MUCH ADO ABOUT THE MAQI

     You can take a maqi (pronounced "mucky") but you can't give a maqi.  Maqi is short for the Yup'ik word maqivik.  A maqi is a building in which you take a maqi which is kind of like an atomic sauna.  Maqi's consist of two rooms.  You enter the maqi into the larger room where you hang towels and clothes (it's a naked kind of thing traditionaly).  When you're ready you go into the smaller room where you sit or kneel as close to the floor as possible.  The smaller room has a fire stove that heats rocks.  The maqi master pours water on the rocks once the room has reached the temperature just hotter than Hell. 
     From what I understand the resulting heat is nothing less than unbearable and excruciating to the uninitiated.  After a few minutes of being blanched you go back out to the first room and cool off before you go in for round two and three.  People take maqi's to cleanse their body and spirit.  It's also a good chance to socialize with other sweaty, naked people.  If you're into that.