would walk on the ground. Probly why that trick works, I just know it does. But the Tempthing came when I was in Mexico on the Hot sand near rocky point. The sand was So hot and I was bare foot all the time. At first Id run and skip to point B. But as I was doing this I felt it was so freaking hot, the relief of the air blowing cross the bottom of my foot as I raised it taking another step, I began to focus on that wind. Somehow I noticed the muscle down your spine that SHIVERS when you get cold, Yeah well that seems to regulate heat throughout your body. In hind sight id say I could walk on coals using the same tactic. You flex that area of the spine, as appose to it rapidly flexing in a shiver, You flex it But not typical, More like your using that muscle to PUSH the heat OUT or Block the heat from absorbing into your foot as it touches the hot sand but as soon as it lifts absorbing as much of the cold wind as possible. Not much later I was Palm springs in July and and I was able to walk cross the parkinglot of walmart there in palmsprings in July where normal people would expect me to get 2ed degree burns but, Yeah it was Hot af but I was able to cool my feet down with the wind. However If for some reason I was not able to keep walking Id be hospitralized..It would fy an egg as fast as a pan.. Later I moved back to oregon and would end up in the cold just out of practice of this and find out that The same area in my back that shivers, When flexed keeps me warm, So long as its done with meditation. Its easier to deal with Blood flow inside my body that the hot cement thing. Or typically , it is harder for me to deal with cold or more over not hard, I just dont like cold so Im too lazy to do this as a life style.. But contrling blood flow to send blood from the liver to my shoulders, back, sides to keep me warm is fairly simple.. If it was all in my head, I doubt id of been able to go from not taking one step on that hot cement, to walking cross the wallmart parking lot.. Palm springs cement in july isnt a joke.. That would be hard in december.. I surely didnt make a habit of it cuz it also takes a lot of internal skills. But my point is , If I was trying to condition to regulate in cold, I would not go with hot coal walking, never have, hate burns... But I would practice the heat training as well. I was really surprised that flexing internal musles in my back would somehow help my feet not absorb heat. It was also really fast, I mean it was more of an Epiphany rather than taking me a cpl days to figure it out.. The moment I felt the cold wind on my feet after the burn, It just made sense that with timing, IDK How I realized the shivering thing Its just that Kuji Kiri stuff that makes you notice things others dont often feel.. Im no master tho..
@@ReWildUniversity Its really hard or was really hard, No sure about today. But there was few places to learn about them. Im really too lazy to do this type of stuff anymore. But Something Else I did that I tend to do more at this age than the internal stuff is almost like simulating an OBE without falling to sleep. So, I started learning to do the self hypnotics on youtube. Which didnt take me too long to realize this process I discovered put my eyes into REM, Not eactly asleep but not completely awake. So First dark room, no noises etc. Count from 15-0 feeling heavier eyelids each second, Once you get to 0, Now we do it again, Only we visualized walking down 15 steps, each time going deeper down. Visualizing the steps as clearly as possible and this is what actually puts the eys in REM. At first it felt just like eye strain, You start to see colors, Reds, brown, inspite of it being dark. Like left over light in your eyes.. Then I saw a huge opening in the center of my head, Only felt it was third eye because when it oipened I saw like, eye lashes, Like when you get out of water and they are wet and you can see them slightly. anyway, I think before I saw the big eye lashes, The red and Browns pixles looking things turned into a brown tunnel and net thing I know Im moving through this tunnel very fast and I saw what I call poloroids, Because they look like 2D pictures, very clear but its like your movine really fast and You pass them right and left like billboards. But you dont see one till you hear a Boom and a Flash and then its like this flat billboard zooms by you. Even tho the images on them are clear they went by so fast I dont recall a single details. I have not tried to hypnotize regress to see if I can look at details. Anyway after about 6 of these images and going through this tunnel it opens up at the end and that is where the big eye lashes where. Thats when something I didnt expect happened. My body, went out this opening and it was so odd. Cuz I was a bird hovering over a cliff looking down at a beach and there was a lot of really spooky things that I used to write my music. Im not religious but what I saw was a charcoal skinned Bat wingged human figure who has massive scars. Embracing a human woman. And it was some sort of Universal transgression. It was disturbing for me who didnt believe in actual winged black doods.. Still dont but I cant explain other than I forgot to put an intention or ask a question..
@@ReWildUniversity Not sure Id take my advice on that because I didnt put an intention which is kind of text book error when peeking through a window.. lol but i do find it interesting..
Ha! Someone else thought that too! If only I had the capabilities, I'd be doing way cooler videos than this! Think polar bears or even better, tauntans! =) Kenton
I have begun trying to regain some of my lower temperature tolerance that I used to have. I have developed a fairly wide upper temperature tolerance over the years. I only run the AC now because the computer shuts down when the temperature gets over 84F. People around me are drenched with sweat and bothered by the heat long before I even notice it. Not really sure what my upper limit is, over 105F but that is all I know. I start my showers as soon as I turn the water on now, but because of the problems I have had in the past and what Chinese medicine says about them, I finish hot. I always make sure I am not sweating when I start the shower. Last Friday, we had the first real cold front this year. I struggled not to bundle up even when the heat pump kicked in (68F this year, 74F last year, and 80F the year before). That night I oddly found that I did not use the blankets or sheets even thought I felt cold prior to going to bed (cold is a relative thing). The next day was the coldest day and I was fine going out to put things in the trash barefoot and shirtless, until the sun set. Then I started shivering and really struggling with the cold. Hot shower and to bed under everything I have and still shivered for almost 2 hours before I could get to sleep. Sunday was much like Saturday, I was fine going out to do things for a short time barefoot and shirtless until sundown, then again shivering. Now even though the temperature is climbing to more tolerable, not currently able to tolerate it withoput warming up for a long time after. There have been times in the past where I was thrown into snow from 80+ weather, and it took about 3 weeks to fully acclimate. Wonder if it would be similar now or not. Will keep working on it as the weather allows.
I have seen them and trying to figure out what to tell them other than the same as cold conditioning in the opposite direction. I think hot yoga may have helped some but I had been here about 15 years by then and was already fairly tolerant. Watch out for heat stroke and dehydration. Push to mild but don't hurt yourself. One sign of dehydration is a sweat ban feeling around the head.
I really like you motivational videos. I actually went outside in the snow barefoot this past week. I just wanted to see what it felt like. It was fine. If I am working outside, I am usually fine in the cold. We had some really extreme cold here for awhile. It was difficult to get around. The winds were very strong and wind chills were below 0 a lot of then time. During winter sweats I have had more experience in the cold. This makes a lot of sense. Frankly I hate using the car heaters even in the winter unless it's really frigid and even then, not so much. I got to try some of these levels of preparations especially next fall. In survival situations these preparations and fitness methods could save your life, especially in the area of mind over matter. Thank you for this teaching. I have recently come out of a bout of pleurisy that hit me out of no where last fall and gradually lingered but I have recently felt up to more vigorous exercise and activity. I have a can do attitude and not afraid of a challenge but at this age and at this time of transition in my life I am listening to my body more carefully. I think that is judicious while attempting any level of endurance training or exercise.
I have a harder time adapting to hot weather. I have visited some hot countries where it's often over 30°C outside and I can't stand it. I can feel comfortable in cold weather tough because I live in a cold climate and have been "underdressed" my entire life.
I have been doing this for around 2 years i think mentally im quite far but around 40f with a bit of wind / rain my extremities cool down quite fast and i loose quite a lot of dexterity in my fingers and feet depending on footwear. Any tips? i found your channel recently after seeing your video overnight naked in the winter and life doesnt get easier now knowing that thats possible. I really enjoy your take on things. You are the first one i know with children and thats really intresting to see. I will enjoy watching your journey from time to time thanks for putting this out there.
Hi! Welcome to the channel! First, know that 40f with wind or rain is no joke -- in fact, in that overnight video I probably wouldn't have made it through the night in those conditions. The reason why? Get under 28 or so and you don't usually have to worry about getting wet -- but in the 30-40 range with rain, the wetness greatly speeds heat loss. Not sure if you've seen the Spartan Coldfire challenge we did with our forest monks, but I would wait for that "perfect storm" of temps in the 30-40 range combined with wind and rain to make it as difficult as possible. th-cam.com/video/lL8pGXutS8E/w-d-xo.html However, the cold conditioning you're doing will help over time, even under these "worst case scenario" situations. It's just that it can be a very slow adaptation process. =) Kenton
so I walked Barefoot in the Park up here in Washington and Hyundai at first it was almost unbearable and then what I noticed was after I got back to the car my feet felt like they just got the best massage they ever had and they were so nice and warm and I was just it was a great and now I'm hooked on it
Yes, true. The similar method can be applied to food problem. Here again, we too much concentrate on our fear of what the hell we are going to eat during our stay of let's say four days in the wild. And we try to resolve the thing with various bars, dry or smoked food, fire, the possibilities of hunting , etc... I started once with my girlfriend marching all day long for three days without food. My girlfriend ate moderately (mostly bars, nuts and seeds) during the march, I did not. We were all the time in deep forests. In the evenings and mornings I felt light, full of force and I couldnt even sleep during the nights-I was so full of energy. My girlfriend althogh used to marching had slight muscle fever, I did not. It was because of not eating. Try, it is really a pleasure not eating while hiking and I was much more enjoying the nature around -for i think I was more at the disposition to the nature's beauty because there was not any barrier in my stomach...Maybe you know this from your youth when after sunday's good dinner you went with full stomach into a garden and you could not enjoy the beauty around properly-because of full belly...-I dont mean sleepeness of full stomach but rather that barrier that at the moment hindered your perceiving the nature. I always smile when watching outdoor videos of young people going somewhere for 1-2 days and having their rucksacks full of food and utensils, and then being in the forest after four hours they set the fire to eat something because they are hungry... :) like housewives-what is the difference here? none! the housewives have their porcelain stuff, the outdoor guys their metal stuff. housewives have their ovens and so, the guys in the forest their bonfire-there is really no difference. They have good time chatting nicely in the kitchen by the cups of coffee, the youngsters or whomever their nice chat around a fire with a coffe or tea in their metal cups...I think, the fasting - and especailly when in the forests is sheer goodness, never mind when during millions of years our ancestors were developping with hunger as a common companion-they did not have their meal 4 - 5 times a day like we have, they ate maybe once in a day or once in two - three days, so hunger is something our bodies like. It is as if incorporated into our genes....so maybe aware people like you could change a bit the "methodology" of educating people in the wild-similar as you do it with your approach to cold...very good!!!
