Experiencing a Temazcal Ceremony (Sweat Lodge) Like a Local

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Experiencing a temazcal ceremony (sweat lodge) was always at the top of my bucket list before leaving Mexico.

Luckily, fate would have it that our last Friday in Mexico happened to be the last temazcal of the season, hosted by friends of ours. 

This guide includes the meaning and symbolism of temazcal, our honest experience, beginner’s tips, and more.

For those who wish to experience a temazcal, keep reading to learn the five best things to know before doing your first sweat lodge ceremony in Mexico.

A HUGE thank you to Tania, who graciously re-explained everything about temazcal so that I could write this post! xx

Here is everything we learned from our first experience in a Mexican temazcal ceremony with locals.

Guide: Temazcal Ceremony Experience in Mexico

What Is a Temazcal Ceremony in Mexico?

Temazcal is, in short, a sweat lodge or steam bath ceremony. But, it’s much more than that!

A temazcal ceremony combines elements of ancient Native American and Mesoamerican rituals to bring cleansing to your mind, body, and soul.

Many writers and those who have experienced it describe temazcal as a rebirthing experience.

First off, I learned that each temazcal varies in tradition. The Lakota, Navajo, and Mexica (Meshika) have different temazcal ceremony methods.

Therefore, different tribes will conduct temazcal ceremonies in various ways across different regions in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America.

So, with that in mind, our experience, as I detail below, might not be your experience (past, present, or future)!

✨ For me, the temazcal ceremony was an opportunity to let go, purify my mind and intentions, and manifest all that I wish for others and myself. But to understand what all of this meant, I had to dig deeper.

It’s good to know that in Mexico, temazcals vary depending on the traditions carried over from each tribe. Tania and Sol adopted different styles of temazcal in their own ceremonies, but they mostly incorporated the Lakota tradition.

What’s more, not everyone can conduct a temazcal ceremony. Sol, Tania’s partner, first went through four vision quests and four sun dances to be able to host private temazcals.

I asked Tania, our host, to explain to me the processes of the temazcal so that I could better understand the sweat lodge ceremony and its importance.

Here is what she described to me.

Meaning & Symbolism of a Temazcal Ceremony

Before I jump into our raw and honest temazcal experience, here are some interesting and important things to know about the various elements of a sweat lodge or temazcal ceremony.

The Sweat Lodge

The Sweat Lodge is a dome-like structure with room for sitting around a hole filled with volcanic rock. During the ceremony, water is poured over the rocks to create steam.

There are four main “doors” or short sessions, and after each round, the doors of the temazcal are opened to release the energy and allow air to circulate. Our sweat lodge was made from strategically designed wooden sticks that created an 8-point star in the ceiling.

The star shape is meant to connect everything we say or do to the stars and the universe, as at that moment, we are inside the earth and unified with the elements.

North, South, East, and West

The meanings of the four directions change depending on each tribe’s individual traditions.

• In our ceremony, the East represents consciousness, awakening, light, and knowledge.
• South represents the will, intentions, manifestation, and strength to make things happen.
• The West is where the sun sets and thus represents darkness and the dark side of everything.
• Finally, the North represents our elders, ancestors, traditions, and the air to symbolize stories.

Everything is aligned east and west. So, as the light comes in from the east, it passes in the direction of the west.

As such, sitting in these spots inside the temazcal results in a powerful channel of energy. All cleansing and letting go will pass from east to west.

Mitakuye Oyasin

“Mitakuye Oyasin” is what participants say before entering the temazcal.

It’s Lakota for “for all my relationships” (todas mis relaciones in Spanish) because everything we do, say, or pray in the sweat lodge affects not only us but also all of our relationships on earth. That goes for our relationships with our families, animals, and all beings.

The Aguila / Fire Chief

Fire and the águila de fuego (fire eagle) are crucial to temazcal ceremonies. The fire is how the volcanic rocks are heated.

There is a fire chief (águila) to help transfer the rocks to the ground inside the temazcal.

The more rocks you add, the hotter the temazcal! So it’s common that after each door is opened, the fire chief will bring in more rocks.

By the end, everyone is soaked in their own sweat and even mucus secretions. Noses often drip heavily and it is a common bodily reaction.

The volcanic rocks are heated by fire before slowly adding them into the temazcal

Medicinal Herbs

Native Americans believe that plants have spirits, so herbs and plants are thrown into the fire and sprinkled over the volcanic rocks to release fragrant aromas. The ritual is meant to cleanse the mind and body.

As such, the smoke from sage, sweetgrass, or copal (commonly used in Mexico) is used to communicate with the spirit world and for medicinal purposes.

In Mexico, cedar and sage, along with rosemary, chamomile, and lavender, are also popular medicinal herbs for ceremonies like temazcal.

The Altar

Altars are critical in temazcal ceremonies because they connect us with the fire and the temazcal.

Traditionally, they are located between the fire and the sweat lodge so that every element can connect you with the fire. Sometimes, a pipe is used. You are not meant to cross this space as it can interfere with the prayers and intentions that are flowing east. 

