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CNN Live Today

New Self-motivation Exercise Unveiled: Fire Walking

Aired August 06, 2002 - 13:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: If you're having trouble achieving some of your life's goals, here is one idea. Try walking barefoot over hot coals. Proponents of fire walking say it will change your life. No doubt.
CNN's Neil Curry takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEIL CURRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These people are not out camping, nor are they trying to get warm. In fact, quite the opposite. They are here as part of a method of self motivation in the UK. Walking on hot coals, and learning to do the exercise in four hours.

Master fire walker and organizer of this course, Simon Treselyan, believes this is the way forward.

SIMON TRESELYAN, STARFIRE: When you walk onto the fire, for the one time in that life, you become alive. It lights you up and you see the power and the passion in people's eyes when they have been able to cross what they perceive as impossible.

Now, if they can do that, which they perceived was impossible, what else are they capable of doing?

CURRY: Mind over matter they may you, but with this matter heated to a cool 800 degrees Celsius, getting cold feet is always a possibility.

The exercise goes like this. Once the fire is lit and burning, the group is led away for its first task, chopping an inch thick piece of pine. On it is written all that they wish to leave behind, and discard in their present lives. Surprisingly, just about everyone can do it, and with this newfound sense of confidence, it is on the main event. Four hours on, and the fire is ready for the feet. Nerves are high, but all 27 people are able to make it through.

CARA, FIRST-TIME FIRE WALKER: Absolutely. I actually didn't think I would do it, but when all of the energy was bubbling, and everyone was clapping, and we were shouting at each other, it really makes you high.

CURRY: With not one injury, just laughs, smiles, even tears. This new course is proving that there definitely is no smoke without fire. Neil Curry, CNN, London.

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