Liam Hemsworth Has Been Experimenting With 'Iceman' Wim Hof's Recovery Methods
Liam Hemsworth has been through the ringer over the past two years. A majorly public breakup and a devastating house fire are life-altering events, no matter your celebrity status. When he talked to Men's Health for a wide-ranging interview for the latest cover story, much of the conversation centered around rebuilding and recovery—in every capacity.
That process was just as present in his physical well-being as it was for his mental health. "I’d say exercise and fitness is a big thing for me to just feel balanced and levelheaded," he told Men's Health. Hemsworth builds up his body with workout sessions with celebrity trainer Jason Walsh (the actor says they do "high-intensity stuff, a mix of calisthenics, sled pulls, sled pushes, and lots and lots of free weights")—and the results have been noticeable.
Like other aspects of his life, Hemsworth is approaching his physical well-being with a balance—he breaks himself down with hard work, then focuses on recovery to build himself back up. To do that, he's adopted some non-traditional methods.
"For the past year and a half, I’ve been doing a lot of ice baths and watching these Wim Hof YouTube videos and doing the breathing," Hemsworth said. "When I’m working out really hard, if I’m including an ice bath among all that, my recovery is better."
Hemsworth isn't the only person to use these methods. Hof, a Dutch adventurer, is well known as the "Iceman" for his death-defying stunts in sub-zero temperatures. He's run beyond the ‘death zone’ altitude of Mount Everest in nothing but shorts, marathons in temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius (also in shorts), and set Guinness World Records for longest ice bath, longest time spent underwater under ice, and barefoot half marathons on ice and snow.
A post shared by Wim Hof (@iceman_hof) on Mar 30, 2020 at 10:10am PDT
He credits breathing techniques and meditation for the physical fortitude to withstand the cold—and he's not just pushing empty claims. Researchers from Wayne State University found in 2018 that his practices, known as the Wim Hof Method, can actually be effective and replicated by others.
Case in point: Hemsworth.
"When you come out of an ice bath, your body feels electric and your senses are heightened," Hemsworth continued. "We were doing it when I was back in Australia and I was staying with Chris, and we’d do a cycle from the sauna to the ice bath. We’d just do that a couple times, and we’d come out just so happy: “Ah, how is this life? How is this?'"
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