ABOUT
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Welcome to my website!
I am Douwe van den Berg, founder of The Cool Way.
I am a Wim Hof Method instructor, 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.
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A bit 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.
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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).
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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.
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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, Josephine Worseck and I founded the Intentional Cold Exposure Academy in 2024.
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Beyond WHM and 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—
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The connection between body and mind.
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Connection with myself and others.
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Connection to nature and society.
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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:
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It is explorative and playful.
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It emphasizes developing better body awareness and intuition.
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It involves mental and physical challenges to expand the comfort zone.
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Breath is fundamental.
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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 are some videos where you can get a taste of my teachings:
My teachings
Whatever I find valuable, I like to share.​ The specific techniques and activities will change, but there are some core concepts that I deeply value in my teaching:
- It is explorative and playful.
- There is an emphasis on developing better (body) awareness and (body) intuition.
- It involves mental and physical challenges to extend the comfort zone
- Breath is fundamental
- Connection the essence
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I teach both both by myself as together with other teachers. Mostly I teach together with Josephine Worseck, my partner in crime, love and business. More about her on her own website: https://www.josephineworseck.com/
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In this videos, you can get a little taster of my teachings:
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Some of my explorations and influences
Breathwork: Apart from the Wim Hof method, I am a breath coach in ‘Methode Beter Ademen’ developed by Marleen van den Hout. I have practiced many other breathing methods.
Movement: I am a trainer in The Kinesica Method and a member of the Ferus Animi // Terra Nova Collective. I have practiced many different movement arts.
Meditation: I am very much influenced by vipassana meditation. It is one of the practical and theoretical bases of my practice.
Academical: In university I studied a combination of philosophy, linguistics, anthropology and religious studies.
Martial arts: I have trained in Systema and different Chinese and Thai martial arts. I have trained intensively in both China and Thailand.
Religion/spiritual: While I am very reluctant to call myself 'spiritual', I have learned from many spiritual traditions and religions on this spiritual journey. I found lots of beauty and beautiful experiences in Christianity (especially Taize in France), Islam, New age spirituality and more.
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Official qualifications:
- Wim Hof method instructor level 3: As WHM instructor I teach at the WHM academy (teaching the teachers)
https://www.wimhofmethod.com/instructors/douwe-van-den-berg
- Wildnis Pedagogue: a beautiful mix of hardcore survival and cuddling trees. I followed the one year education of lupus wildnisschule and vierwinde wildnisschule
- Breathcoach Methode beter Ademen:
https://www.marleenvandenhout.nl/beter-ademen-coaches/
- Trainer in The Kinesica Method:
- Bachelor of Liberal arts & science University College Roosevelt
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