How A Temazcal Can Heal The Soul
My experience of inspiration and purification in a Mexican “sweat lodge”
The end of the year is a great time to perform a personal inventory on yourself and your life. It’s beneficial to reflect on your past 12 months, and to look ahead to what you want out of the next year. At the same time, I encourage practicing mindfulness to embrace being in the present moment. There are many ways to do this; the trick is finding the best option or options for you.
I happened to be on a family trip in Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico, over Thanksgiving, where luckily, there was an option I have experienced in the past at MAREA Beachfront VIllas. And maybe because I have done it many times before, I was overlooking and not expecting the power it can hold with the right intention.
I took part in the local tradition of a sweat lodge, called a Temazcal. This roughly translates to “bath house” or “house of heat.” Here’s how this ancient purification ritual helped me take stock of my life and ground me to live in the now. Feel free to apply the concepts to your own year-end self-review, whether you do it in a sweat lodge or not.
What is a Temazcal?
The spiritual ceremony of a Temazcal, which originated from indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica, has been used for a variety of purposes: to purify soldiers after battle, to support women giving birth, to heal the sick and for the general improvement of health. Today, it is common for supporting spiritual growth and emotional release, while certain types can even promote benefits for the musculoskeletal system, skin, and respiratory system.
The structure of a Temazcal can vary depending on the region, but are usually made of volcanic rock or a combination of mud, wood and cloth. Heated rocks are brought in to increase the temperature and produce steam. Once all have entered, the structure is closed, and it’s so dark that you can barely see your hand in front of your face. This allows your other senses to heighten as you give in to the practice.
Temazcal concepts and my experience
Before the cleansing and rebirth take place, it is essential to note that you must honor your ancestors and the four directions, and be cleansed or purified with Copal incense before entering the “womb” of Mother Earth. A Shaman guides the experience, and we all ask for permission to enter the Temazcal. There are typical four pillars or “doors” that guide the practice of the Temazcal: earth, air, fire, and water.
Fire: What do you want to “burn” or leave behind in your life? For me, in this Temazcal, I chose worrying. Not fear, which always exists, but worrying. How much energy do I waste worrying and obsessing over things instead of just intentionally doing something about it, or letting it go. Allow the fire and heat and discomfort to help it leave you.
Wind: What do you want to blow into your life in the next year? How can we respect what the wind brings, and accept what comes to us? For me, what came up for my 2026 was to allow new relationships and opportunities to blow into my life. I am not sure what that looks like, but I am excited to see how it unfolds.
Earth: Always beneath our feet, the earth is there to support us. Everything we stand on, everywhere, is made from the earth. Remember to draw on this support and feel grounded. Find a connection between your spirit and nature. For me, it is to remember that I am not alone and that I am always connected, if I just choose to remember and “plug in”.
Water: We are all made of water. Can you feel yourself floating and embraced as if you are in water? Can you feel the comfort of the “womb”? Can you learn to be more relaxed in life? Water transforms and moves all of the time, in the direction of least resistance and guided by gravity. Can we be in the flow of life?
By remembering how these natural elements manifest in the world, we can utilize their themes to guide us on our journey through life.
Find your own Temazcal
Maybe you think the idea of a sweat lodge is cool, or maybe you think it’s kind of crazy. Either way, I encourage you to find your version of a Temazcal this season. No matter what yours looks like, you’ll certainly benefit from it and feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, and likely even spiritually if you are open to it. What other practices do you use to tap into personal growth and healing?
If you are interested, we will be doing a Temazcal at our weeklong Leadership Retreat in Mexico this January 17-24, 2026. Contact me for more information. There is no better way to start off your year and to ensure that it will be nourishing and satisfying. Join me and other leaders for a powerful week!
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