Sweat Lodge

The sweat lodge is a purification ceremony; it relieves stress, cleanses toxins from the body, helps process emotions, releases negativity and revitalizes the life force. It also helps to cut through obstacles obstructing one’s spiritual path. The lodge is responsible for expelling the cold and harmful winds from the body and reinstating warmth and vital energy flow.

In the Mayan highland tradition of Chiapas, it was originally employed to heal mother and child after childbirth and is often referred to as The Womb of the Earth as its medicine is nurturing and maternal, drawing us closer to earth and the female principle in nature. It is an integral part of Maya medicine, used for the treatment and prevention of disease and works alongside regular one to one sessions over time to help build the proper foundations of the healing process.

Essentially it is a natural steam bath, made by driving pliant willow into the ground and covered with blankets. Hot volcanic basalt stones are heated on a fire outside then placed in a hole in the centre and dowsed with water and herbs. The medicinal steam and the healing power of the elements help one to open and cleanse.

Each ceremony has a distinct theme or teaching which is explored through the different rounds with prayer, song, meditation, story telling, visualization and purifying practices. Between each round there is time to cool off in the river or relax outside, whilst fresh rocks are brought inside. The lodge ends when all the rocks from the fire are used up which may take up to five hours.

Maya Medicine is an integrated system of natural medicine and healing that has sprung from Mayan civilization for over 2,500 years. The Maya medical system centres around restoring and maintaining health between the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind and space, and balancing the relationship between the seen and the unseen worlds.

Roland Torikian has practiced as a Maya healer for 28 years in Mexico and the UK. He trained in Maya Medicine with Lauro de la Cruz in the Maya highlands of Chiapas during the 1990’s. On completing his apprenticeship, Roland opened a clinic in Dharamshala, North India, whilst studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with Geshe Sonam Rinchen. He connects the Maya and Tibetan worlds of medicine and healing, with emphasis on ceremonies, meditation and shamanic practices used in the Kagyu lineage and Bon Buddhism.

Preparatory Consultation:

An online preparatory consultation is required before attending your first sweat lodge with Maya Medicine which can be booked here:

https://www.mayamedicine.co.uk/bookings/

The cost of the preparatory consultation is £150 for 60 minutes

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