Sweating in Sobriety by Jay Rau

Sober Living By The Sea Staff Attend Sweat Lodge

Lisa M, a staff massage therapist turned me on to my first Sweat Lodge ceremony over a year ago and I’ve been “sweating” ever since. At first, she had to practically drag me there but now if I don’t get a monthly sweat in, I am the one who is dragging her.


The Sweat Lodge ceremony is a very spiritual experience. Not only do you sweat out the impurities and toxins out of your body, but you do so while offering prayers for yourself and others. You can offer these prayers to any God of your choice: Jesus, Buddha or the Native American Great Spirit. The important thing is that you are comfortable with the Higher Power you choose.

The Sweat Lodge ceremony usually lasts about from 90 minutes to two and a half hours depending on how many attend and how long they share. The ceremony typically consists of four twenty minute "rounds." In the first round the leader calls in all the positive teachers of the universe and then we say prayers for ourselves. In the next round we pray for others and conditions in the world. The third round is the "give away" round: first you release all your anger and pain and then "give away" something positive or special about yourself out unto the universe. The final round is a closing ceremony thanking the universe. After the ceremony we share our experiences and then share in a small feast of dishes we bring ourselves.

I truly love a night out at the Sweat Lodge. With everyone in the same mindset the air is charged with positive energy. The night is filled with positive, happy people who all want and pray for the same thing: for everyone in the world to be healthy and at peace.

Staff Members Reflect on the Sweat Lodge Experience
Fellow staff member Lisa loves the Sweat Lodge because it cleanses her physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Fellow staff member Erin loves it because she can leave all her troubles behind -as well as a little special part of herself. Recently, case manager/counselor Suzie O attended the Sweat Lodge and she was like a Zen master during the sweat. She said a mantra repeated in her mind that went like this:

As we felt power flowing in; as we enjoyed peace of mind. We discovered that we could face life successfully.

If you have never experienced a Sweat Lodge ceremony I highly suggest you do. For more information about the specific Sweat Lodge that our staff attends, you can see their website: http://www.thewildrose.net/sweat.html.



Jay Rau, CAS
Jay Rau is a Certified Addictions Specialist (CAS) who loves working with the clients at our addiction treatment facility in Newport Beach. Jay facilitates lectures and specialize in criminal thinking errors and positive thinking techniques.