In the highly competitive arena of college athletics, some programs have ventured beyond traditional training methods to explore the value of unconventional approaches that have the potential to optimize physical and mental performance. The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team received an assist over Labor Day weekend from 2010 alumnus and Peak-Performance Coach Tim Mann. He credits his recovery from a severe auto accident to the Wim Hof Method, which revolves around three pillars: specialized breathing techniques; cold therapy; and commitment.
Mann delivered a presentation to the team on the science behind the practice, and how to incorporate it into a daily routine to bolster their performance on and off the field. He also led a guided breathwork session in the Superior Dome before taking the team outside into tubs full of ice to learn the proper and most effective way to maximize benefits. Mann said Lake Superior wasn't cold enough this past weekend, but will be in the coming months.
After Mann provided a local training two years ago, a participant began the Marquette Cold-Water Immersion Group. Since then it has gained even more traction and has a loyal following of residents who can be seen immersing themselves in the lake in all seasons. One of these proponents put Wildcats Head Coach Alex Fatovic in contact with Mann.
“I figured we have this unique tool in our backyard—Lake Superior—that we can work into our training regimen for regular cold-water recovery, especially when we play Friday and Sunday home games in a single weekend,” Fatovic said. “The guys sometimes jump in after practice or games to cool off, but I wanted them to learn to use the cold lake in a more deliberate way, as taught by someone who actually knows the science around the method and how it can help lower inflammation. Soccer is a very intense sport for both men and women, with the amount you run and the physical nature of getting pounded on the field.
“The Lake Superior plunges will also be a nice consistent team-building activity, which offers mental health benefits that can improve performance and recovery. It was also a no-brainer to reach out and try to have Tim work with our group. He's an amazing person who has an alumni connection to Northern and is passionate about NMU, Marquette and living a healthy lifestyle.”
Athletes have used ice baths to alleviate sore muscles for many years. The Wim Hof Method, named for the Dutch adventure athlete known as “The Iceman,” is a more expansive, holistic approach that incorporates conscious breathing, meditation and consistency.
A 2014 Raboud University study showed the method allows practitioners to control their autonomic nervous system and innate immune response. In a 2018 Wayne State University “brain over body” study to determine how Hof withstands extreme cold exposure, results showed activation of areas of the brain associated with pain suppression, self-reflection and well-being.
Mann co-authored a research paper with WSU published in the journal for Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative. Findings demonstrated implications for treating mood and anxiety, which he said requires more research. Mann, along with WSU Professors Vaibhav Dikwadar and Otto Muzik, have since applied for a grant from the National Institute of Health for a five-year study to confirm how much of an impact this focused behavioral intervention has on brain cannabinoid signaling and interoceptive functioning.
When Mann was struck by a drunk driver while parked on the side of a freeway, he fractured 11 bones and was in a coma for eight days. He emerged with a dual diagnosis of PTSD and emergent mood disorder and embarked on a year of rehab. It was during this period that he discovered the Wim Hof Method through online research.
“It was the first time in history it's been demonstrated that we can voluntarily influence our autonomic nervous systems,” said Mann, who earned his NMU bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation and leadership management in 2010. “That was something I was obsessed with for a decade before my accident because I have a unique ability to self-induce goosebumps. I can breathe a certain way and bring about those sensations in my body. I wasn't able to find much science to explain what was happening and put it aside until I read about Wim Hof.
“Throughout rehab, my mood was up and down throughout the day, I had trouble focusing, and I was seeking an alternative to pharmaceuticals because I didn't like the way they made me feel. Within a few weeks of practicing the method, there was noticeable improvement. It alleviated my PTSD symptoms and I gained control of my mood. I developed a will to live again; it saved my life, in a way. I like to think I'm better than I was before the accident. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me and gave me the opportunity to learn countless invaluable lessons.”
Mann has worked with college soccer, basketball and football teams in Michigan and Texas, but said the method is applicable to all sports. He reported outcomes including improved endurance, mental resilience, injury risk reduction, faster recovery times and strengthened connections between teammates.
Mann also leads workshops over the summer and during breaks from his career as a school counselor in Chelsea, Mich., explaining the potential benefits for non-athletes as well. These range from better sleep and stress reduction to reduced inflammation, improved mood and focus, and increased energy.
“You might say I sowed the seeds for this passion when I lived in Marquette, with its eight months of winter,” he joked. “I remember Northern's outdoor rec program went on a two-week backpacking trip one spring in the McCormick Wilderness area and we had about a foot of snow dumped on us. During my time in the U.P., we acclimated to the cold-weather environment and learned how to embrace it and use it to our advantage. That plays right into the Wim Hof Method.”
Fatovic is in his third season as NMU head men's soccer coach. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, he played goalkeeper at the small, private Division I school LIU Brooklyn. He worked in high-tech sales for a period after graduation before deciding his heart was in soccer and his future should be in coaching. He held assistant coaching positions at Marshall University in West Virginia and Columbia University in New York City before applying for the Northern job in March 2022.
Fatovic reports that this year's team is “very talents, very young, but hungry and determined,” with many new faces. It just might become a more cohesive group in the wake of Mann's visit.
“Hopefully what he taught us about the Wim Hof Method will have a positive impact on team-building, make a difference for the players, and serve as tools we can continue to use on our journey here,” Fatovic added.
Learn more about Mann's related work through Train the Brain LLC here.
