Mexzine Culture Edit: II
Temazcal in Tepoztlán, an explosion of color at an atelier in San Miguel de Allende, and an iconic Mexico City restaurant collabs with a tequila brand for the next couple of weeks.
Hola Mexziners,
Welcome to our weekly Culture Edit. If you’re a hospitality nerd like we are at Mexzine, you may have noticed an increase in temazcal ceremonies across hotels and resorts in Mexico. We’re all about authentic Mexican experiences, be it dishes, cultural tours, or wellness offerings, so we chatted with Helena Santana, Spa Director at the gorgeous Amomoxtli boutique hotel in Tepoztlán, to get our facts straight. Brilliantly inventive design in San Miguel de Allende and a stylish snacks-and-tequila journey in Mexico City bring the dose of creativity we need to face the week head-on.
- Cristina Alonso, Managing Editor of Mexzine
Mexzine Culture Edit: Interview & Wellness
Let’s Chat: Helena Santana, Spa Director at Amomoxtli in Tepoztlán
Temazcal ceremonies are powerful, deeply healing rituals. Cristina Alonso talked to Helena Santana, in charge of the Spa at the always relaxing Amomoxtli, about the origins and meaning of this ancient tradition.
Many hotels and resorts offer temazcal ceremonies these days, but not all guests know where they come from. Can you tell us about the temazcal’s origins?
There are remains of ancient temazcal domes here in the Americas, and even in areas once populated by the Celts. Before the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Mexico, we used to pray inside the temazcal. The ritual entailed putting your body under extreme heat and singing a series of chants to foster a spiritual connection. That is a ceremonial temazcal, while the medicinal temazcal is more focused on physical healing. Men used to bring pregnant women into these temazcales for a cleanse, both energetic and physical, that helped bring down inflammation in the uterus and avoid infections. At Amomoxtli, we blend the ceremonial and medicinal temazcal and incorporate healing ingredients like honey and aloe.
What does a traditional ceremony look like?
The ceremony represents a rebirth. The healer welcomes guests with copal smoke to cleanse their energies before they enter the dome, which is dark and damp, like a mother’s womb, and the drums and chants symbolize the mother’s heartbeat. At Amomoxtli, we usually place 28 hot stones—called “abuelas,” as they carry very ancestral wisdom—in the middle, and we bathe them with water infused with medicinal plants to produce hot, cleansing steam. The ceremony is divided into four parts or “doors,” each symbolizing a cardinal point, connecting heaven and earth. Our healers explain what each door represents at an emotional and spiritual level.
What makes the temazcal ceremony so powerful?
It’s a challenge for the mind and body. We all want to be in control, and it’s very unsettling to step into a dark, hot dome where we have no choice but to surrender. The heat helps beat your ego and your fears, so you can experience a rebirth. I was a danzante and part of the Native American Church (an indigenous religious movement), so I’ve been very firm about doing things respectfully here at Amomoxtli. The temazcaleros who work with us here are danzantes, people of Lakota heritage (Native Americans also known as the Teton Sioux), and each has their own distinct chants and ways of leading the ceremony, but it all comes from the same place. We want our guests to experience the ceremony deeply and truly heal. It’s such a gift to bear witness to these stories of healing, forgiveness, and liberation.
Mexzine Culture Edit: Design
Mestiz: An Explosion of Color
Photography by @pepemolinafoto
Born in Saltillo, Mestiz founder Daniel Valero’s fascination with Mexican artisans first inspired him to found Mestiz as a hobby, never really knowing what it would become. Just like the whimsical, technicolor pieces he creates and lovingly defines as “wild objects,” the project took a life of its own. At his San Miguel de Allende showroom inside Fábrica La Aurora, massive wicker lampshades, hand-carved wooden cabinets, and spiky pottery make a strong case against minimalism. Daniel’s endless imagination has materialized in collaborations with brands like Auberge Collection, Hermès, and Monoprix. –CA
Mexzine Culture Edit: Food & Drink
Dream Duo: Casa Dragones and Rosetta Present Diálogos Gastronómicos
Rosetta might be one of the most popular restaurants in town, but its upstairs cocktail lounge, Salón Rosetta, still feels like an unveiled treasure. These days, the bar is hosting Diálogos Gastronómicos, a tasting menu imagined by chef Elena Reygadas, featuring elegant bite-sized dishes, each paired with sips of Casa Dragones tequila and cocktails. I’m still dreaming of the crab leg and tequila reposado combo. “It’s a very natural collaboration,” says Bertha González, CEO of Casa Dragones. “Elena was one of the first chefs to trust us. These experiences are so meaningful because they allow us to breathe new life into our tequila.” Diálogos Gastronómicos is available until July 18. –CA
Have a story you want to pitch us? Have questions? Reach out to Brandon@Mexzine.com or Cristina@Mexzine.com.
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