Special Feature

The Mágicas Maya Spa at Zahra in Tulum México:
Incredible healing of the mind, body and spirit
By Linda S. Manning, Author and Photographer
 

(Tulum México) Have you daydreamed of healing at a tropical retreat and Wellness Spa? Immerse yourself in paradise, for the proper healing of mind, body and spirit. Imagine the gentle wind warming your face, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, and the feel of white sand slipping between your toes, if you have, the magic has begun. A feeling of peace and tranquility envelopes your senses as you unwind from your trip to one of the finest holistic resorts in Mexico, the Maya Spa wellness center at EcoTulum Resorts and Spa. The Spa, a trio of resorts, Azulik, Cabanas Copal, and Zahra are located amidst coconut trees, lush tropical foliage, and the azure blue Caribbean Sea.

Zahra in particular is a retreat within a retreat, offering traditional architecturally designed thatched roof bungalows made of hardwood authenticated to give you a taste of the Mayan ethnicity. Nestled between two magnificent beaches on the Caribbean Sea, Zahra is surrounded by sounds of exotic birds, the swaying of coconut trees and the ever-changing views of abundant animal life.

As a guest you can experience genuine customer service first hand. From the scrumptious foods of the Mexican culture cooked onsite at the outdoor restaurant to enjoying the cuisine delivered to your bungalow as well as the spa services offered inside your private retreat, an experience of a lifetime.
 

To begin your journey of healing, you must remove all thoughts from your mind except to let the present pleasure of your senses, with sights and sounds and feelings overcome you. Healing begins with peacefulness from within and a melting of the mind and body as relaxation takes over. Healing comes from the sounds of the sea crashing onto the shore almost in timed unison. Healing comes from viewing the most primitive animal life scurrying along the beach.

Pelicans searching for food - Photo Linda S. Manning

Slow down and capture the fresh sea air in long deliberate breaths while sitting atop a piece of driftwood washed ashore from the sea and watch the graceful Pelicans glide over the cobalt blue water as they fish for their breakfast. Watch them as they ascend to a definite height only to plunge straight into the sapphire blue sea surfacing with their catch as they gulp their feast and float on top of the waves.

Iguana surfacing from a nights rest - Photo Linda S. Manning

Observe the Iguanas and Lizards as they creep from the crevices of ancient rocks after a long night’s rest to warm their bodies in the heat of the sun. Or, watch the hermit crab as he waddles sideways carrying his house on his back to places unknown.

This is an environment for healing the spirit as well as the mind and body. Simplicity presented in lush natural tropical surrounding.

Zahra www.zahra.com.mx offers its’ Maya Spa services throughout the trio of locations, some overlooking the Caribbean Sea, in the jungle’s thriving plant life or in your private candlelit bungalow. Begin the journey to healing your mind in the Chamber of Floatation.

Free your mind with dreams

The Chamber of Floatation is based on the philosophy of R.E.S.T., Restricted Environmental Stimuli Therapy. As a way to recover physical, emotional or psychological curing, you develop a technique to master the mind and body to attain deep relaxation.

The most important facet of floating is to reach the four stages of sleep and use these experiences to minister stress relief.

Escape reality, meditate, relax, and remove stress, dream, increase your creativity or just remove all thoughts from your mind during your experience in the Chamber of Floatation. Placed in the middle of the jungle creating an atmosphere for clear thinking the chamber offers the body a chance to actually relax from the overwhelming amounts of daily stimulus, all without interruption.

The chamber housed inside a cement shelter is closed to the outside by two doors. Pillows of tangerine, orange, and rose line the sides of the chamber. An 8 foot by 4 foot wood frame designed with a specialized mattress filled with 275 pounds of salt and a small amount of water is surrounded by the framed enclosure having a space only large enough for you to slip onto the mattress. A curtain made of an elaborate fabric dazzling with jewels is drawn to darken the space surrounding you.

The Chamber, topped with a curtain of white voile, lit candles, wind chimes and incense creates the magical beginning.

Close your eyes, relax and let your senses go to work. The fragrance of incense permeates the space while chanting music is sweetness to your ear. The flicker of light from lit candles draws images on the ceiling and you begin your journey in a trance like state. Just lay there, don’t move.

Relax!

Dreaming in the Chamber of Floatation - Photo Linda S. Manning

As you dream, you are brought to a state of semi-consciousness. You have a feeling of weightlessness. While the smallest movement creates a feeling of floating on the sea or soaring thorough space, the infinitesimal scents and resonance erase all thoughts from your mind. The absence of thought and the mystery and aura of the unknown creates a wave of enhanced creativity. ‘The chanting is inspiring and you become creative,’ said Paul Manning. ‘You are torn between thoughts of yesterday and a new emergence of thought beyond the here and now,’ he stated. Float, dream and let the sensory deficiencies generate one of the most beneficial environments for healing your mind.

Next experience the Mayan Bath, a longstanding Mayan tradition of spiritual and physical cleansing

The Mayan Bath
Free your physical and spiritual being
Bathe by the sea

Visualize the jewel-like colors of the sea showcasing indigo, cerulean and cobalt. As you are bathed in the heat of the sunlight, listen to the perpetual waves as they hug the shore. Away from the crowds atop a small cliff the sea air is clear, the sun warms your body, and a spiritual and physical healing emerges.
 