Tania also explained to me that altars are commonly built with the soil from the dug-out hole inside the temazcal, which gives the altar even more connection and meaning as the soil represents the earth and all life that it sustains.

Instruments and Chants

Not every temazcal will incorporate music and chanting into its ceremony.

However, that was the case for our sweat lodge experience. Tania and Sol use instruments such as an air drum, or water drum from the Navajo tradition, along with a rattle. In addition to instrumental music, chanting or singing in temazcal ceremonies is common.

Some traditions, such as the Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada, have specific sweat lodge songs, while others use a mixture of songs.

The songs aren’t just for entertainment, though. Most of these songs tell stories!

Singing and chanting are how the meaning is shared with people and with spirits.

Tania and Sol sing almost any kind of chant, like Spanish songs that are kept in the Mexican contemporary tradition.

There are many other symbols and meanings behind a temazcal sweat lodge ceremony — loads more than I can describe here — but I hope you can already better understand what a temazcal ceremony is.

But what is it really like inside?

Mats for participants to sit on around the hole where the rocks will be placed

What Is It Like to Do a Temazcal Ceremony

Our temazcal ceremony took place in the backyard of our host’s home, in a small neighboring community from where we lived in San Pancho.

Tania and Sol were extremely courteous and welcoming. I had met Tania through aerial silk classes and had heard about her last temazcal of the season via a mutual friend.

We arrived early, at 4 p.m., in time to see the preparation of the ceremonial fire, which heats the volcanic rocks used inside the temazcal structure.

We have seen Mayan temazcal structures in Yucatan and Quintana Roo, which are made from stone and hard mud. This temazcal was fashioned together using strategically-designed sticks.

In the middle was a small dug-out hole where the volcanic rocks would be placed. As Sol and Tania would later describe, the structure of this temazcal was well thought out.The roof was in the shape of an 8-point star. The star shape in the ceiling represents and connects us to the stars and the universe.

Tania and Sol’s temazcal was made with wooden sticks and covered with thick blankets. 

Our Different Temazcal Experiences

If you asked my partner, Paul, our temazcal experiences were completely different!

While my experience was positive, Paul’s was rather frustrating. Even if people tell you about their own experiences, it’s hard to know what to expect.

A few days before the ceremony, I asked Tania for beginner tips. Out of all of them, she highlighted to drink lots and lots and LOTS of water the day before and the day of the ceremony. 

While I took this seriously and was drinking water almost constantly, Paul drank about the same as usual. What’s more, he chose to have two cups of coffee on the day of the ceremony.

For most first-timers, a temazcal is a mental test, and for some, it can be too challenging. This is especially true if you do not like cramped, dark spaces — which Paul does not. 

This particular ceremony was jam-packed with people. There were around 30 people to fit inside this tent. I’m still not sure how that managed to work.

Paul was able to experience the first door or session of the temazcal ceremony. The heat was extremely overpowering.

Even Tania later told us it was too hot for beginners. Paul needed to exit the ceremony after the first door was opened, and he couldn’t make himself come back inside after that.

As for me, I stayed inside the temazcal because, despite the sense of claustrophobia, I knew I could make it through if I just focused on my breathing.

The second round was tougher than the first, and I started to believe I wasn’t going to make it. But once I got out to breathe at the second door, I felt a sense of energy that grounded and calmed me.

I was able to stay inside for sessions three and four without exiting.

Once inside, the aguila closes the door and the ceremony starts (Paul’s photo after exiting)

Entering the Temazcal

We lined up one by one to kneel at the entrance of the temazcal, acknowledge the earth, and say, “Mitakuya oyasin y por todas mis relaciones.”

They say to stay near the door if you are a beginner, but the way we had lined up didn’t give us that option. Instead, we shuffled to the very back of the temazcal, which some people call the “Buffalo” position. Tania said she doesn’t know why the Buffalo is considered the strongest, but that it is likely because the energy is passing through that direction (west).

They closed the door to the temazcal, and our hearts raced. Paul and I squeezed each other’s hands so hard.

The ceremony began with Sol speaking in Spanish, which we could understand more or less. But not fully understanding the story and meaning behind what he was saying made us not as “in tune” as we could have been, I think.

Then, we heard the first ladle of water being splashed onto the heated volcanic rocks, which had been burning for a couple of hours. The hot vapor and steam hit us like a brick wall. It was pretty overwhelming to take that first breath with all the aromas of the steam!

I tried my best to stay comfortable, with my knees up to my chest. I could feel the sweat forming. Soon, I was wiping the sweat to keep it from entering my eyes and mouth.

After that, there wasn’t a dry bit of dress left to soak up the extra. Every ounce of sweat now just seeped into the earth.

“Drenched” doesn’t even do it justice

Surpassing 100°F

The temazcal got hotter and hotter. We easily exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Paul said we were inside the temazcal for at least 45 minutes to an hour. And that’s after he left the first session.

It seemed to go by in just 15 minutes or so for me. Due to the intensity of the temazcal, people can lose track of time. And I think that’s definitely what happened to me!

