Mexico's Temazcal's - A Spiritual Experience Like No Other

There's Temazcals.. and there's 'TEMAZCALES'! Mexico's spiritual scene has something for every niche and experiencing a Temazcale is a great way to take a dip.

For those of you unfamiliar with a Temazcal, the word quite literally means "house of heat." The Temazcal could be called a spiritual sauna and it's ritual is carried out over a number of hours taking place in a type of steam bath in a special dome shaped construction that holds cultural, spiritual and therapeutic significance.

Terrified? Fear not! Since ancient times Temazcals have been the oldest physical, mental and spiritual bath in Latin America. This experience is about living an ancestral steam bath and returning to the womb of the earth to embrace the 4 elements.

As I arrived at my Temazcal, I was greeted by a friendly and diverse group of Tulum community members and a few tourists. The organisers introduced me to the facilities and explained the evening's schedule. As I waited, more and more people arrived, and I wondered how we would all fit into the small dome.

When it was time, I walked into the dome-shaped structure and took my place, immediately beginning to sweat. Once the door closed, it was pitch black inside, and we were sitting in a circle, shoulder to shoulder. The crowd was so large that they had set up a second dome for a smaller group.

So, how does sitting in the darkness with a bunch of stranger in steaming heat sound to you? The Temazcal is not just about curing the body but it's equally a challenge of the mind. Our ceremony commenced with the leader known as a Temazcalero welcoming us in both Spanish and English. The ceremony was carried out in four parts and with each round more and more hot stones were introduced into the sweat lodge with the door opening only at these tines for brief moments which was a huge relief to the sweltering bodies inside!

The initial round was pleasant I didn't feel overwhelmed by the heat but by round four I certainly felt it. In between rounds you don't move from your seat, if you must there is a clockwise formation you must exit and leave the circle from. To endure the whole four rounds it's both taxing on the body but also difficult to remain calm with all the elements and the additional emotions of the participants around you. In our ceremony one person left after round one so we actually started the whole ceremony again and while this doesn't always happen you have to just go with the flow and expect the unexpected and adapt.

In the darkness all I could see was a glimmer of the hot stones which are referred to as abuelitas meaning "little grandmothers." Wise spiritual teachers are there to guide you. The atmosphere felt intense as it was very full I could hear people breathing deeply as the intensity of the heat increased. I felt a mixture of calmness and connection to a power outside of me and the healing songs through the ceremony added to the intensity of the ritual. When the music speed up or the sounds increased I felt the intensity rise.

At the conclusion of the fourth round some people were desperate to exit while others continued to relax in the darkness before leaving. Each of us was then washed down by a cold bucket of water over our heads which was refreshing, cooling and freezing all at the same time! The hot to cold therapy certainly makes you feel alive! This spiritual experience was challenging but at the conclusion I felt detoxed and connected and strong in my spirit. I have since completed numerous more Temazcals and they are now a great part of my spiritual mental and physical practice.

My Temazcal Recommendations:

- Wear bathing suit and bring two towels and easy clothes to throw on after

- Eat light food before the experience

- Bring at least 1.5 liters of water

- People with phobias, issues with confinement, panic attacks, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, should discuss this with the guide and the team before commencing the ceremony.