Another great point my friend! We do various fasts out here with our forest monks, and inevitably they come to find much of what you described -- that food isn't necessary multiple times a day (or even every day or every few days!), and that a great burden seems to be lifted once we discover that for ourselves. =) Kenton
I want to try to get to the point where I can walk bear foot and go shirtless for at least a couple miles worth of walking once it starts snowing here soon. I love the cold. Absolutely love it.
Great video, and all you say is true. I am used to the cold, and on a recent paddling trip I was very hot, frequently jumped in the lake to immerse my entire body and dunk my head to stay cool. Meanwhile other members of the group were wearing wetsuits, or warm coats because they were cold LOL.
My psychological strategy for cold has always been me saying "quit being a wuss and get to work" soon as I start doing stuff, I don't feel cold anymore. I was sweating like crazy shoveling snow at work last winter. I actually had to take my jacket off a few times.
I am a 58 year old man who has lived most of his life in Florida. I was thinking of moving to Indiana. I am just wondering if I could survive the winters. Has anyone else ever retired up north after living most of their life in the south?
I can't speak to that directly, but I do know a younger man who lived his whole life in Georgia and then S. California, and then moved up to Wisconsin. He's adapted so well that he prefers the winters! =)
I'm about to go live out in the wild with my friend in the mountains within the next week. The ominous "cold" is the one thing I was concerned about as ive always heard the "survival horror stories" .however, instinctually I have always felt that if we live at one with nature, we won't be struggling to stay alive when she goes through Her changes...so this video confirms this for me..i do have to ask, if you're becoming acclimated to the cold how do you know when ur hypothermic or not ? I mean if ur pushing past the normal threshold of what's tolerable, then is there a body warning signal that lets you know when.enough is enough?
laiana denaue I'm excited for your adventure! I'd love to hear about it when you next get back to civilization for a visit! You have a great question here. First, I'd agree completely -- if you enter nature with an attitude of play, adventure, and peace, it will treat you differently than if you enter with a Rambo-style attitude. Perhaps it is not that reality presents it self differently, but our attitude interprets experiences in a way that builds confidence and skill, rather than erodes our willpower. To me, attitude is THE essential ingredient, more important than any skill-set. As for the hypothermia, I can definitely tell when my body is moving toward being too cold, but that's after years of experience. Mostly for me it's a matter of mindfulness, and being tuned-in to my mindstate, since that is one of the first things that starts to "slip" when you get cold. Most people don't notice their mindstate, so can get really confused and sort of 'lose their mind' which leads them further into hypothermia. But if you are tuned in, you should be aware of how the cold is affecting you. There are physical signs, like shivering and the outer limbs starting to become disfunctional. But I focus my attention on my mental state. One other thing to consider in the mountains is that in the wild, it can be tough to get enough calories, and if you have to thermoregulate (keep warm via your body's heat), you'll burn through calories at an immense rate. So it pays to be a little "greedy" with your body heat, doing your best not to get cold if you can help it. When people come to rewildu, they will often lose 10 pounds or more in the first month, just from their body having to keep them warm. They have to eat a lot until their body starts to acclimate and become more efficient. So in the beginning, if you haven't been cold on a regular basis, your calorie needs may increase dramatically. This video: th-cam.com/video/v-Gkx0TOAEA/w-d-xo.html and this video: th-cam.com/video/BUvDJSdFe7s/w-d-xo.html both show me going through some extreme cold -- you may be able to get something from watching someone flirt with hypothermia a bit. Happy adventuring! =) Kenton
Hi Sydney, Your reply won't allow comments, so I hope you see this reply =) Great question! Oddly, it's been the opposite. I always had a lot of trouble with heat, but once I started serious cold conditioning, I found that I started to enjoy even hot and humid conditions. I don't have an explanation for this, and it's just my experience, but for what it's worth . . . =) Kenton
ReWildUniversity i suspect it is because you have learned to condition your self to cold, you learned to condition yourself to temperature, whether it be heat or cold, so if you had initially conditioned yourself to heat you would have not had any problem conditioning your self to cold although I suspect it is easier to get conditioned to warm because we prefer to be warm as opposed to cold.
BBeemer1121 Good thoughts. My experience correlates with your ideas here -- I've found that if I condition in one direction, it makes conditioning in the other direction easier. However, if I start restricting myself to what feels 'comfortable', the conditioning begins to fade . . . =) Kenton
Awesome video man! I started to having cold shower for a while and it's great. Just wondering is it okay to have a cold shower twice a day during winter? Thanks :) I left a like by the way.
So glad you're trying this! I think two cold showers a day are probably just fine. That being said, the idea with those is "hormesis", and for each individual, there is going to be a line between "just right" and "too much". But if you are feeling good and energized from it, it's probably a good thing for you! =) Kenton
Keep in mind...dont shower too often because it is bad for ur skin due to you natural oils always being washed away....just standing in cold showers are fine but do not alwys use bodywash or shampoo
sirstratocaster It was a fun one to film =) Keep me updated if you begin some serious cold conditioning. I'd like to hear how it goes for you.=) Kenton
I always been used to the cold I love the cold I love going outside in winter in the woods cause I don’t live near anyone so I just wear shorts and no shirt and a pair of shoes
you raise your metabolism doing this it will also make you burn fat off like no other but too much will also make you lose muscle if you don't eat enough to maintain your waight with this new level of metabolism.
Great video once again, i have mentioned before really enjoy them. Altouhg I'm not (yet) in a situation to test myself as extreem as you can do at your place, i am getting inspired en motivated to take smal steps each time. Already started with the cold showers and i was thinking of a food challence. Not eat for a day the first time and see what it does to me. Keep posting and thanks fot the inspiration, Franc, netherlands
ReWildUniversity It does! And I'm very happy to find your videos. Your teachings contain some strong wisdom, definitely subbed. You have a beautiful family btw :)
My daughter live in Norway and the Norwegians CANNOT WAIT for the Winter! They love going up into the mountains and spending time in small cabins (Hytutes)where they can ski, showshoe etc.
Norway! Now they get some REAL winters there!!
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity I live in West Norway and sadly we dont always get good winters here, however we can always go to the mountains and ski far out to march even april sometimes
Satrix don’t complain, I live in an area where tempratures go past 40°C and its constantly scorching, there is no mountains, and we might get 2cm of snow every 10 years
That is true, but we norwegians always complain about cold weather. They cant resist it at all
@@ReWildUniversity Just like Canada!!
And... cut ! **he leaves the green screen** :P
Just kidding, your videos are interesting ! People find those who appreciate cold weather weird.
+Johan Dale Oh yes . . . I was actually in the Bahamas! That Pina colada afterwards was so refreshing ;) But seriously, I agree -- people will give you the strangest looks if you aren't dressed "properly" in the cold. Here in Wisconsin, many people complain about it, but a few really love the cold weather.
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity Cool, love USA's countryside ! Take care !
I love cold weather and especially snow. I really hate hot, tropical weather! I know many people whose favourite season is Winter.
ReWildUniversity I know right it's weird , I used to walk home from the sports centre in shorts and a rash gaurd in freezing temperatures my body just got used to it and people would give me almost condescending looks I just kept walking though never stopped. Your pretty hardcore with it in barefoot I've never tried that before.
I love the cold weather so much
Great video. I have recently started taking cold showers. I am a thin guy and I always hated cold temperatures. Initially, I would need to put the water on warm and then gradually make it colder to be able to tolerate it. Now, I can turn it on to the maximum cold setting and have it blast me right away. I am much more tolerant of cold temperatures as a result and noticed many improvements in my health which is discussed in a video on my channel.
I am now excited to keep pushing my limits. I want to make the water even colder hahahaha!
Just watching your video -- that's awesome! Cool channel by the way. Subscribed!
=) Kenton
Thank you so much. I just discovered your channel. I watched the video of you demonstrating how to self rescue from falling through ice and 2 women doing the same. Subscribed! hahah. I'm gonna go watch more of your videos now!
Wim Hof method. Heard of it?