After each session or door, the group would focus our intentions and prayers in another direction (N, S, E, W). I don’t remember much from the chants and stories, but I remember the fourth door of our last session quite well. It was about focusing on our relationships, our families, and everything we prayed and manifested for them.

I remember focusing my attention on each one of my family members, their problems, health, and aspirations. And I also thought about my grandpa, who passed away earlier this year.It was a powerful way to end the ceremony for me.

After the ceremony

At the end of the ceremony, we opened up the temazcal. Everyone took a 15-30 minute resting period. Some of us stayed inside the temazcal, and we went around the circle to say a few words.

I shared how grateful I was for the opportunity and for everyone’s support. The period after the temazcal is also important. Lots of people lie down with their backs on the ground, further connecting themselves to the earth and feeling thankful.

We all came out of there drenched with purply red faces. We all hugged each other and shared fruit and homemade pozole (a Mexican soup) together. There was a strong sense of community and mutual understanding that we won’t forget.

For us, experiencing a temazcal with locals and people we knew was very humbling and special!

If you ever get the chance to participate in one of the Mexican sweat lodge ceremonies, you should do so with an open mind and heart.

Sharing homemade pozole and fruit after the ceremony

The Benefits of Temazcal

There are so many benefits of temazcal, but the most prominent is, of course, the purification of the mind and body. Some might even say it’s a spiritual cleansing as well!

The high-intensity heat (+ duration) allows your body to purge itself of toxins. Since you sweat so much in temazcal, it makes sense that you’re ridding your body of some blockages. It’s not uncommon for your mucosal glands (like your nose) to drain.

Temazcal also helps to cleanse your mind. 

Whether you’re healing from past trauma, want to rid yourself of negative energy, or simply want to redirect your intentions, temazcal is good for that.

Temazcal benefits vary from person to person, however. The cleansing and purification from the ritual are subjective depending on your unique temazcal experience.

What to Wear for a Temazcal Ceremony in Mexico

What to wear to a temazcal ceremony is a common question. So, I asked each of my friends who had previously attended temazcal ceremonies for their thoughts on the matter.

Almost unanimously, they said to wear a long skirt or light dress and a bathing suit. For men, it was swim trunks or shorts and a light shirt.

Apparently, it’s also common for women to remove their underwear underneath their skirts in order to have a better connection with the earth inside the temazcal.

If you’re new to temazcal, it is completely fine to wear a bathing suit underneath, which is what I did under my cotton dress.

In general, you want to avoid wearing anything synthetic. You will sweat ungodly amounts! Trust me, you won’t believe it until you experience it.

Light linen skirts, organic cotton dresses, and loose skirts are the best clothing for a temazcal ceremony.

Tips for Your First Temazcal Ceremony Experience

Here are some beginner’s tips I put together in case you add temazcal to your Mexico bucket list!

Drink tons of water

1. Drink water constantly the day before, the day of, and the day after the ceremony. If you read about Paul’s experience, I think he felt unwell not only because it was crowded, but I don’t think he drank enough water. He also had two cups of coffee that day, which makes your heart race anyway. As for me, I drank water almost every 30 minutes for two days straight, which made me feel more comfortable going into the ceremony. Especially because I am known to pass out when I get overheated.

Bring fruit

2. Bring fruit or water to share after the temazcal ceremony. It’s common (and polite) to bring fresh fruit to a ceremony so that you can share it with everyone at the end. Eating fresh fruits and sometimes drinking agua fresca is meant to replenish your body after the temazcal purification.

Take extra clothes

3. Take an extra change of clothes and wear only light, breathable natural fabrics. The lighter and more breathable your clothes, the better. Natural and organic fabrics are the best thing to wear in a sweat lodge so your body can release its toxins properly. Wear only loose clothing, as you’ll likely be sitting cross-legged inside. After the ceremony, you can rinse off and change into dry clothes.

Sit near the entrance

4. If you are worried about the heat or space, ask to sit near the entrance door inside the temazcal. If it’s your first time and you don’t like small spaces, you can ask to be next to the door so you get a nice breeze after each session. Being here also places you in a good position to exit quickly in case you get sick.

Get there early

5. Get there early to help build the fire, ask questions, and relax before the ceremony begins. I think arriving early and getting to understand temazcal helped me better appreciate the experience. It gave me time to speak with the hosts and learn about the sweat lodge practices before entering the temazcal.

Is a Temazcal a Rebirthing Experience?

A temazcal is typically described as a rebirthing experience because the lodge often represents the womb of a mother or the womb of the earth. It’s as if you were going back into the womb. 

When you come back out, you might experience a feeling of rebirth. It can be extremely powerful, but it depends on your intentions and experience.

Not everyone will come out feeling like their lives have changed. For me, it definitely aided me in realigning myself and my intentions while also letting go of negative mental energy.

You can do temazcal once a week, and many people do. For others, it’s a one-time experience. It all depends on you!

So, what do you think? Would you try a Mexican sweat lodge? Drop your thoughts and comments below!

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