For those who are seeking a deep and fulfilling spiritual experience, seasoned sweat participants seem to share a few key beliefs:

“You should never have to pay,” says Julianna. “You’ll see on some reservations, as a form of income, a lot of people are selling it [sweats] to tourists, and that’s not right either.” She continues, “They have a right to do that, but it’s not respected. It’s looked down upon in native communities.”

Whitney Gallagher, who was invited to attend a private sweat led by a Navajo woman and her husband, adds,“The sweat isn’t about seeing how long you can stay inside, or proving something to somebody else. It’s something you do for yourself.”

For those interested in learning more, and curious if a sweat is right for them, Whitney recommends starting at the source. “I’d volunteer on a reservation, talk to the locals and make friends.” She also recommends participating with an expert – someone who grew up doing sweats as part of their culture.

“The reservations need teachers, tutors, help chopping wood for elders to heat their homes, mentors for students, and more,” says Whitney. “Volunteering on a reservation is an incredibly rewarding, eye opening experience.”

Remember, the very best advice comes from personal connections, so turn to your friends and family for valuable recommendations and trusted, experienced sources. Ask a lot of questions, do your research, and never put too much faith in a person who stands to gain financially from your decision.

Interested in learning more about native communities and volunteering on a reservation? Visit one or more of the resources below:

• Global Volunteers
• Volunteer match
• GC Volunteers

Visit new age fraud to learn more about staying safe during your search, and always consult your physician before participating in a sweat.

Have you taken part in a sweat lodge? Did you feel safe? Sounds off to Peter and Wendy in the comments.

For more on this topic, check out:

• our travel tip on indigenous culture 
• our feature on Spa Resorts
• our Cultural Travel category
• our Travel and Health category
  
  

By Wendy Wegner for PeterGreenberg.com

 Feature Image Credit Flickr Creative Commons by andreyphoto.com Andrey Samode