Modern society has taught us that being uncomfortable is a sin. And offers to sell us an untold number of things to help "cure what ails us" but if we only learned to live with our discomfort we might find something money can't buy
*self-reliance*
When I've been out in the cold exercising I think that the showers that are usually cold are warm.
Instructions unclear.
Accidentally turned into an ice fairy.
B-baka
Cirno biggest baka
That is a certified ghetto patrol classic
9?
I'm norwegian So I just Dress accordingly to Said Weather/temprature, "No bad weather Just bad clothing"
I've heard that saying! Wonderful!
=) Kenton
What is that saying in Norwegen?
I just remember my stay in Russia when I was still younger. It was the beginning of February, -25 °C, blizzards every now and then, not possible to go outside for much longer than an hour or two. I only stayed there for about 10 days, but coming back to Austria, where it had comfortable -5 °C, people looked very surprised at me wearing short sleeves and not shivering all over outside. So accomodation works very fast, I guess.
It really does happen surprisingly quickly, doesn't it? So strange how "cold" can feel not cold at all once you are acclimated . . .
=) Kenton
Ja servus, du auch von Österreich? Bin auch dabei ein bissl abzuhärten!
I don't believe her
I grew up in the black forrest in Germany. I was working at 1000 meters height outdoors, doing my civil service where I had to take care of the horses, sheep, goats and so on. When winter came, I worked outside freezing like hell. Some old farmers wife, living in the neighbourhood, passed me, stopped and saw me shivering. This is what she told me: "Don't fight the cold, stand outside, relax and take some deep breath for 2 minutes and embrace the cold." I did like she told me. That winter we had minus 25 degrees Celsius for about 2 weeks, 2,5 meters of snow and I was working outside for 10 hours a day, shoveling snow, breaking the ice of the pond to hydrate the horses, doing the staple work and so on. It was one of the hardest winters since 1970. The two weeks passed and the old farmers wife (she must have been 80 years old) invited me to drink a coffee in her kitchen. I sat down and started to undress, taking off the jacket, then the sweater, then the longsleve. I sat there in my t-shirt, drinking coffee. The old woman smiled, pointed at the thermometer that showed 4 degrees celsius, and she said in this old dialect: "Now young friend you have 'the heat' and you won't loose it till you die!" I was stunned, realising that I sat there at 4 degrees in a t-shirt. I still use this technique when it's getting cold, relax, take some deep breath and embrace the cold. While my girlfriend cuddles in two wool blankets in the living room and blaming me that I didn't turn the radiator on, I sit on the couch and it's too warm for me. Like the old lady said, now I have the heat :-)
Thank you for this great vid, I feel ya brother. Just one question: Are you doing Win Tsun; Tai Chi or Kung Fu? The way you move your hands and arms look really familiar to me ;-) . all the best, Marc
Hi Marc,
I LOVED this story. "You have the heat". Perfect! And that you were able to hear her, even in your state of freezing, to give it a try, and to discover something that gave you a life-long gift. Just incredible.
Great eye! I've been doing various martial arts since I was 9 years old, and they're pretty ingrained. I've never had anyone recognize that from simple hand and arm movements, though. You must have taken your own training to a deep level to be able to "spot" a fellow practitioner so easily =)
Thanks for this amazing comment, Marc. This is what makes TH-cam a true community, when we share the tales of our lives that have made us who we are.
Kenton
ReWildUniversity
Hi Kenton, thanks for the nice words. Well you move pretty smooth with your hands, like guiding the energy to where you want to have it. Actually I've practiced WingTsun and was working as a doorman to finance my university time. Therefore watching closely how someone moves (even in little details) makes life much more safer ;-). Once again, thanks for your positive and realistic way you do this here! Cheers Marc
Hi Marc, That's great -- having a job where you had to watch people like that. And it's stuck! That sort of increased perception really opens up the world, doesn't it? We start to notice all sorts of things about people that others would never perceive. Again, I'm so impressed that you could tell even from a single video!
Hi Kenton, thanks for the kind words. But I don't think it's my "personal earning or merit" that I developped this "ability". It's just the circumstances that formed this due to necessity. It's like in the woods or nature in general: If you watch carefully you will survive, like you, who sees plants that are "hidden" for other people (or even for me, unfortunately I'm bad at reading plants, I have to learn much more), or stones that are good for tools etc. The environmet you live in makes your senses more sensible to things your live depends on. In my case this were 3 nights a week for 8 years in a potentially dangerous environment. The more I listened to "old doorman" showing me what to take care of, where to look at or the more I studied all kinds of martial arts, the more I was able to see "signs" of unconscious bodylanguage. Actually this saved me in many situations to anticipate who is standing there and how he might act.
In your case it was the moving of your hands when I thought "ok, this guy has a body system". But the initial move you made was your straight punch against your open hand (to demonstrate the confrontation). You didn't throw a hook, you made a straight punch, your wrist made a little twist upwards and your hip moved in the punch a little. This is something only martial artists or boxers do. But a boxer would have moved his shoulders more, so I took this "educated" guess. After all it comes down to one thing in life: Be open minded, listen, watch, learn and hear as much as you can. Some things work for you some don't. But be aware of getting stuck in one point of view because then it turns into religion. This is why I really like some youtubers like you out there, people who share knowledge, experiences and are open minded. This shows the great potential of humans, if we break the borders we will become better beings. Sorry for this epic philosophy post, lol. Cheers Marc
I'm so happy that there is no longer a word limit on these comments =) There is an eighty-year old guy I train with a few times a week, and I always try to take him by surprise by launching an attack during a conversation or when I'm bending over to pick something up. 99 out of a hundred times, he effortlessly blocks my attack and moves right into a lock. He says that "it's not him", just his body. I'd call it mushin, and that reminds me of what you're describing, as it sounds like this perception is so ingrained that it just feels natural. As you note, we can bring this into other areas of our life as well.
I loved this comment. I hope that it gets a lot of reads and inspires people to consider the depth of perception that we're all capable of!
I was wondering why I always felt colder in the winter here than my fiance, so this is why I searched this video up. I am going to try conditioning myself to cold weather and see how it will improve my tolerance for cold weather and well-being too. Thank you for the video!
We hope it goes great for you! Keep us updated! =)
I moved to the UK from a mediterranean country and I am suffering from cold most of the time of year. I decided to beat cold weather this year. I started to take cold showers and do Wim Hof breathing. First week only so far but already started to feel benefits. Good channel Kenton, subbed, wish you all the best!
Right on! What to "go into" things instead of trying to resist! And thanks for the subscription -- it is very much appreciated!
=) Kenton
Do you want to update your progress?
How did it go?
Kenton, when you started to explain the psychological part of adaptation to cold, I thought: "wow!, It is so similar to what I "invented" for myself. I do exactly the same, I yield to the nature, I imagine myself as a part of the element and go with it. I except cold, rain, snow and wind as it is, and it actually helps even to enjoy it. Sometimes I think about a tree that stands there absolutely naked and open to all weathers, strong and calm, and I try to imagine how would I feel if I were a tree. These psychological tricks work for me.
Exactly! So wonderful that you found this for yourself. I haven't tried "becoming" a tree like that! I will try it with some of the upcoming cold weather here in Wisconsin!
Love,
Kenton =)
@@ReWildUniversity
Hey, Kenton,
I just found out that you use the same technique that I described here, you call it a shape shifting (th-cam.com/video/VJK-QfoFeLk/w-d-xo.html)
I didn't want to sound silly, so I said that try to imagine "what would I feel if I were a tree..", But in fact I imagine myself a tree, trying to become a tree in my mind.
I also do another thing, that I am going to share in the comments section for your video about shape shifting.
This winter is going to be awesome!
Woohoooo!
=) Kenton
To be truly adaptable.. to whatever conditions you may encounter is the greatest strength, because you only suffer the true effects of the conditions rather than the expected (and usually dreaded) ones your mind makes up. I think there must be a childlike state of mind that we've all lost. Children may not like to BE too cold, but they aren't afraid of it the way adults are. I have learned to live with hunger, now I will learn to live with cold. It's a bit of a beast if you are a bit older and have arthritis though, lol. It adds a pain dimension to the cold that is unpleasant. Thanks for making the videos.
You have spoken wisdom here, my friend. "You only suffer the true effects of the conditions rather than the expected (and usually dreaded) ones your mind makes up." If we could all come to understand this, it would transform our view of what is "good" or "bad" in life, and we might lose our intense fear of anything outside our comfort zones. Great comment!!
=) Kenton
When i was few years old exposed in the kindergaden and elementary school to any kind of virus and childood desease everytime i got sick in the winter my family used to bring me to our home town in the mountains 2 hours car from the city. Back then the house didnt have any radiator, just a fireplace in one room, few days and i was healthier than before having indoor around 5 celsius and minus 20 outside: fever, aches, running nose and sore throat, all gone. Interesting thing i noticed as i move to Sweden is that here small children, often even newborns, are left outside on the balcony or yard in their carriages during their naps in the coldest periods...
Interesting! I think science is finally coming to recognize what you observed -- that cold exposure builds our immune system over time.
=) Kenton
Yes indeed! archaic knowledge was empirical, if we lasted this long through all the dark ages of the past without pharmaceutical companies and in extremely aggressive situations it means it definitely works great!
Agreed!!
