The Power of the Past: The Healing Benefits of the Temazcal

Nestled between the crystalline turquoise sea and lush jungles of Riviera Maya, Fairmont Mayakoba has unveiled a newly built temazcal, an ancient healing experience designed to cleanse and purify.

Our deep respect for cultures and traditions comes to life with the introduction of this experience, which exemplifies the way our spa program combines ancestral healing techniques with modern wellness practices. In fact, many of our team members’ families have preserved their Mayan roots – a constant source of learning and pride for our colleagues and guests alike, and we are honored to share their teachings and traditions.

Throughout prehispanic Mexico and Central America, the temazcal has had a ritual and cosmological function. The rounded shape of the temazcalli structure – similar to that of an igloo – symbolizes the womb of Mother Earth and is considered a sacred space and connection point with the cosmos. Throughout Mexico, the ritual is commonly sought for rites of passage, lunar cycles, New Year celebrations, and childbirth ceremonies.

The transformative experience of the temazcal, which induces significant sweating akin to that of an intense steam bath, invites the release of physical, emotional and spiritual impurities, relieving stress and nurturing contentment. This practice has roots in other cultures, too, like Native Americans’ sweat lodges in the United States and Canada.

Our temazcal guide studied and prepared for several years in order to lead a temazcal. Along with all of our therapists who are highly trained in the art of Mexican ancestral healing, our temazcal guide is, first and foremost, a guardian of your comfort and safety. If you’ve never experienced a temazcal before, the Fairmont Spa is an excellent place to start, as our guide is with you the entire time you’re inside the structure.

The elements of earth and fire are expressed through hot stones that have already been warmed before you enter the structure. We prepare pots with herbal infusions of rosemary, rue, mint and chamomile. The ritual begins when the guide pours the herb-infused water onto hot, glowing volcanic stones, creating a purifying steam. The stones represent our grandmothers, who have lived on this earth for many thousands of years, and through whose wisdom we can learn and evolve.

Four “doors,” each with a different meaning, hold stones. As stones are added to each door, the intensity of the steam and heat increases. Inside this closed space without light, the warmth of the womb is replicated.

As you open your heart, mind, and body to transformative purification, the experience deeply detoxifies the physical body, stimulates the immune system, relieves stress, and, most importantly, fosters emotional and spiritual balance.

In our temazcal, connect with yourself, the moment, the medicine, and the energy. Allow yourself to be guided to truly feel a transformation as you restore balance, rejuvenate your spirit and foster a profound sense of well-being, while connecting deeply with the history and practices that have been central to our local culture for centuries.

The temazcal at Fairmont Mayakoba operates on Tuesdays at 5 pm and accommodates up to 10 people per session. Reservations at least 24 hours in advance are required. To book, call ext. 560 or email us at [email protected].