Sweating the Small Stuff

On my cross-country flight the other day, I had a chance to read United Airlines' Hemisphere magazine. In it was an article, "Tulum, Take Me Away" by Nick Gallo about the Riviera Maya. I was drawn to it since a friend was telling me about her recent trip there at the beginning of August. In the article, Gallo describes his various holistic spa experiences at the EcoTulum Resorts & Spa, including his time spent in a Temescal, a Mayan sweat lodge. It reminded me of my first sweat lodge experience, also in a Temescal (aka Temazcal), in Cancun two years ago.

The Temazcal ceremony was guided by a female Shaman who gathered a group of 8 of us into the dome-shaped lodge, made of what looked like adobe. She sealed us inside, seated around a pit filled with large rocks she had heated over a fire for a few hours. We sat around the fire, as she told us about the tradition of the Temazcal, and placed dried sage and cedar chips on the rock, followed by water, to create steam. The room heated up to a very high temperature, and after a while most of us had to lie on the blanket covered sand floor. She asked us to gaze into the rocks and observe the images that we saw in their red and orange glow. Each of us took turns talking about what we saw. Some people saw nothing, others saw things that reminded them of loved ones, or past hurts, or future hopes.

The heat became pretty extreme inside the Temazcal, and the air became thick with the steam. It was not terribly comfortable, but I could feel that it was cleansing my body. One person had to leave because he couldn't take the heat. I attribute much of my positive experience to the fact that I had been practicing Bikram Yoga for a while, which forever increased my tolerance to heat.

Being inside the sealed, rounded structure, guided by the soothing voice of our Shaman guide, with nothing to do for two hours but lie there in the extreme heat looking at the rocks, I found myself forgetting about any outside stressors. It was an extremely meditative experience. And when she opened the small window to let in the fresh air, I felt rejuvenated.

I have not had an opportunity to experience the Temazcal since then, but reading Gallo's article reminded me that it is something that I would love to do again in the near future.

For a full description of the history, current practice and benefits of Temazcal, see the excellent write-up by Dr. Horacio Rojas Alba, Instituto Mexicano de Medicinas Tradicionales Tlahuilli A.C. The Traditional Mexican Sweat Bath.

This is a photo of the actual Temazcal that I had the good fortune to sweat in two years ago.

Comments

[mary k]

Thank you for your excellent observations. I definitely agree that it is therapeutic and beneficial on all levels. Believe me, if I had a place nearby where I could experience Tamazcal on a regular basis, it would definitely be a regular part of my mind-body-spirit routine! For those who do have access, it is highly beneficial to participate on a regular basis.

[A Key]

It is certainly more sophisticated than what we might consider just a sauna because it varies both heat and humidity, incorporates the herbs, and a I think, most importantly, emphasizes the role of the mind (imagination) and imagery. One just has to be careful with those who have high blood pressure. I think repeated use (every few weeks) is a more valuable long-term treatment plan, rather than just a tourist's casual one-time pleasure.

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[mary k]

Mark, thank you very much for the information. Beautiful website!

[mark]

this article is about this temazcal , located in the jungle, only 15 minutes from the hotel zone.you can get more info at www.temazcalcancun.com.mx

[mary k]

Thank you, Sergey. And thank you for letting me know about the problem link -- it has been fixed!

[Sergey]

The site very much has liked me, but last url in this post does not work.