The combination of conscious breathing and ice bathing is in vogue – and for good reason: If you breathe consciously and go into the cold, you can strengthen your physical and mental resilience, reduce stress and find more inner peace. At the Keidel Therme Freiburg you can experience exactly that – with the unique “Ice Bathing & Holistic Breathwork” offer.
Two experienced coaches, Konstantin Tafill and Nik Linder, will accompany you on this path. Both have found their way to breathwork and cold for very personal reasons – and today pass on their knowledge and experience in workshops.
“Breathing is the language to our body, so to speak. Without proper breathing, we cannot last long in the ice bath, because the body always wants to protect us. We immediately get into Fight and Flight mode and want to get out immediately. And through correct breathing, we speak to our body or nervous system that everything is OK,” explains Konstantin Tafill.
Nik Linder, world record holder in freediving, also emphasizes the effect of breathing:
“As soon as we simply concentrate on breathing, we already have an influence on breathing. This means that if we consciously observe our breath, we automatically become calmer, because then we switch from unconscious to conscious breathing.”
Konstantin Tafill came to breathwork for very practical reasons:
“My bad breath brought me to breathwork. I always had the feeling that I was breathing badly, mainly through my mouth, and that was actually the case.”
Today he is a Buteyko instructor and breathes mainly through his nose: “That’s why I’m calmer in everyday life, have better regeneration […] I’m an arborist by profession and try to work with the T-shirt until November, that would have been unthinkable in the past.”
Nik Linder experienced the power of breathing through diving:
“As soon as I’m under water, everything that annoys and stresses me out is gone. […] And what I don’t think many people even know is that if you want to learn freediving, breathing is a very central point. Many always think they’re learning how not to breathe. First of all, however, you learn a lot about breathing and how to use this breathing in a targeted manner.”
Those who want to ice bathe for the first time often bring respect or even fear with them – completely normal. Tafill’s advice:
“I would always advise beginners to take a cold shower first. It doesn’t always have to be the hard temperature or ice bathing, but slowly get used to the cold. […] At home alone, I would always advise taking cold showers or starting to go to lakes in October and slowly approach the cold.”
At the Keidel Therme, however, you can expect a safe and supervised setting. The course “Ice Bathing & Holistic Breathwork” is clearly structured and builds on proven methods:
“The first part is always the breathing workshop. The course is divided into two parts: Breathing plus cold. But most of it is breathing, especially everyday breathing. I do a lot of Buteyko exercises, CP value measurements, to measure the CO² tolerance on each one. The smaller part is the ice bathing itself, because if I breathe properly, I can hold my own in ice water for a long time and that’s what matters.”
Both experts confirm that the positive effects of breathing and cold work are evident far beyond training:
Nik Linder reports:
“If I can relax to the point and be more relaxed and balanced in everyday life, then of course I use it not only for sports but also for everyday life.”
Tafill also emphasizes the importance of everyday breathing: “We should mainly be in nasal breathing in everyday life, and this also makes us calmer and more relaxed.”
And Linder adds:
“If we then breathe into the abdomen, for example, or take a short pause after inhaling and slow down the exhalation, […] then we immediately lower our pulse within seconds – body and mind relax immediately.”
Conclusion: Ice bathing is more than a trend
The “Ice Bathing & Holistic Breathwork” offer at the Keidel Therme Freiburg combines intensive breathwork with the soothing power of the cold. The focus is on your safety, your individual entry and your personal development. Whether for more resilience, inner peace or simply as a conscious break from everyday life – this course offers you a lasting experience with a long-term effect.
More information and course dates can be found here and in our shop.
