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Meals and free ERC recipes!
Introduction to Sweat Lodges at the ERC and Temazcal Schedule.
COMING SOON: Activities and ERC Staff facilitators.
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| What To Expect |
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| What To Bring |
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| What is temazcal? |
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| Temazcal (or temascal) is an ancient ritual steam bath. Many Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztecs, and the Maya, would have steam baths to seek vision,
blessings, purification, or to enter a trance state to commune with the gods and their ancestors. More popularly known today as a "sweat lodge" the temazcal is
incredibly cleansing and spiritually uplifting. |
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| Temazcal is an Aztec name for the actual hut that is used. The word temazcal comes from Nahuatl (nah-wah-tl:
The Aztec language) words temaz, to bathe, and calli, house. Although many cultures use steam houses and saunas for relaxation and for the amazing health benefits,
the sweat lodge also has these properties but it is steeped in ceremony and is an incredibly spiritual experience. |
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| The interior of the temazcal represents the womb of Mother Earth, it's darkness is human ignorance, the hot stones are the coming of life, and the steam is
the creative force of the universe being activated. The entrance faces east, the source of life and power, dawn of wisdom, and the fire which is directly east
of the entrance is the undying light of the world. |
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| Most will want to prepare for the temazcal by fasting the day of the sweat, and by abstaining from alcohol, caffeine, drugs, sexual gratification,
or anything else that the participant feels they would like to purify from their body up to three days before and after the sweat to enjoy and amplify the pure,
spiritual benefits that the temazcal provides, and to cleanse their body. This is purely up to the participant. |
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| What to expect:
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Most people like to fast on the day of the temazcal, or have a big, healthy breakfast as their only meal for that day. For some this is impractical if they are going to attend a temazcal after work.
Again, let us remind you that it is up to you to decide for yourself what you would like to give up in preparation for the temazcal.
Typically the ritual of building the lodge and working
to prepare the lodge starts anywhere from 12 noon to 5pm, depending on the time of year and the amount of work that needs to be done. Depending on an individual's schedule this may be impractical
to arrive before 7:00pm. When calling ahead to book your space please let us know what time you will be able to arrive. This does not apply to groups who are going to run or have us run a sweat
lodge for their retreat. |
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There is a ceremony around the fire which has the "grandfathers" or "grandmothers" (the stones) within it. Once the fire has been burning long enough and the grandfathers and grandmothers
are ready to be taken into the lodge then the everyone is invited to enter the lodge and the grandfathers and grandmothers are carefully brought in by pitchfork and put into a small pit in the centre
of the lodge.
Water is put on the hot stones (sometimes with herbs) to create steam. It is decided by the leader how many "gates" there will be. This is the number of times the
fire-keeper brings more stones into the lodge. The number of gates varies depending on weather, number of participants, and the number of stones, and there
can be one, two, three, or four gates. |
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A typical temazcal ceremony can last for 4 or 5 hours, so please schedule the next day accordingly. We recommend taking the next day off to "digest" the medicine of the temazcal. This will
give you the greatest benefit as the ceremony is just the beginning of the medicine. You may experience visions or "connections" within the week following the temazcal ceremony. This is normal
and part of the experience.
If you can not take the next day off to rest do not panic! You will be fine to go to work although you may find that you are more mindful of your actions
and that you will be in a much more relaxed state. This will probably work to your benefit! |
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| What to bring:
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- Change of clothes
- 2 towels, one to sit on inside the lodge and one to dry off with after the sweat
- Comfortable shoes or boots
- An instrument if desired, only small hand-held instruments can fit into the lodge
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