The ceremony may be performed for one person at a time, or for a small group of people together, depending on the severity of the case and the strength and ability of the medicine man leading the ceremony.
In Lakota culture, the yuwipi (pronounced yoo-WEE-pee[1]) ceremony is held for both physical and spiritual healing.
The spirits called upon vary with individual medicine men, as well with the goals of the ceremony.
The yuwipi man is the healer and the one who is tied up and directs the ceremony.
While the traditions and protocols are passed down through generations of healers, each Medicine Man has his own way of conducting the ceremony.