The PracticeExeter

An experimental gathering for men seeking strength, stillness and discipline — through walking, slow breathing, progressive silence, and sitting alone with your own mind.

The modern world stimulates, separates and sedates us. The Practice goes the other way: settling an over-revved system, and building the capacity to be still. We meet, we walk, we breathe less, we sit still; these are the simplest of all practices.

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What happens

The Practice will consider any practice that improves respiratory efficiency and the tolerance of silence, with the obvious benefits of gathering. Right now that means three things.

WalkingMondays · 7:00am · Ide

For now the walk runs once a week. We meet at the top car park in Ide at 7:00am on Mondays and walk with stepped breathing to the top of Ide hill (see the map). The goal is to improve carbon dioxide tolerance, cardiovascular efficiency, and general health. The technique is explained on the day, and you take it all at your own pace.

Light BreathingTuesdays & Thursdays · 7:00am · The Hall, Exeter

The world is awash with over-breathing sold as breathwork. Light breathing is harder, and can be more confronting — but it is absurdly beneficial when practised regularly and carried into ordinary life. The objective is twofold: to improve functional breathing habits, and to build tolerance of silence. In an overly stimulated world, light breathing is the antidote. The sessions are progressive and informative; they aim to prepare and inspire you to think more about how you breathe, to step away from digital stimulus, and to be stiller.

The Practice takes a novel approach, using light as the cue. Over the space of forty minutes we progressively extend and slow the breath, improving oxygenation to the tissues and the brain, and landing the body and the mind.

Please be aware: The Practice is not an escape. Many will find themselves sitting with boredom, restlessness and discomfort. The tolerance to stay with those thoughts and feelings is the progress.

Indian ClubsPerhaps, in time

One of the oldest of mind-and-body regimens, with roots in ancient Persia and South Asia going back centuries. If walking and light breathing prove popular, we may bring Indian clubs in further down the line.

There is one rule in the room: witness, don't fix. No advice, no cross-talk, no performance. A man can take control, pause, or leave at any point — that is always his to choose. Everything done here is yours to take home, as and when you want it.

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When we meet

For the morning sessions, arrive any time from 6:45 for tea; we start at 7:00. Free for now. Bring nothing, and just turn up.