Here’s an update from my last comment:
My hands and feet still run cold, but I notice it less now that I am somewhat adapted to the season. Fall hit hard in New England (it’s randomly been 60F for a few days though), but going outside (or indoors in an unheated room) in less and less clothing, walking around cold grass barefoot, and occasionally finishing my showers with cold water has definitely helped this process.
Today it was 42F out and I considered it sweatshirt weather! So far, so good. Will update again once winter really hits!
Wow, that's awesome progress! That takes discipline, so way to go! Please do keep me updated!! If you're in New England, you'll definitely be getting some serious cold at some point! We're snowing here in Wisconsin . . .
=) Kenton
As a Wisconsin native I got to grow up exposed to the cold and I agree. If you spend time getting used to it, especially growing up not wearing a whole lot in winter, you become very conditioned to it. I actually find it amusing when people are all bundled up and I don't even have my jacket zipped up or a hat on. I don't even really feel the cold in my legs anymore, wearing nothing but jeans in -20F. Same with my feet. I don't even own winter boots. Cold conditioning makes winter camping a real treat at such a magical time of year here in Wisconsin. I'm already looking forward to this winter. Great video, and perhaps some day I'll be able to attend one of your classes.
A fellow dweller in Wisconsin! It's great to hear that you've had the same experience -- it makes such a difference, doesn't it? And then to take that conditioning and head out winter camping -- you really get to experience a world that few people ever dream of. I love those nights when you wake up and there is fresh snow over everything . . . =) Kenton
I live in Wisconsin and I always wear sweatshirts in the summer I hate the cold and I’ve somehow not gotten used to it, although I’m only 17
I don't even own a hat and most of the time I don't wear a jacket in winter.
But when I sleep, I get terribly cold. When I sleep outside, I need to package myself like porcelain for transport. Maybe there's a way to learn to heat yourself during sleep.
I saw this video a few months ago. I knew that my old house is drafty and using the heater is expensive. Last winter I was way too cold. I tired your methods over the last few monnths. I have still not used the heater yet this winter. Winter seems to be more pleasant. Now don't laugh but I live in Southern California. However I spent all these winters freezing. I finally was tired of shivering all the time It may not get below 35 degrees here but now I can handle it without being miserable. So thank you this videoo. I am forever grateful.
Wow, way to go Sammy! That's huge, to see how you can make a change not by spending more money or adding more comfort, but by strengthening your own resilience. Awesome!!!! =)
in early autum i was heading to the trainstaition on my way home from school. it was raining a bit... then suddenly the clouds bursted and there was water all over the place and everyone started running i saw that and realized: whats so bad about the rain: NOTHING... so i kept walking in a relaxed pace looking up and enjoying the rain i was wet to the bone when i arrived at the station, but it was a wonderful experience. i even had the time to help a homeless guy get his stuff into the dry. I would do it any time again and i do really recommend you guys to try that out aswell if you not allready have ;)
Greetings from Germany,
Cedric
Cedric, this is IT! It's like you saw through the Matrix, and suddenly realized that you didn't have to fear the rain. Well done! There are so many things in life like this -- may you discover many more!!! =)
@@ReWildUniversity thank you for these words, big respect :)
I love being outside in cold or rainy weather!
We have so much in common! Just finished replying to your other comments, my friend!
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity we do! :) thank
you :)
ive been doing this for years. and saying practice accepting the cold and you will handle it and enjoy it more. I spend hours and hours every fall and winter outside "under dressed" and find that it makes me much more comfortable topless in below freezing temps. glad to know that im not the only person who does this.
Awesome Jeremiah! That's one of my favorite and most effective methods for cold conditioning -- that wonderful "easing into it" that autumn and early winter provide.
=) Kenton
Now I play football in the snow a lot and the things you said really help when I am being tackled.
Awesome! I love it when people keep doing their thing in the snow -- adds a fun intensity!
I wear shorts bare legged in the winter because I like the cold&snow melting on my bare legs and it feels so refreshing&shorts are comfortable when its extremely cold outside.
Awesome! You're not only enduring -- you LIKE the feeling! That shows how we can transform what some people think of as pain or discomfort into something wonderful. Way to go setting a great example! =)
This is exactly the video I was looking for, thank you
So glad you found it helpful, Jiyah!!
As a child I used to run around barefoot, including running around on the gravel forecourt of my father's garage business, which had plenty of glass in it. And I didn't feel the cold much. Admittedly it was not usually as cold as the north of America, but it did have its moments (www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-21189863/the-big-freeze-of-1963-remembered en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_of_1962%E2%80%9363_in_the_United_Kingdom) when the morning was spent digging a path through the snow to the garage then digging out the petrol pumps and the ways down to the road for customers - who were mostly farmers so they had to be kept on the move. The doctor did his round on skis.
Kenton, you keep stirring up long-forgotten memories!
I seem to have gone downhill since then, and have acquired Reynaud's disease (www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20363571) in recent years.
For the last couple of years I have been trying to cure myself of it with gradual cold conditioning (mostly just of the hands). So far it seems to be improving, but it is hard to compare one year to another without having accurate temperature measurements. Has anyone else tried this?
I'm not sure I would want to walk barefoot now. I live under some trees where birds roost, and the paths are often covered with bird poop. Yuk!
This makes me wonder about the Wim Hof stuff again -- part of what he teaches is conscious control over the small vessels in the hands and feet. I wonder if anyone with Raynauds has tried it . . .
My partner lives in Dulce, NM and one winter it was -5°F at 10pm on our way home from dinner. I was in awe and I’m moving there next month. I love the cold
That's so awesome, Kevin. Few and far between (but hopefully a growing group), those who love the cold =)
I work outside at an amusement park and it is brutally cold and windy. I will try to condition my body now. Thanks for the video!
That sounds like some intense work conditions! Let me know how the conditioning goes! =)
I do this all the time, since I’ve been doing this, I NEVER EVEN ONCE GOT SICK.
I never get colds, never catch contract diseases, my parents and friends think I’m insane, and that I’ll get sick( which is ironic because they’re the ones who always are sick)
I think exposing ourselves to cold weather, bacteria ect, it strengthens our immune system.
Yes! If we don't exercise a physiological system, it grows weak. Way to go being a great example!
been doing this since early fall definitly helps. thanks for posting this, learned a lot
Awesome! It's pretty nice to be able to enjoy the cold, isn't it?
=) Kenton
I wear shorts in the winter because I like the cold weather & snow melting on my bare legs. It also feels so refreshing, plus shorts are more comfortable.
I love it! You are opening yourself to experiencing the world instead of hiding from it =)
@@ReWildUniversity on the mild days in the winter I will just wear a t-shirt and shorts and on the very cold days I will wear a jacket and hoodie with my shorts.
I'm in the process of binge watching this channel, amazing content.
That's a huge compliment -- though paradoxically, my hope with these videos is to get people away from devices!! Ha! That doesn't seem like a problem with you, however! I love that you're doing the same thing, using videos to encourage people to get out and adventure!
=) Kenton
Lol was just giving a Californian friend advice for her first winter in Berlin out of my own experience as a tropical islander being there for many years and then I searched for some video of yours to send her and you go and say the exact same tips I told her, in the same order even!
The one other tip I had for her is, when you are suddenly in a much colder climate than you're used to and you haven't had the ramp up time to adapt, is to calm down and try to identify where it's uncomfortable, rather than being overwhelmed by this abstract fear of cold - usually, it turns out it's just a couple of points in your body that are painful, and when you identify them it becomes much more manageable and you can instead concentrate on the parts that actually feel ok.
That advice you give toward the end of your comment is genius -- it calls us to look at the sensations clearly, unclouded by our fears, and thus we will experience cold very differently.
=) Kenton
Thank you for a very educational video! I can't wait for first snow to try walking in it. It is true indeed that most of the work has to be done psychologically, but like you said, all of us have the capacity of getting adjusted to cold.
I find swimming a great technique also, should you have a lake/river/sea nearby. One time in September, in the northern climate, I was walking to the sea with a towel and a man in the way asked me if I was going swimming and said "but the water is cold". I responded with "Yes it is". We can only affect our attitude towards external factors, not the other way around.
Happiness and well-being to you!
What a great attitude, Kat. And a great story as well about that sea swim!
Happiness and well-being in return my friend!
=) Kenton
Thank you so much for this video!
Absolutely, friend!! =)
I've been doing this the entire autumn. I started to relax after a while. Shivering too early is probably an unrefined reaction unless it's super-cold. You simply waste energy too early. A good posture and contracting your core muscles is a more refined reaction to cold. Shivering and curling up has its place when there are no other options.
Indeed! Getting in touch with that shivering reaction is pretty important to shifting our perception of cold . . .
=) Kenton
I would absolutely love to take your class. Sounds so cool.
Thank you! We do have some fun out here! Check out the Forest Monk online training community, too. It's not classes, but I will be giving monthly training guidelines . . . www.patreon.com/forestmonk
=) Kenton
After living in Upstate NY for two years, I easily became accustomed to the cold weather. I'm from the South, but am unable to tolerate hot weather. I get sick in the heat and can't manage it well. In the cold, it is much easier for me to be comfortable. I rarely had to wear a heavy coat. The wind could be uncomfortable, but the cold rarely bothered me, even -25F. I very frequently hiked in the woods as long as the snow wasn't too deep. There were times when the snow was so deep I couldn't walk in it!
