Welcome

I am Douwe van den Berg, founder of the Intentional Cold Exposure Academy, breathworker, movement coach, and enthusiastic explorer of body and mind.

For a long time, I have been fascinated by the interaction between body and mind. This fascination started an amazing journey of discovery. Along the way, I learned many valuable lessons, exercises, and principles. I love sharing them with you through my blog, classes, and workshops!

I am based in Potsdam, Germany, and frequently teach workshops and retreats in various countries across Europe.

About my journey so far

The beginning of a journey is always hard to define. Did it start with the mythology and knight stories I loved as a kid? Or the martial arts I practiced in high school? Or perhaps a beautiful experience in a Christian monastery? All of these moments sparked my interest in exploring my body and mind. I like to understand the things that fascinate me, and I go far to learn more.

After high school, I quite literally went far—I traveled to China to learn kung fu. I spent nine months there, traveling and training in kung fu schools. It was an inspiring yet challenging time. In China, I also discovered my love for cold water (mainly because there was no warm water).

Back in the Netherlands, I went to university to explore body and mind from a more academic perspective, studying a combination of philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and religious studies.

In 2012, I met Wim Hof for the first time. The teachings of The Iceman deepened my understanding of the power of breath and mind and strengthened my love for the cold. I joined Wim on many adventures, and in 2015, I became one of the first instructors of the Wim Hof Method (WHM). From 2017-2023, I have also been teaching at the WHM Academy, training around 500 new WHM instructors.

Cold exposure has become a major trend since I first started practicing it. Driven by a desire to create good teachers and share our insights in everything related to cold exposure, my partner Josephine Worseck and me founded the Intentional Cold Exposure Academy in 2024.

Beyond cold exposure, I have explored many other methods of self-discovery, ranging from breathwork and movement to the stillness of Vipassana meditation; from new-age festivals to physiology.

Throughout my explorations, I try to navigate the fascinating space where science, religion, common sense, and extraordinary experiences meet. I try to remain both skeptical and open at the same time.

At its core, my journey is about connection:

The connection between body and mind.
Connection with myself and others.
Connection to nature and society.
The connection between theory, practice, and experience.

The path never truly ends. I continue learning, evolving, and growing. Looking back, it's already been a beautiful journey, filled with highs and lows, failures and successes, each bringing its own lessons.

My Teachings

Whatever I find valuable, I love to share. While the specific techniques and activities may change, there are some core principles that I value deeply in my teaching:

It is explorative and playful.
It emphasizes developing better body awareness and intuition.
It involves mental and physical challenges to expand the comfort zone.
Breath is fundamental.
Connection is the essence.

I teach both independently and alongside other teachers. Most often, I collaborate with Josephine Worseck—my partner in crime, love, and business. You can learn more about her on her website: josephineworseck.com.

Here a little videos where you can get a taste of my teachings: