Questions and answers

Q: What temperature coals are used for firewalking?
A: The temperature of coals varies from 400 to 650 degrees Celsium. As soon as coals are spread for walking, their temperature is higher; later on they “cool” off till 400 degrees. In comparison, water boils at 100 degrees, and paper catches fire at 233 degrees. Metal, from which car engines are made, melts when heated up to 600 degrees. As you can see, even “cool” coals emanate impressive heat! Seeking to beat the records, some firewalking masters have walked on 1100-degree-hot coals.

Q: Do people get burned?
A: The greater part of people walking on glowing coals don’t get burned. They get burned extremely rarely. Yet as a doctor, I would like to introduce some more clarity into the notion of the term itself. Getting burned sounds threatening… However, all those burns in nearly all cases are just a tiny blister. It is believed that the localization of such a blister (if there is any at all) on the sole of a foot can help diagnose the sick part of the body. I personally call these small burns “little kisses of fire”. Fire reminds us of its heat and that it can hurtfully burn you if you walk the fire path without having prepared for this with your thoughts, heart and soul.

Q: What age people can walk on fire?
A: To the common belief of most firewalking instructors, people from 8 till 108 can walk on fire. I personally have seen 5- and 6-year-olds do this. I hear that even younger kids walk on glowing coals.

Q: What is the secret of SUCCESSFUL firewalking?
A: THE SECRET is … to choose a qualified and certified instructor, who would unveil the secret and help you prepare for a particularly important step in your life.