Exfoliation prior to bathing - Photo Paul Manning

Sitting by the sea on a wooden stool made from a tree trunk, the therapist exfoliates your body prior to bathing. A sweet tasting honey is placed on your face and the back of your neck. The exfoliation begins as your feet, arms, and legs are massaged in a circular motion with a damp cloth. Take pleasure in the sound of the sea with the gentle breeze sliding across your body as you sink into nothingness.

Essential oils, herbs of rosemary, basil, and eucalyptus, along with four different color flowers representing four things you want to change, fill the warmed bath water in the hardwood tub. The fragrances are beyond belief. As you submerge your body into its warmth and splendor your hair is conditioned with mescal, creating a new brilliance and luster.

Relax in the warmth of the perfumed liquid and fill your mind with pleasant healing thoughts.

Combined as a complete indulgence of purifying, exfoliation and massage with oatmeal, herbs, jasmine and rosemary, the Mayan Bath is in my opinion, the most healing of all.

After bathing you are to remove the flowers and herbs from the wooden tub and throw them to the sea. Eliminate all troubles and worries of the past as you watch them float through the air and into the deep blue water.

The powerful energy of the Mayan culture assists you in the transformation of yourself. Opening your heart, understanding, compassion and harmony, unconditional love and healing, along with forgiveness, transport you to another height of consciousness.

As the final healing ritual is to come, the purifying steam bath, you anticipate the experience of magic through fire and water, the Temazcal.

Step into the heat, experience the Temazcal & Free your spirit
 

Temazcal ceremonial ring, sweat lodge and fire house - Photo Linda S. Manning

Since there were no original records of the ancient Maya sweat lodge, indications from hieroglyphics and archeological digs along with the study of Mayan descendents, presume that the sweat lodge was a common practice dating over 1200 years ago.

Hundreds of years ago the native people of Mexico practiced a purifying steam bath called the Temazcal. The Temazcal is based on customary healing methods using fire and water combined to purify the mind, body, and soul. During the 16th century after the Spanish arrived, they found the spiritual use of the sweat lodge among various Mayan tribes. Temascal an Aztec word is revealed as Temas, meaning bath and calli, meaning house.

Ceremonial alter - Photo Linda S. Manning

Originally thought to be a bath house for women after childbirth, and for sick persons to cast out any diseases in the body, the Temazcal was born. They believed the body and soul were fused and purification of one would not be complete without the other. The mesmerizing Temazcal has many health benefits and spiritually connects one back to a primal state as you slip into meditation. According to Lucrecia, public relations specialist at EcoTulum Mayan Spa, ‘The Temazcal is a way of preventative medicine related to the four elements of nature and mother earth.’ She further stated, ‘Water represents emotion, earth represents physical, air represents the mind and thoughts, and fire represents purification of the spirit.’

Ceremonial ring - Photo Linda S. Manning

As we are gathered in a circle around the ceremonial fronds of the Palm tree, surrounded by incense and candles, we join hands and pray to the spirits in the direction of the four cardinal points, representing earth, air, fire, and water. Standing with hands outstretched the Shaman anoints you with smoke from the burning Copal leaves. You are given rattlers to chase away the spirits before you enter the lodge.

Inside the sweat lodge, hot stones are placed in the center - Photo Linda S. Manning

The sweat lodge, a cement structure similar to a round beehive oven, is decorated on the outside with symbols of birds, snakes and turtles. As you enter through the small door, only large enough for you to fit as you crawl on all fours in a clockwise direction to a spot on the palm tree leaves, you wonder about the magical experience about to take place.

Once inside, you are given herbs to wash your body, first the neck, then the arms and legs. A tiny cup of local honey harvested in Tulum is rich and dark from the wild yellow flowers. First used to taste, then it is rubbed onto the back of your neck and onto the areas you want healed. Chanting and singing as the hot stones are shoveled into the center pit creating a warm, dry heat. As a bather, you sweat from head to toe, releasing all the impurities.

The door, made of a large woven rug is pulled down to close the opening and the heat is unbearable. A huge bowl infused with water and herbs of basil, sage, rosemary and spearmint is used to splash water on you to cool your body, while emitting a eucalyptus fragrance. As the water hits the stones, steam is created, presenting a steam bath atmosphere where it is difficult to breathe as you continue with shaking the maracas and chanting, the ritual continues.

The door opens every 15 minutes for the presentation of the four directions and to add additional hot stones. Feeling as if you can’t go on, you pray for the inspiration to do so.

Thus, the act of cleansing, purification and rebirth has taken place. In the end, you must say a prayer to close so the spirits leave. Tossing the herbs into the fire eradicates yourself of all impurities and disease and ailments such as arthritis, rheumatism, muscle tension, asthma, and cardiovascular illnesses as well as refreshing and rejuvenating your skin.. As the ceremony concludes, warmed herbed tea is served to cleanse the body of any negative energy.

Departing healing heaven - Photo Linda S. Manning

And, of course as you depart your healing paradise you contemplate the treatments and in healing your mind, body and spirit at the exotic and exhilarating Zahra, one of the top destinations for eco-travel, your goal has been accomplished.

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