What happens to your body and mind when you step on the nails?
Before You Begin: 3 Important Tips
1. Relax on the board
It might sound strange, but relaxation is key. As you exhale, soften your shoulders and imagine your breath flowing downward. Stop resisting the sensations — no need to fight, tense up, or give up. Just breathe and let go.
2. Express your emotions
Cry, scream, laugh — do whatever your body asks. Let it all out. Releasing emotions helps the body relax faster.
3. Focus inward
Notice your thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions. What’s bothering you? What prevents you from relaxing? Anger, pain, fear, resentment?
The board becomes a mirror — what rises up in your body can show what you carry inside.
The Stages
Stage 1: The First 50 Seconds
This is the most intense moment.
The sensations are sharp, powerful, and confusing — especially if you’re new. Your body is reacting to something unfamiliar, and your mind can’t make sense of the pain yet.
The distance between nails matters (6 mm feels different than 15 mm), and the sharper the nails, the more intense this stage is.
Just breathe. It will pass.
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Stage 2: 5 to 7 Minutes of Mental Challenge
Once you’ve passed the initial shock, the real test begins — your mind starts to speak.
“You put your foot wrong.”
“This is stupid.”
“You need water… the bathroom… to check your phone.”
Your brain will offer a thousand reasons to step off the board.
You now have two choices:
• Stay. Remind yourself: you’re safe, you came here for a reason, and you can do whatever you want — after the practice.
“Your mind will try to protect you. But this time, you lead.”
I’ll be right next to you, supporting you every step of the way.
• Leave the board. Of course, you can — it’s always your choice.
But often, if you stop here, the mental chatter doesn’t go away. It may follow you home:
“Why did I give up? I could’ve stayed longer.”
These 5–7 minutes are a dance with your inner resistance — a powerful opportunity to meet yourself honestly.
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Stage 3: Inner Silence
If you stay long enough, something shifts.
Your breath deepens. Thoughts quiet down. You surrender.
And then… calm arrives — along with a deep sense of presence and relief.
This is why we stand on the board: to touch that quiet place within, where nothing is missing and nothing needs to change.
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So… How Long Should You Stay?
Stay until you feel inner stillness.
Not forced, not rushed — just a natural sense of “I’m done.” That might be 3 minutes, 10, or even 20. Once your body and mind are truly relaxed, you’ll know it’s time.
And once you’ve felt that state… You’ll want to come back.