Sweat lodges are a part of traditional Native American culture and medicine, serving as a sacred ceremony aimed at both spiritual and physical cleansing. Sweat lodges have been a longstanding practice in both European and Native American cultures, with most people participating safely in these meaningful experiences. However, the tragic deaths of three individuals in a sweat lodge led by “self-help” author James Arthur Ray near Sedona, Arizona in 2009 raised serious questions about the safety of these rituals. It is crucial to understand that the problem was not the sweat lodge itself, but rather the approach taken by James Arthur Ray, who appropriated a sacred Native tradition for misguided purposes. His retreat was poorly managed and built incorrectly, using plastic tarps, ultimately pressuring participants beyond their safe limits.