Relive our traditional indigenous culture in an extraordinary manner

Mariana Emilia first conceived of her temazcal in 1991 as she struggled to reconstruct her life. Her husband had just passed away, and she had just retired after thirty years of service as a nurse. At the age of forty-eight, she found herself responsible for six children and full of anxiety about the future. Seeking to heal herself, she visited distant relatives in the Sierra Juarez mountains of Oaxaca, where she rediscovered the wisdom of the traditional approaches to health that she had been raised with. Her most powerful experience was in her family’s temazcal. The warmth and darkness of the womblike space, the aroma of the traditional herbs sizzling on the hot stones, the ancient chants following the rhythms of the stream, and the birdsong outside, were transformational experiences. 

Reborn, Mariana Emilia clearly saw what her purpose would be. Formally trained in Western medicine, she began to study the old ways. More and more, she became aware that the two traditions were not necessarily in conflict. Impulsively, she committed to building her own temazcal in a tranquil garden and that she would try to share the transformational healing experience of her trip to the mountains. Two years later, her dream became a reality, and she opened her temazcal to the public. 

As a nurse, she had always attempted to care for her patients in a humane and holistic manner. Now, she would be able to aid guests on their health journey, as their guide, in the temazcal. Mariana Emilia does not make any medical diagnoses, nor does she prescribe treatments. Instead, she provides the opportunity for her guests to share in the truly transformative experience of the temazcal, the experience that changed her life. Her temazcal, located in a lush, serene garden, allows seekers to enjoy the spiritual microcosmos of the steam bath. The fire, water, and herbs of the ritual-like experience provide a space for people to be alone with their thoughts and allows for the rebalancing of their emotions. 

Mariana Emilia has now shared her temazcal with hundreds of guests. She has also taught many other women the lessons she has learned and trained them to oversee the temazcal ritual and to provide massage therapy. Today, at the age of seventy-eight, Mariana Emilia continues to teach and study traditional medicine in order to ensure the survival of this knowledge. Perhaps, most importantly, she continues to care for her beautiful garden, the site of her temazcal, and the constant reminder of the fact that there is joy in the world and that peace is possible.

We are committed to openness, toleration, respect for our past, and for providing the best possible service to our guests in a safe and comfortable environment.