I really miss that. I love the snow!
I am doing the following this winter:
1. When going from office to the cantine we cross the yard ( about 300 meters ) and i dont take my jacket on for it.
2. When going out with the trash i dont take my jacket on
3. I try to go out with bare feet for 1 minute every day
4. I am just resently trying the gcold showers, but i go in the shower warm, finish my cleaning and then cradualy turning down the heat until cold
Way to go! What a great way to do this, to set those "tasks" for yourself. Well thought out!
=) Kenton
honestly thought it was genetic, I was wondering why I get less tolerant of the snow as i get older, it's because i've been fighting it so much
Keith, I think you will indeed feel that tolerance come back with practice. I was in Hawai'i last winter, and lost a lot of my conditioning -- it's interesting to see how quickly I became sensitive to the cold, and now that I'm consciously conditioning again, how quickly the cold is becoming enjoyable again =)
I'm starting to lose my tolerance of the heat and anything above 65 degrees is intolerable to me
During the Texas snow storm I wore thin hoodie and everyone else was freezing their ass off bundled up and every jacket they own and I just felt at home wearing some flimsy hoodie
eat spicy food and stay away from toxic or negative people
check your blood sugar level if youre overweight do some diet dont drink or smoke ..have sex or masturbate once a week
I like this idea a lot. The hardest part is putting up with the annoying comments from people in public when wearing shorts and a t-shirt on a crisp fall or spring day.
Hubert Selby Jr, who wrote Requiem For A Dream, said some thing in an interview that stuck with me and it's essentially the same message here; The more you resist, the more you suffer.
I hadn't heard of him! Definitely someone I'll check out =)
Amazing! Thank you for this, now I feel confident to work on this so I can enjoy the winter more :)
Awesome! It makes a real difference! Here's what it's done for me:
th-cam.com/video/jyc81tIooZg/w-d-xo.html
=) Kenton
Great video. I always sleep cold, and it always helps me camping in winter. Thank you for your great explanation.
Hi jesterie,
Sleeping cold really does make a difference, doesn't it? I think it's one of the best cold conditioning tools we have!
I grew up in northern Wisconsin, camping at minus 40 degrees is easy peasy for me. At 6’2” and 330lbs my body is built for the cold.👍🏻
Nice! Cold is awesome =) And northern Wisconsin delivers!
what's so interesting to me is after doing cold showers for a few months over winter time - inspired by your falling through ice self rescue video - I went by mistake to a hot yoga class. I hate the heat more than the cold! I was having a lot of stress caregiving for both parents, off work for fracture of L2 vertebra for 3 months before that... and no exercise to speak of. I thought, "I have to get some exercise" when I was helping my dad relocate back home. so went to this new yoga studio and semi freaked out when I realized how hot it was in there! I thought I'd try it anyway, hey I can always leave if it's too much. what amazed me is that I was so much better able to tolerate the heat and exercise than before! usually I would get dizzy, nauseous with that much exercise in that kind of heat when out of shape. Everybody was dripping sweat in the class including me, (normally it takes a lot to make me sweat even when hot), but I managed it so much better than I would have before. I couldn't figure it out... then I thought the only thing different is the cold showers! I think it may help with both temperature extremes? interesting experience anyway.... and of course I am much more cold tolerant than before. thank you again for your thoughtful, informative videos :)
Wow, that's awesome! I've been hoping to hear from people about whether the cold conditioning seems to increase their heat tolerance as well!
=) Kenton
When you expose yourself to cold, your body learns how to thermoregulate itself more efficiently. You actually grow new blood vessels in you extremities. That's why you became more tolerant to the temperature extremes. Way to go!
Yes I started taking cold showers a while ago and it feels good.
Nice! I hope you keep it up and reap the benefits! =)
You sir are a wise man :) very good points and tips, loving your work!
Thanks again -- I really appreciate the feedback. Keeps me making videos! =)
I've gone barefoot in the snow for many years. It started one cold day when I was just too lazy to want to put shoes on to go out and get the mail (I don't wear shoes inside). Soft snow feels surprisingly velvety and un-cold actually. Much warmer than ice or cold pavement. Snow is mostly air so is a good insulator with low heat capacity.
This winter I'm also trying to live with less heat indoors. My place doesn't have central heating anyhow, so I've just mostly stopped using space heaters in most rooms other than the living room (and turn that one off as soon as I feel warm). 60 degrees F now feels about as warm as 68 used to. Bedrooms don't need to be heated anyhow; that's what extra blankets are for.
The ecological impact of burning so much fuel to try and make home interiors feel like it's not really winter must be staggering.
I love this. You're not only making a difference in your life, but in all of our lives by consuming less resources to keep yourself warm. Well done!
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity I like these videos best that are grounded in a way to a certain physiological (or psychological) part, like dealing with the cold in winters. Something very concrete :D Great video again Kenton!
Thanks for that feedback, my friend!
=) Kenton
I am from Alaska and run in extreme cold temperatures -14° below zero farenheit with light clothing. I also like exercise in extreme cold. During summer I like to swim in the lakes. I love the cold and the outdoors.
Now THAT is some serious cold! Very impressive!
=) Kenton
Incredible video. Not too scienc-ey and not to baseless. It all makes sense but you can explain what actually happens to back up what youre saying. Im gonna try going on walks with no coat and just accept the cold. Gonna try 10 mins and work my way up and see how it goes...
Awesome that you are giving this a try! There's a lot of research out there on cold adaptation, but IMO, we don't have a really powerful understanding of it yet. Here's an example: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23867626/
In short, thermogenesis is, like most other physiological systems, a system that adapts over time. Sit inside in the warm house all the time, and the system grows weaker. Do some cold exposure, and it is stressed and thus grows stronger over time. Some of the adaptations seem to be better circulation to extremities and increased non-shivering thermogenesis.
The most important benefits might be mental. We're taught to seek comfort, but as we begin to explore discomfort, we open up whole new avenues in life. Our forest monks, after spending months in the woods living in some pretty intense conditions, would often be excited to go home where they could relax on a couch, watch a movie, and have some rich, easy food. Usually, a week after returning, I'd get a call with the person saying "you know, it might sound crazy, but I miss having to deal with the cold, the mosquitoes, hauling my water, and all the other discomforts. I felt so ALIVE."
I'd love to hear how your experiments go! Have you tried cold showers?
=) Kenton
I was able to ride a motorcycle down to 16 F this guys methods work!
Sweet! Way to go! That is truly inspiring =)
I'm am ultrarunner. Taking hot cold showers is a hard splash of reality, the same reason spirits come here to incarnate. It's refreshing, delicious, and makes you feel good afterwards and with a calm relief feeling, hard to explain you have to do it. Anyways, I've been doing it sonetimes daily for years and now I do it when I need to feel refreshed or detoxed especially after a night of drinking. You have to be a special tough type of person but hot cold showers will do it to you. Try it!
Such good advice, George, and from someone who knows the benefits of discomfort =) I loved your comparison -- "the same reason spirits come here to incarnate" =)
HAHA I was such a stubborn kid. And I loved swimming all year long. My grandmother didn't like me swimming during the cold. But me... oh I had to prove that the cold didn't bother me. And yeah I had to just feel the cold, its so hard to explain and then eventually you just feel comfortable again. There is nothing like bare feet in the first snow of the year! I look forward to it. There is something so wonderful about shivering once, noticing then deciding to not shiver again. I don't think I could put into words what it feels like for me other than it seems like I become aware of all my muscles in my body at once then decide to relax them.
I'm so glad you described this! It's positively magical when you can cease that shivering. For me, it always feels like I shiver when I am tensing against the cold, and when I just "let go", the shivering leaves. Wow! I love that you embrace the cold so beautifully!!!
@@ReWildUniversity well cold is easier for me than heat. I'll have to check if you have a tolerating heat video!
Ha! I don't -- maybe I should make one. I used to have a LOT of trouble with heat. It would seem to make me grouchy, lol!!!
@@ReWildUniversity haha some thing just can't be conquer and rather accepted as a part of life that gives us contrast to appreciate the snow!
I have been trying to aclimitize since the fall started, I leave my heat off whenever possible or on low in the car if I have to fight frost, I feed and clean the bunnies cages on the porch without socks on (cold slate esc floor), I do not wear jackets in the winter if possible, and only throw on light sweathshirts when it is a must. Love this concept and glad to see more of it in action. Thank you.
Hi Ned,
Those are perfect acclimatization tools! I especially like how you're doing tasks (like the bunny cages) during your acclimatization. I think this has the added bonus of developing mental functionality while you're experiencing discomfort, and as we all know, that's a situation that occurs again and again when we're out in the woods (like, trying to put up a tarp while the mosquitoes are swarming =)
ReWildUniversity
Thanks, always learn a lot from your videos, and the comments. And excellent point about the mental stress being good practice. Did not even think about that.
Well? I just realized where I will be spending all my DATA on. I am so glad that I found your channel. There is so much 'Entertainment' out there. It captures us.
And it clouds our vision.
Maybe someday I will tell you of the birds in the trees, the sound of the car, what the sound of water coming off the tires was like, and how that sound muted the chirping for a moment and paralyzed my legs to where I didn't realize that they had become very wet by the sprinkles of the same rain that made the distracting sound, and kept my nose from smelling the scent of that same rain. I think you understand.
