When it comes to smoking, proper inhalation is crucial. Not only does it ensure that you're getting the most out of your experience, but it also helps to prevent discomfort, coughing, and other negative side effects.
Nina lights her cigarette and takes a slow, steady pull. Nina: "First, you just bring the smoke into your mouth. Do not breathe it in yet. It’s like using a straw. Suck gently and hold it in your cheeks for a second".
This is the critical moment. Most beginners try to inhale and swallow simultaneously, which closes the epiglottis. Marta’s method separates the actions: collect first, then inhale.
Clara was twenty-three, earnest, and nervous. She had confessed, in a whisper over overpriced oat milk lattes, that she wanted to learn. Not to become a smoker, but to understand. Her father had died of lung cancer. Her roommate blew perfect smoke rings on the fire escape. There was a dissonance, a morbid curiosity she could no longer ignore. Nina Marta, a retired photographer who had documented half the wars and all the vices of the late 20th century, had simply laughed and said, “Come over Thursday. Bring nothing.” nina marta teaching a beginner how to inhale smoking
Once the smoke is held in the mouth, the instructor demonstrates taking a secondary breath of fresh air. This deep breath pushes the smoke out of the oral cavity, down the trachea, and directly into the lungs.
Nina Marta leaned back in her chair, the dust motes still dancing in the light. “Good,” she said. “Now you’re breathing. The rest is just noise.”
Before introducing any flame or herb, Nina Marta taught Leo a technique she calls When it comes to smoking, proper inhalation is crucial
Nina Marta emphasizes the importance of preparation when it comes to smoking. For beginners, it's essential to:
No gasp. No choke. Just a smooth, silent descent.
Nina Marta has a few additional tips and tricks to share with beginners: Nina: "First, you just bring the smoke into your mouth
"Better," Nina said, turning back toward the window. She picked up a book from the sill, dismissing him with the movement. "The goal isn't to consume the smoke, Leo. The goal is to let it occupy you for a moment, and then let it go. It’s the only thing in life you can keep control of by letting go."
The late afternoon sun slanted through the dusty window of Nina Marta’s living room, illuminating floating motes of dust like tiny, slow-motion fireworks. Across from her, on a worn velvet stool, sat Leo. His hands were clammy, and his heart hammered a nervous jazz rhythm against his ribs.