We were first introduced to Marily at the Saturday Organic Market in San Jose del Cabo by our friend Holly. Set up by the paddle ball courts at the back corner of the market, Las Californias Centro Holistico offers brief free shoulder massages to introduce people to their services. The center follows the spiritual traditions of the Mayans and other ancient tribes rather than simply being a massage center, like the $40 Massages throughout San Jose del Cabo. Even with the free sample shoulder massage, we were told some of the philosophy of the ancient traditions of the spirit inhabiting the body while on Earth and the importance of heart and mind. Marily anointed me with smoke from a small traditional burner while doing a quiet chant and explaining how they tried to be one with the indigenous peoples of the north and the south, adopting many of their ancient healing traditions.

I was so intrigued that I made an appointment to go to Las Californias on Monday morning. The Centro Holistico is located right across from the entrance to the drive to the Organic Market. When I walked into their facility, I was amazed by what I saw. There were several different areas with a quiet peacefulness. Sitting areas, massage rooms, a tepee and a domed smoke lodge are all part of the Centro Holistico.

Marily wanted to introduce me to the range of experiences that are available. Starting with the Cacao Ceremony in the tepee, I joined the staff of Las Californias to share in a drink of cacao (cocoa beans) mixed with corn. The drink was mixed in a large coconut shell and served in small coconut shells to everyone by Marily. She explained how the cacao beans were currency to the Mayans. Originally from Africa, she said that in the legends the snakes from the pyramids hid the beans in the earth and they were highly valued. The beans were combined with maize (corn) as it was the staple of life of the native people. In the entrance of the tepee was a small burner allowing the smoke to enter the tepee. The Cacao Ceremony is designed to help harmonize on a spiritual and emotional level.

The second step in understanding the experiences was to move to the ceremonial dome where Temezcal Ceremony is performed. Fire heats natural lava rocks for healing ceremonies. This is similar to the sweat lodge ceremonies of indigenous tribes in the United States as well as the Incas of Peru. Marily explained how these are small private ceremonies where the entrance and top hole are covered during the ceremony and depending on the health objectives, different natural plants are added to the heated lava rocks in the center of the dome. This allows the participants to both absorb the healing plants through the skin and by breathing the heated air.