Finally I was able to keep hearing the thousand birds, the engine, the water as it made its presence known. The feeling of the sprinkles on my legs, the smell of New rain, and whoa! That breeze is the cherry on top! Eventualy I didn't lose a single one of those. All at one time!.
Don't miss a thing!
My point is this. We become distracted so easily when a new sensation appears, that we miss 'what was wonderful', before it came along. Why not have the banana split, instead of just going for the cherry on top?
Jim, these words made me laugh and get tears, all at once! I do think I know what you are speaking of -- and I appreciate how you can describe such an experience with such soft eloquence, and still bring in the laughter of banana splits and data allowances! Awake!!!
Love,
Kenton
3:19 so satisfying 😫😫
im not *_this_* comfortable in the cold but i do tend to generate some concern from my family when I take the dogs out in a t shirt and sandles in peak Michigan winter without a second thought.
I just kind of embrace the discomfort, like the burn of a workout or bitterness of shitty coffee or something.
That's it! EMBRACING the discomfort. Way to go! Life changing, because you're no longer fighting everything =)
Thanks for spreading the word!
+Rodengod Absolutely, my friend!
=) Kenton
Another good tip is to flex your abs a bit when you're out in the cold, and before you really feel it. The flexing will start to generate a bit of heat in your core and blood will flow into your extremities better. If I do this for the first few minutes I'm outdoors, I need few layers of clothes to keep warm. But I also can walk around with no coat and a T-shirt when it's 50 degrees and be very comfortable because I always allow myself to adjust to the cold weather.
Great tip! I've been experimenting with muscle contractions for warmth, but hadn't yet tried the abs. I'll give it a go!
=) Kenton
Then do you find, as a result of this, that its harder to cool off in the summer?
I started cold showers this past summer and found I adjusted to hot temps more easily as well as cold.
I have always been very resistant to hot temperatures however, I changed my diet November 1st 2015, and now I dislike this heat, I no longer have a resistance to it like I used too. I am going to try your technique since my resistance to cold seemed to be non existent. I say seemed, since I no longer know if this is the case. It's really weird, but in a way I am happy about this change. Thank You for this video.
So interesting! Let me know what you find, and I'd be interested to hear what dietary changes seemed to affect your heat tolerance.
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity I am starting to get heat tolerance back just slightly now, as well as a resistance to cold. The cold showers are great! I eat vegan, and drink water as much as possible, even though I am addicted to Vanilla Coke lol. Your ability to lay down in the snow and be comfortable with it is astonishing, it's like you're a real life Ice Wizard hahaha.
Christian M.
Glad to hear both the heat and cold adaptation is coming along! I laughed about the Vanilla Coke. Hey, we have to have at least one poison, right? =) Mine are dark chocolate and ice cream . . .
just a little notice, when u live in a hot area, and you dont like the very hot weather - like me - u can learn how to adapt to that weather too. Sauna or steam baths, than very cold water. Repeat every day, and after one week, you good for the rest of a summer. 36 degrees celsius and you wont even notice it. Just stress the body with a big temperature rise/drops for a while. It will make u more resilient to hot and cold at the same time. Just a personal experience and opinion. Sorry for a being a bit offtopic, thanks for the videos big man!
Awesome technique! Hot has always been tougher for me than cold, so I'll give this a try!
=) Kenton
I wear shorts all winter long, but on the mild winter days I just wear a t-shirt and shorts. The other days I wear a jacket with my shorts. But I might not wear my coat as often this year.
I walk outside around 30 and under sometimes and i just moved here to MI from FL and i just keep training myself now i can walk no problemo in 40 above barefoot
Woohoo! That's awesome! You're showing what the human body is capable of!
So very true fundamentaly!! I remember like yesterday when me and two friends in 1986 saw the Rambo movie First Blood. The same day and for weeks to come we where out to play Rambo at the same wheather-condish out in the woods, same clothing att around zero celsius, we where cold but we did not frozen. The mental frequens is the key, ore should we say motivation! Thanks my friend for the rebouster and reminder..
+DIESIONAENSEMBLY So glad that this could bring back such great memories. Sounds like it would have been fun to be there with you guys . . .
=) Kenton
+ReWildUniversity The perfect childhood..
I’ve been told that I am resistant to cold. This upcoming Winter we will take that test to the mountains
Wow, sounds like you have an adventure ahead of you!!
@@ReWildUniversity yup 👍 I’m excited
I was born and raised in nw Pa. and am very familiar with sub- zero temperatures. I did exactly as you've mentioned while growing up there. It works! I could walk around in a tee-shirt in cold weather ( staying comfortable. Not trying to be macho) while my city/ town friends would be heavily bundled. Something about living in the boondoggle fosters that type of mindset/ conditioning.
Now I live in Florida and I swear my balls off.
You've done this yourself! Awesome!
=) Kenton
Breathing in slowly through the nose is also very important.
NeuKrofta nice tip!
*Finns and russians laugh in the backround*
Bishhhhhhhh! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’m American and I can’t with a lil snow
Don’t forget Iceland 🇮🇸
@sozzy edits 95% of canadians live along the US border, idk why you guys act like it's much different at all, in fact most new england people are above half of the canadian population lol
@@KeithKillingly don’t forget about the half that live above it, especially the ones that live inland away from ocean currents- our winters usually have a low between -25°C and -40°C with my city last year hitting a crisp low of -50°C one night
@@KeithKillingly because it snows in 100% of Canada.
thank you for sharing, for me cold is one of my biggest weakness, my back specifically cant handle a drop of cold water or even cold touch, my legs are totally fine, for this reason I am taking this as a challenge to improve this weakness. unfortunately I live in a country where the winter temperature doesn't go below 18c. however I have great tolerance for hot weather. subscribed.
supernova1976 Cold can really be challenging. Though hot can be just as tough (I used to wither in the heat!). I would probably envy your heat conditioning! Thanks so much for your subscription. Much appreciated!=) Kenton
I had planned on doing a similar video for my channel. just not as extensive :-) some of that I didn't even think of but I have notice over the years of working outside that it seems a lot easier and people call me crazy for the walking around in a tshirt when its below freezing. I really enjoyed your video because its something I practice. I do the shower technique and sleeping without a blanket as you spoke. I have to say I don't walk bare foot in the snow though. thank you for sharing it.
travis this is a great vid thanks for shareing
no problem he has a great channel
Hi Travis,
Awesome to hear that you're already doing much of this! Those of us who practice it certainly do get people looking at us like we're cracked, don't we? =) Thanks for sharing some of the techniques that have worked for you -- I think that will help others as they give it a try themselves.
ReWildUniversity I hope you don't mind me going ahead and doing the video.
by the way me and Justin would like to have you on his live video he has been doing every other week, you would have a lot to offer
Survive Without Hi Travis, I'd LOVE to see your cold conditioning video! The more the better! And I'd be honored to take part in your and Justin's live video. Thanks so much for thinking of me.
Well past few winters I have really suffered and come to hate winter.. anything below 12c and my hands turn very hold like ice.. I start layering up straight away, but since it’s now early autumn I will try this and see how I feel going through this coming winter
Keep me updated -- I do feel like it can be reversed, but as each year passes and we gravitate toward comfort (as we're taught by our culture), we lose a little more conditioning. Eventually, as you say, we can start to just hate the cold. I would be super interested to hear about your progress -- have you considered cold showers?
@@ReWildUniversity hi, yes I agree, I also find as we get older we do way less, when I was younger I’d be out on my bike or walking somewhere for hours.. and my jobs were usually a lot more labour based.. not that I’m old now, only 24 but my job is super easy no physical work really and I tend to drive everywhere so I find that is also something that makes you feel cold, I don’t have cold showers but I don’t turn the water really hot either I try to have it so it’s kinda cold but bearable I’ve tried cold showers in the past I found they just made me feel cold all day haha and also catch a cold
Yesterday I went for a walk around my area in just a t shirt everyone else was wearing coats and jumpers so will try to avoid wearing jumpers etc and expose myself to the cold I’ll keep you updated for sure 👍🏻
@@sniperjordan8216 Nice! You're already doing it! Our bodies and minds are strong when we give them some carefully placed stressors -- you're proving it!
I'm sure I've commented on this video before and a few months ago I said I was going to try to bundled up a bit less this winter than usual. I refused to dig out my long johns with the first early cold spell and haven't put them on yet this winter. Temperatures in central Ohio go up and down like a yoyo all winter so back into the 40's again after a few days way below average. I'm surprised how balmy 40 feels as long as it's not rainy and windy. Maybe I am getting a bit cold acclimated!
Love to you and yours in sunny Hawaii!
Woohooo! 40 feels balmy -- that's awesome! Cold acclimation at work!
Love to you and yours as well, dear Maude -- we think of you often!!!
KaRaMaL =)
The Dance with Nature
YES!
