Comments on: Follow-Up on Firewalking

By: Aimee

Aimee — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:20:18 +0000

I stumbled upon your site by accident but this is a very informative and interesting post, Ocean! Thank you!

Given your experience and the social network you seem to have, I was wondering if you could advise me on how to find firewalk instructors in my local area? (Email is the best way to reach me.) I want to learn more about what would be involved in organizing a firewalk as you describe it, a one-day event focused on the history, techniques, and lessons learned from firewalking in addition to the walk.

Thanks is advance for any reply!

By: sunflowerwoman

sunflowerwoman — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:41:33 +0000

I can understand the empowerment of doing something that is totally scary! I’m afraid of heights (paralyzing), and one day I decided I wanted to climb a rock wall. You’re harnessed, so you can’t fall, so it’s safe. I did it once with a little gentle encouragement, and then, it was hard for me to stop. I’m still scared of heights, just not as bad, and I will always remember the feeling of having faced my fear head on.

By: ocean1025

ocean1025 — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:20:38 +0000

There are certain “regulations” that we as certified instructors follow to help minimize the possibility of injury or whatever, such as using specific types of wood, specific type of arrow, etc. etc. This is why I always say – “DON’T TRY DOING THIS AT HOME!” Because I do acknowledge that there are risks involved.

It’s like skydiving or bungee jumping or scuba diving or rock climbing or whatever – you want to learn from someone who has the knowledge, skill, and experience to know what they are doing and how to teach it to others properly.

But there are no special “tricks” involved – I don’t hypnotize you or anything. I explain what to do and how to do it, and then the rest is up to you. There is no special certain way that you have to walk the fire…other than following the simple rules – walk, don’t run (it is easier to stumble and fall if you try to run); walk at a fairly brisk pace and don’t just dawdle; and once you begin, don’t stop in the middle of the firebed! Those coals ARE hot!

I can do one-on-one trainings, but generally it’s easier to do this as a group, even if it’s just 5 – 10 people. Firewalks take quite a bit of planning – you have to find a good location, have to get the proper kind of wood, sometimes you need a fire permit, etc. etc. The other activities are fairly easy to do one-on-one.

By: human

human — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:43:26 +0000

Ocean,
Thank you for sharing some of your experiences as a trainer and a motivational speaker.You are a woman with great experiences and talents. What I am gathering through your web blogs : the mind is a powerful instrument and if you put your mind towards a goal you can accomplish anything you want to do.!! BUT I am convinced that there are certain ways a person must hit the board, or walk on the coals in order to make it less painful and less likely to get cut or burned.
You are an inspiration to all of us!!!.. do you train 1:1?
Human