Wim Hof reads from his memoir about living in a squatted orphanage with poets and artists, practicing breathing exercises by the water until he could do splits and push-ups with ease. He meets a woman named Olaja at a gathering, watches her dance, and after she gives him a massage, realizes they're in love.
Chapters
Hi guys. The book. My life's work, actually. Based on deep emotional trauma. And life itself. And it's amazing. How life's lessons get to you. It's all in here. And I beat the deepest of myself coming to the surface right here. In this book. It's all coming. I hope you're going to enjoy it. I'm going to read chapter number 6, Olaja. To move forward, sometimes you have to go back. In this case, that means going back to my years as a squatter. And in a squatter's home, which was a large abandoned orphanage, I was surrounded by free thinkers, poets, artists, and musicians. Dwelling there with free minds, letting go. Letting go of judgment, of preconceived notions, allows you to see where you really are at. I'd come out, get dressed, and do my exercises right there by the waterside, completely in control and within myself. Myself. And in that state, I was able to do somersaults, perform splits, do push-ups, whatever. It was like my body had gained an untold power. And the more I did it, the stronger this power became. It was within my awakening to this power that I met the woman I would marry. I was at the gathering at the squatters' home and saw her dancing. She was so beautiful. Long curly hair, bright eyes, full lips. Just lovely! There she was dancing right in front of me. And I was mesmerized. Just absolutely transfixed. And then, to my astonishment, she came over and sat down next to me. She told me her name. Olaja. So beautiful. Something was happening there. There was an energy between us. But then suddenly she was gone. I had gone for a quick dip in the pond there in the Vondelpark and she had disappeared. I was heartbroken. So I went and sat down on the stage where they do performances in the park. And then From out of nowhere, I felt hands on my back. It was Olaya. She was giving me a massage. And in that moment, I truly let go. No fear, no inhibition. I just grabbed her and hugged her. And I knew right then and there that we were in love.