You know I never had the patience to meditate in cold, Always hated cold. However Im able to do the same thing you do if I put thought into it. It all started when I was very young and I study a meditation art of Kuji Kiri, which uses focus to become aware of internal processes and at some point you can then control things humans are typically never even aware of. Other tricks like Brain Hacks deal with balance, So when walking on a beam if you look at something and focus on the color. Youll find the more you focus on the color the more you stop trying to balance and end up walking on a beam like you would walk on the ground. Probly why that trick works, I just know it does. But the Tempthing came when I was in Mexico on the Hot sand near rocky point. The sand was So hot and I was bare foot all the time. At first Id run and skip to point B. But as I was doing this I felt it was so freaking hot, the relief of the air blowing cross the bottom of my foot as I raised it taking another step, I began to focus on that wind. Somehow I noticed the muscle down your spine that SHIVERS when you get cold, Yeah well that seems to regulate heat throughout your body. In hind sight id say I could walk on coals using the same tactic. You flex that area of the spine, as appose to it rapidly flexing in a shiver, You flex it But not typical, More like your using that muscle to PUSH the heat OUT or Block the heat from absorbing into your foot as it touches the hot sand but as soon as it lifts absorbing as much of the cold wind as possible. Not much later I was Palm springs in July and and I was able to walk cross the parkinglot of walmart there in palmsprings in July where normal people would expect me to get 2ed degree burns but, Yeah it was Hot af but I was able to cool my feet down with the wind. However If for some reason I was not able to keep walking Id be hospitralized..It would fy an egg as fast as a pan.. Later I moved back to oregon and would end up in the cold just out of practice of this and find out that The same area in my back that shivers, When flexed keeps me warm, So long as its done with meditation. Its easier to deal with Blood flow inside my body that the hot cement thing. Or typically , it is harder for me to deal with cold or more over not hard, I just dont like cold so Im too lazy to do this as a life style.. But contrling blood flow to send blood from the liver to my shoulders, back, sides to keep me warm is fairly simple.. If it was all in my head, I doubt id of been able to go from not taking one step on that hot cement, to walking cross the wallmart parking lot.. Palm springs cement in july isnt a joke.. That would be hard in december.. I surely didnt make a habit of it cuz it also takes a lot of internal skills. But my point is , If I was trying to condition to regulate in cold, I would not go with hot coal walking, never have, hate burns... But I would practice the heat training as well. I was really surprised that flexing internal musles in my back would somehow help my feet not absorb heat. It was also really fast, I mean it was more of an Epiphany rather than taking me a cpl days to figure it out.. The moment I felt the cold wind on my feet after the burn, It just made sense that with timing, IDK How I realized the shivering thing Its just that Kuji Kiri stuff that makes you notice things others dont often feel.. Im no master tho..
What a wealth of information and inspiration you've shared! Thank you. I hadn't heard of Kuji Kiri before. Will research!! =)
@@ReWildUniversity Its really hard or was really hard, No sure about today. But there was few places to learn about them. Im really too lazy to do this type of stuff anymore. But Something Else I did that I tend to do more at this age than the internal stuff is almost like simulating an OBE without falling to sleep. So, I started learning to do the self hypnotics on youtube. Which didnt take me too long to realize this process I discovered put my eyes into REM, Not eactly asleep but not completely awake. So First dark room, no noises etc. Count from 15-0 feeling heavier eyelids each second, Once you get to 0, Now we do it again, Only we visualized walking down 15 steps, each time going deeper down. Visualizing the steps as clearly as possible and this is what actually puts the eys in REM. At first it felt just like eye strain, You start to see colors, Reds, brown, inspite of it being dark. Like left over light in your eyes.. Then I saw a huge opening in the center of my head, Only felt it was third eye because when it oipened I saw like, eye lashes, Like when you get out of water and they are wet and you can see them slightly. anyway, I think before I saw the big eye lashes, The red and Browns pixles looking things turned into a brown tunnel and net thing I know Im moving through this tunnel very fast and I saw what I call poloroids, Because they look like 2D pictures, very clear but its like your movine really fast and You pass them right and left like billboards. But you dont see one till you hear a Boom and a Flash and then its like this flat billboard zooms by you. Even tho the images on them are clear they went by so fast I dont recall a single details. I have not tried to hypnotize regress to see if I can look at details. Anyway after about 6 of these images and going through this tunnel it opens up at the end and that is where the big eye lashes where. Thats when something I didnt expect happened. My body, went out this opening and it was so odd. Cuz I was a bird hovering over a cliff looking down at a beach and there was a lot of really spooky things that I used to write my music. Im not religious but what I saw was a charcoal skinned Bat wingged human figure who has massive scars. Embracing a human woman. And it was some sort of Universal transgression. It was disturbing for me who didnt believe in actual winged black doods.. Still dont but I cant explain other than I forgot to put an intention or ask a question..
@@SmigelTheCat Interesting! I appreciate you giving such details -- some instructions for others who might want to experiment with self-hypnosis!
@@ReWildUniversity Not sure Id take my advice on that because I didnt put an intention which is kind of text book error when peeking through a window.. lol but i do find it interesting..
Using a green screen, bruh?
Ha! Someone else thought that too! If only I had the capabilities, I'd be doing way cooler videos than this! Think polar bears or even better, tauntans!
=) Kenton
it isnt a green screen you can see the snow on his hair and pony tail
Keal Jesus Christ you idiot...
I have begun trying to regain some of my lower temperature tolerance that I used to have. I have developed a fairly wide upper temperature tolerance over the years. I only run the AC now because the computer shuts down when the temperature gets over 84F. People around me are drenched with sweat and bothered by the heat long before I even notice it. Not really sure what my upper limit is, over 105F but that is all I know.
I start my showers as soon as I turn the water on now, but because of the problems I have had in the past and what Chinese medicine says about them, I finish hot. I always make sure I am not sweating when I start the shower. Last Friday, we had the first real cold front this year. I struggled not to bundle up even when the heat pump kicked in (68F this year, 74F last year, and 80F the year before). That night I oddly found that I did not use the blankets or sheets even thought I felt cold prior to going to bed (cold is a relative thing). The next day was the coldest day and I was fine going out to put things in the trash barefoot and shirtless, until the sun set. Then I started shivering and really struggling with the cold. Hot shower and to bed under everything I have and still shivered for almost 2 hours before I could get to sleep. Sunday was much like Saturday, I was fine going out to do things for a short time barefoot and shirtless until sundown, then again shivering. Now even though the temperature is climbing to more tolerable, not currently able to tolerate it withoput warming up for a long time after.
There have been times in the past where I was thrown into snow from 80+ weather, and it took about 3 weeks to fully acclimate. Wonder if it would be similar now or not. Will keep working on it as the weather allows.
I've had a number of people ask about conditioning to heat. Any tips?
=) Kenton
I have seen them and trying to figure out what to tell them other than the same as cold conditioning in the opposite direction. I think hot yoga may have helped some but I had been here about 15 years by then and was already fairly tolerant. Watch out for heat stroke and dehydration. Push to mild but don't hurt yourself. One sign of dehydration is a sweat ban feeling around the head.
I really like you motivational videos. I actually went outside in the snow barefoot this past week. I just wanted to see what it felt like. It was fine. If I am working outside, I am usually fine in the cold. We had some really extreme cold here for awhile. It was difficult to get around. The winds were very strong and wind chills were below 0 a lot of then time. During winter sweats I have had more experience in the cold. This makes a lot of sense. Frankly I hate using the car heaters even in the winter unless it's really frigid and even then, not so much. I got to try some of these levels of preparations especially next fall. In survival situations these preparations and fitness methods could save your life, especially in the area of mind over matter. Thank you for this teaching. I have recently come out of a bout of pleurisy that hit me out of no where last fall and gradually lingered but I have recently felt up to more vigorous exercise and activity. I have a can do attitude and not afraid of a challenge but at this age and at this time of transition in my life I am listening to my body more carefully. I think that is judicious while attempting any level of endurance training or exercise.
Keep moving! Don’t stand around
Very true! Our bodies are so good at producing their own heat if we keep moving. Thanks for your subscription, by the way!
I have a harder time adapting to hot weather. I have visited some hot countries where it's often over 30°C outside and I can't stand it. I can feel comfortable in cold weather tough because I live in a cold climate and have been "underdressed" my entire life.
Agreed -- hot is tougher for me than cold =)
I have been doing this for around 2 years i think mentally im quite far but around 40f with a bit of wind / rain my extremities cool down quite fast and i loose quite a lot of dexterity in my fingers and feet depending on footwear. Any tips? i found your channel recently after seeing your video overnight naked in the winter and life doesnt get easier now knowing that thats possible. I really enjoy your take on things. You are the first one i know with children and thats really intresting to see. I will enjoy watching your journey from time to time thanks for putting this out there.
Hi! Welcome to the channel! First, know that 40f with wind or rain is no joke -- in fact, in that overnight video I probably wouldn't have made it through the night in those conditions. The reason why? Get under 28 or so and you don't usually have to worry about getting wet -- but in the 30-40 range with rain, the wetness greatly speeds heat loss. Not sure if you've seen the Spartan Coldfire challenge we did with our forest monks, but I would wait for that "perfect storm" of temps in the 30-40 range combined with wind and rain to make it as difficult as possible.
th-cam.com/video/lL8pGXutS8E/w-d-xo.html
However, the cold conditioning you're doing will help over time, even under these "worst case scenario" situations. It's just that it can be a very slow adaptation process.
=) Kenton
so I walked Barefoot in the Park up here in Washington and Hyundai at first it was almost unbearable and then what I noticed was after I got back to the car my feet felt like they just got the best massage they ever had and they were so nice and warm and I was just it was a great and now I'm hooked on it
Ha! Awesome!!
