Sweat Lodge Healing: The Benefits of Temazcal Therapy

Long before biohacking became a buzzword, ancient cultures were tuning into nature’s rhythms to heal, detox, and level up—mind, body, and spirit. One of the most powerful (and let’s be honest, intense) rituals to come out of these Indigenous traditions? The Sweat Lodge.

On the latest episode of Biohack-HERS, HigherDOSE founders Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps meet with Patrick Harbula, founder of the Living Purpose Institute, to step into the heat—literally—and experience the purifying magic of a Temazcal ceremony.

Let’s just say… this isn’t your average spa day.

What Is A Sweat Lodge?

Think of it as part spiritual cleanse, part full-body rebirth. Also known as an Indigenous prayer ceremony, the Sweat Lodge involves three hours of serious sweating inside a dome-like structure that’s heated to—you guessed it—extreme levels. (We’re talking three to four times hotter than your gym sauna.)

But it’s not just about heat. It’s about letting go. You sweat out stress, stuck emotions, old energy—anything that’s weighing you down—and reconnect to Mother Earth, spirit, and, yep, yourself.

It all starts with a sacred setup: smudging with sage, setting intentions, and tossing a pinch of tobacco into a fire pit as an offering. Everyone gathers around, grounding themselves with breath and presence, before being blessed with feathers and crawling into the lodge’s low, dark entrance. (Spoiler alert: it’s giving womb vibes.)

The Ritual Rundown: Four Rounds, One Transformation

Once inside, the ceremony kicks off in four rounds, each marked by fresh stones (a.k.a. “grandfathers”) and bursts of steam. The first round is the longest but also the “gentlest” (though trust us, it still brings the heat). From there, things escalate: each round gets hotter and shorter, testing your mental game and physical limits.

“It’s not about pushing beyond our limitations,” Patrick says. “It’s about being in harmony—with our bodies, with the Earth, and with spirit.”

In total darkness, surrounded by chanting and sacred songs, your senses dial down while your soul turns way up. The discomfort? Intentional. The breakthroughs? Real. As Patrick puts it, “You can leave anything that no longer serves you in the Sweat Lodge.” Yes, please.

Why You Might Want to Try It (If You’re Brave)

Okay, so why would anyone voluntarily sit in what’s essentially a spiritual furnace for three hours? The benefits are stacked:

• Next-level detoxification—You’re sweating for hours

• Cardio-like heart rate increase without moving a muscle

• Mental clarity and stress release on a deep, nervous system level

• Energetic reset—come out lighter, clearer, more grounded

• Spiritual connection to nature, ancestors, and intention

• Emotional breakthroughs that surface when you stop numbing and start feeling

With the lights off and your inner world on blast, things that have been hiding under the surface tend to bubble up—so they can be released for good.

“When people surrender,” Patrick says, “they can open and embrace whatever challenges come up.” Translation? You’ll face your stuff… and you’ll come out the other side stronger.

Can Lauren and Katie Handle the Heat?

As the creators of one of the hottest wellness brands out there (literally), Lauren and Katie know a thing or two about sweating. But this is a whole new level. No red lights, no infrared mats—just raw heat, pitch darkness, and deep inner work.

So… can they handle it? And what shifts will come from sitting in that sacred space?

Watch the latest episode of Biohack-HERS to find out.

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