Zumpulche (Mutul)

A Zumpulche is a type of sweatbeathes which originated with Mutuleses peoples in northern Oxidentale. It is a small room or building designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these facilities. The steam and high heat make the bathers perspire.

Contrary to sauna and other kind of sweatbathes, Zumpulcheob have retained their full spiritual role in the Mutul, serving as an important location during days dedicated to the fertility gods, and especially the mother-goddess Ix Chel. During the days dedicated to her and when there's a full moon, public bathes in the Mutul are free and many offerings are made in small altars at the entrance of the bathes. Offerings to Ix Chel are also deposed in front of both privates and publics Zumpulcheob after a successful childbirth.

Zumpulcheob also have many, recognized or not, good effects on health, such as increasing the heat tolerance threshold, improve endurance, help with rheumatic pains.

Modern Zumpulche

Interior of a modern home Zumpulche in the Mutul

Under many circumstances, temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 °C (212 °F) would be completely intolerable and possibly fatal if exposed to long periods of time. Zumpulche overcome this problem by controlling the humidity. The hottest Mutuleses Zumpulcheob have relatively low humidity levels in which steam is generated by pouring water on the hot stones. This allows air temperatures that could boil water to be tolerated and even enjoyed for longer periods of time.

In a typical Zampulche, the temperature of the room is above the dew point even when water is thrown on the hot stones and vaporized. Thus, they remain dry. In contrast, the sauna bathers are at about 38 °C (100 °F), which is below the dew point, so that water is condensed on the bathers' skin. This process releases heat and makes the steam feel hot.

Finer control over the temperature experienced can be achieved by choosing a higher level bench for those wishing a hotter experience or a lower level bench for a more moderate temperature. A good sauna has a relatively small temperature gradient between the various seating levels. Doors need to be kept closed and used quickly to maintain the temperature inside.

Mutuleses public sport centres, gyms, and swimming pools, include Zumpulcheob. Houses in Mutul, generally have their own private sweat lodges. Apartment buildings with one Zumpulche per flat are generally considered to be quite luxurious. Cheapers buildings have either one floor entirely dedicated to sudatories and bathes, or the tenants are expected to use nearby public gyms and sport centres.

Use

A small pool to cool down

There are many traditions and practices surrounding a Zumpulche. Before entering the sweat lodge, it is advised to take a warm shower to speed up perspiration once inside. Mutuleses have their own towels to sit on when in a Zumpulche, called Ychel Hunob. A special hat may be worn to shield the head from the heat, and protect the hair from dryness. Most adjustment of temperature in a Zumpulche comes from,

• Amount of water thrown on the heater, increasing humidity.
• Length of stay in the sweat lodge.
• Positioning when in the sweat lodge ( lying on a bench is considered preferable as it gives more even temperature over the body).

Cooling down is a part of the sauna cycle and is as important as the heating. Among users it is considered good practice to take a few moments after exiting a sauna before entering a cold plunge, and to enter a plunge pool by stepping into it gradually, rather than immediately immersing fully. Among wealthy Mutuleses, the practice of cryo-sauna is becoming more and more common.

Zumpulcheob are used as part of curative ceremonies thought to purify the body after exertion such as after a battle or a ceremonial ball game. It is also used for healing the sick, improving health, and for women to give birth. The spiritual role of the Zumpulcheob, as the prisons and de facto temples of Ix Chel, is as, if not more, important than its use for health reasons, or as a recreational activity. In the end, a Zumpulche is used for the full purification of a human : mind, body, and spirit.

Technology

Ruins of a Chaan Dynasty Zumpulche

A Zumpulche is usually constructed from volcanic rock and cement and is usually a circular dome. To produce the heat, volcanic stones are heated. Volcanic stones are safe because they do not explode from the temperature. They are then placed in a pit located in the center or near a wall of the temazcal.

Most Zumpulche are Heat storage lodges, with a sealed stone compartment and chimney (a heat storage-stove) to eliminate the smoke odour and eye irritation of a smoke lodge. A heat storage stove does not give up much heat in the Zumpulche before bathing since the stone compartment has an insulated lid. When the bath is started and the shutter opened a soft warmth flow into the otherwise relatively cold (60 °C; 140 °F) sauna. This heat is soft and clean because, thanks to combustion, the stove stones glow red, even white-hot, and are freed of dust at the same time. When bathing the heat-storage sauna will become as hot as a continuous fire type-sauna (80–110 °C; 176–230 °F) but more humid.