=) Kenton
Yes, true. The similar method can be applied to food problem. Here again, we too much concentrate on our fear of what the hell we are going to eat during our stay of let's say four days in the wild. And we try to resolve the thing with various bars, dry or smoked food, fire, the possibilities of hunting , etc... I started once with my girlfriend marching all day long for three days without food. My girlfriend ate moderately (mostly bars, nuts and seeds) during the march, I did not. We were all the time in deep forests. In the evenings and mornings I felt light, full of force and I couldnt even sleep during the nights-I was so full of energy. My girlfriend althogh used to marching had slight muscle fever, I did not. It was because of not eating. Try, it is really a pleasure not eating while hiking and I was much more enjoying the nature around -for i think I was more at the disposition to the nature's beauty because there was not any barrier in my stomach...Maybe you know this from your youth when after sunday's good dinner you went with full stomach into a garden and you could not enjoy the beauty around properly-because of full belly...-I dont mean sleepeness of full stomach but rather that barrier that at the moment hindered your perceiving the nature. I always smile when watching outdoor videos of young people going somewhere for 1-2 days and having their rucksacks full of food and utensils, and then being in the forest after four hours they set the fire to eat something because they are hungry... :) like housewives-what is the difference here? none! the housewives have their porcelain stuff, the outdoor guys their metal stuff. housewives have their ovens and so, the guys in the forest their bonfire-there is really no difference. They have good time chatting nicely in the kitchen by the cups of coffee, the youngsters or whomever their nice chat around a fire with a coffe or tea in their metal cups...I think, the fasting - and especailly when in the forests is sheer goodness, never mind when during millions of years our ancestors were developping with hunger as a common companion-they did not have their meal 4 - 5 times a day like we have, they ate maybe once in a day or once in two - three days, so hunger is something our bodies like. It is as if incorporated into our genes....so maybe aware people like you could change a bit the "methodology" of educating people in the wild-similar as you do it with your approach to cold...very good!!!
Another great point my friend! We do various fasts out here with our forest monks, and inevitably they come to find much of what you described -- that food isn't necessary multiple times a day (or even every day or every few days!), and that a great burden seems to be lifted once we discover that for ourselves.
=) Kenton
thank you, bro!
Excellent video. :)
And yep, can't beat nature. It's waaaaaay bigger than we are. :)
***** Oh yes indeed . . . =)
I want to try to get to the point where I can walk bear foot and go shirtless for at least a couple miles worth of walking once it starts snowing here soon.
I love the cold. Absolutely love it.
Wow! Impressive! I've done barefoot for a while, but definitely not for miles! You're very inspiring!!
Great video, and all you say is true. I am used to the cold, and on a recent paddling trip I was very hot, frequently jumped in the lake to immerse my entire body and dunk my head to stay cool. Meanwhile other members of the group were wearing wetsuits, or warm coats because they were cold LOL.
Ha! Awesome what some cold conditioning will do, isn't it?
=) Kenton
My psychological strategy for cold has always been me saying "quit being a wuss and get to work" soon as I start doing stuff, I don't feel cold anymore. I was sweating like crazy shoveling snow at work last winter. I actually had to take my jacket off a few times.
Ha! I love it! Funny that it's almost forgotten that our bodies actually produce their own heat!
I'm doing this today :D
Awesome! Let me know how it goes for you!
=) Kenton
I am a 58 year old man who has lived most of his life in Florida. I was thinking of moving to Indiana. I am just wondering if I could survive the winters. Has anyone else ever retired up north after living most of their life in the south?
I can't speak to that directly, but I do know a younger man who lived his whole life in Georgia and then S. California, and then moved up to Wisconsin. He's adapted so well that he prefers the winters! =)
I'm about to go live out in the wild with my friend in the mountains within the next week. The ominous "cold" is the one thing I was concerned about as ive always heard the "survival horror stories"
.however, instinctually I have always felt that if we live at one with nature, we won't be struggling to stay alive when she goes through Her changes...so this video confirms this for me..i do have to ask, if you're becoming acclimated to the cold how do you know when ur hypothermic or not ? I mean if ur pushing past the normal threshold of what's tolerable, then is there a body warning signal that lets you know when.enough is enough?
laiana denaue I'm excited for your adventure! I'd love to hear about it when you next get back to civilization for a visit!
You have a great question here. First, I'd agree completely -- if you enter nature with an attitude of play, adventure, and peace, it will treat you differently than if you enter with a Rambo-style attitude. Perhaps it is not that reality presents it self differently, but our attitude interprets experiences in a way that builds confidence and skill, rather than erodes our willpower. To me, attitude is THE essential ingredient, more important than any skill-set.
As for the hypothermia, I can definitely tell when my body is moving toward being too cold, but that's after years of experience. Mostly for me it's a matter of mindfulness, and being tuned-in to my mindstate, since that is one of the first things that starts to "slip" when you get cold. Most people don't notice their mindstate, so can get really confused and sort of 'lose their mind' which leads them further into hypothermia. But if you are tuned in, you should be aware of how the cold is affecting you. There are physical signs, like shivering and the outer limbs starting to become disfunctional. But I focus my attention on my mental state.
One other thing to consider in the mountains is that in the wild, it can be tough to get enough calories, and if you have to thermoregulate (keep warm via your body's heat), you'll burn through calories at an immense rate. So it pays to be a little "greedy" with your body heat, doing your best not to get cold if you can help it. When people come to rewildu, they will often lose 10 pounds or more in the first month, just from their body having to keep them warm. They have to eat a lot until their body starts to acclimate and become more efficient. So in the beginning, if you haven't been cold on a regular basis, your calorie needs may increase dramatically.
This video: th-cam.com/video/v-Gkx0TOAEA/w-d-xo.html and this video: th-cam.com/video/BUvDJSdFe7s/w-d-xo.html both show me going through some extreme cold -- you may be able to get something from watching someone flirt with hypothermia a bit.
Happy adventuring!
=) Kenton
Hi Sydney,
Your reply won't allow comments, so I hope you see this reply =) Great question! Oddly, it's been the opposite. I always had a lot of trouble with heat, but once I started serious cold conditioning, I found that I started to enjoy even hot and humid conditions. I don't have an explanation for this, and it's just my experience, but for what it's worth . . .
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity i suspect it is because you have learned to condition your self to cold, you learned to condition yourself to temperature, whether it be heat or cold, so if you had initially conditioned yourself to heat you would have not had any problem conditioning your self to cold although I suspect it is easier to get conditioned to warm because we prefer to be warm as opposed to cold.
BBeemer1121
Good thoughts. My experience correlates with your ideas here -- I've found that if I condition in one direction, it makes conditioning in the other direction easier. However, if I start restricting myself to what feels 'comfortable', the conditioning begins to fade . . .
=) Kenton
+ReWildUniversity pity i waited so long into winter before encountering this video (southern hemisphere) it would have really helped
Dylan Flynn
It really does help to start early, Dylan, but you can start now, even if you are deep into the winter. Let me know how it goes!
=) Kenton
Awesome video man! I started to having cold shower for a while and it's great. Just wondering is it okay to have a cold shower twice a day during winter? Thanks :) I left a like by the way.
So glad you're trying this! I think two cold showers a day are probably just fine. That being said, the idea with those is "hormesis", and for each individual, there is going to be a line between "just right" and "too much". But if you are feeling good and energized from it, it's probably a good thing for you!
=) Kenton
Keep in mind...dont shower too often because it is bad for ur skin due to you natural oils always being washed away....just standing in cold showers are fine but do not alwys use bodywash or shampoo
Thanks. Awesome vid. Great that you did it in the snow in a tank top, really makes the point. Am inspired to adapt more to the cold!
sirstratocaster It was a fun one to film =) Keep me updated if you begin some serious cold conditioning. I'd like to hear how it goes for you.=) Kenton
In my older days, Ive become very intolerant of the cold.
Staying busy and moving helps but dont break a sweat.
Wow this channel is awesome!
+Riley Refuerzo Thank you Riley! I'm honored!
=) Kenton
I always been used to the cold I love the cold I love going outside in winter in the woods cause I don’t live near anyone so I just wear shorts and no shirt and a pair of shoes
Awesome my friend! Keep up that great cold adaptation!!!
you raise your metabolism doing this it will also make you burn fat off like no other but too much will also make you lose muscle if you don't eat enough to maintain your waight with this new level of metabolism.
I love the cold since being born in maine
Nice! The cold is awesome!
=) Kenton
Great video once again, i have mentioned before really enjoy them. Altouhg I'm not (yet) in a situation to test myself as extreem as you can do at your place, i am getting inspired en motivated to take smal steps each time. Already started with the cold showers and i was thinking of a food challence. Not eat for a day the first time and see what it does to me.
Keep posting and thanks fot the inspiration,
Franc, netherlands
Franc, this makes my day to hear that my videos are helping inspire you to take on these challenges. Awesome!
Thanks for sharing,
Kenton
Please go on Amazon's show Alone! You'd definitely win
Thanks for your vote of confidence! =)
Great video! I live in Sweden and I swim year around. Even if it's ice and snow. Keep it up
That's awesome, Oscar! It must feel great.
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity It does! And I'm very happy to find your videos. Your teachings contain some strong wisdom, definitely subbed.
You have a beautiful family btw :)
Thanks for your subscription, and those kind words about my family, Oscar!!