Lomilomi massage
Massage is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of healing. Lomilomi is one of the most profound forms of massage. So, what makes it so special, what is it, how does it differ from other massage, how does it "work"?
I’m often asked what Lomilomi means. The word Lomilomi simply means massage in Hawaiian. What it is, is a unique healing massage derived from the ancient Polynesians and more specifically the master healers of Hawaii.
Perhaps this can best be understood by one of the alternate names for Lomilomi, and that is "Loving Hands" massage. The reason for this is that it works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, totally nurturing the body and, enabling the recipient to relax, give in and simply be. So whilst technique is an important part of the massage and associated healing, much of the work is done by love, with the focus of the practitioner on the client being deep and complete, using loving hands and a loving heart.
This flowing with total energy, using the long continuous, flowing strokes, combined with the very loving touch, relaxes the entire being, assisting in a letting go of old beliefs, patterns and behaviors that cause limitations and which are stored in the cells of our body. People generally think of memory, beliefs, our "programming", as being stored in our head, in our brain. This is not the case, this memory and other programming is in fact stored in all the cells of our body.
When harmony is lacking the effect is pain physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Illness is a state of tension, which leads to resistance which blocks energy movement. Lomilomi helps release this and therefore facilitates the road to healing. On the physical level, through Lomilomi stress and tension are relieved, blood and lymph flow assisted and the elimination of wastes and toxins stimulated.
So, what happens during a Lomilomi massage? How is it performed? A Lomilomi usually commences with a stillness between the practitioner and client, often with the practitioners hands gently resting on the clients back. In this stillness the practitioner will quietly say a blessing or prayer asking for whatever healing is needed to take place during the massage. Alternatively or as well, the client may be asked to set their intention for any healing they would like to receive. The masseuse then works very intuitively with the client. In this respect there is no set format or sequence for the massage and no two massages will ever be identical.
The massage is given in fluid, rhythmic motion using the forearms as well as the hands. Some people have described this as feeling like gentle waves moving over the body. Another feature is that different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, for example one arm or hand may be working on a shoulder and the other hand may be working on the opposite hip. This assists the recipient in totally relaxing as it is impossible or at least extremely difficult for the brain to focus on the two different areas at once. By not working on areas in isolation a deep sense of balance and harmony is achieved. As I said earlier, whilst technique is important, the priority is loving the body, using intuition so the massage is "right" for the client. The client on the table is not viewed as someone to be fixed, but a being to be returned to harmony and balance. It is important to remember that the practitioner does not heal but is the facilitator for the healing.
According to Huna philosophy, energy also gets blocked in the joints. Gentle stretches of the body and gentle rotations of the joints are therefore also incorporated to assist the release of tensions and assist the flow of energy, once again not forcing, but feeling the level of the clients resistance or comfort. The masseuse may also hum or breath at various points during the Lomilomi as the vibrating and amplified energy that results also aids the release of blockages.
Dancework or hula movements, combined with the breathwork of the practitioner are also important and integral aspects of Lomilomi. The reason for the hula type dance around the table whilst massaging is not just because it looks cute! The movements are all important to assisting the energy flow both within the practitioner and recipient and helps keep the energy at a high level. This combined with breathing techniques by the masseuse are also important in assisting the energy flow.
The massage can be done by one person or by two or more people working together. Having two people massaging tends to send to recipient into an even deeper level of relaxation as you really can’t focus on four hands doing different things - it really is a blissful and fairly mindblowing experience.
Appreciation, compassion, respect and so many other elements - this is the very foundation of a Lomi Lomi massage.
There are primarily two styles of Lomi Lomi that have become more well known on the mainland US and in Hawaii. They are “Temple Style” and “Auntie Margaret’s Style or Big Island Massage”. Sacred Lomi® was developed by Tom Cochran and Donna Jason from ‘Temple Style’ Lomi Lomi.
All styles of lomi lomi integrate some form of movement, chant (mele), prayers (pule) as well as the core intention of aloha.
Temple Style lomi lomi uses primarily forearm runs integrating movements that are circles and figure eights. The movements are designed to confuse the thinking mind and invite the client to surrender, letting go of anything that is no longer serving them and to receive more of their soul energy.
In ancient Hawaii, Lomi lomi was practiced as both medicinal and restorative. Some believe that Temple Style lomi lomi is was practiced in the temples of old Hawaii, where Kahuna, or Hawaiian Shaman, practiced a unique lineage that Kahu named Ke Ala Hoku, “Pathway to the Stars” or Hawaiian Temple Bodywork or Kahuna Bodywork.
I’m often asked what Lomilomi means. The word Lomilomi simply means massage in Hawaiian. What it is, is a unique healing massage derived from the ancient Polynesians and more specifically the master healers of Hawaii.
Perhaps this can best be understood by one of the alternate names for Lomilomi, and that is "Loving Hands" massage. The reason for this is that it works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, totally nurturing the body and, enabling the recipient to relax, give in and simply be. So whilst technique is an important part of the massage and associated healing, much of the work is done by love, with the focus of the practitioner on the client being deep and complete, using loving hands and a loving heart.
This flowing with total energy, using the long continuous, flowing strokes, combined with the very loving touch, relaxes the entire being, assisting in a letting go of old beliefs, patterns and behaviors that cause limitations and which are stored in the cells of our body. People generally think of memory, beliefs, our "programming", as being stored in our head, in our brain. This is not the case, this memory and other programming is in fact stored in all the cells of our body.
When harmony is lacking the effect is pain physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Illness is a state of tension, which leads to resistance which blocks energy movement. Lomilomi helps release this and therefore facilitates the road to healing. On the physical level, through Lomilomi stress and tension are relieved, blood and lymph flow assisted and the elimination of wastes and toxins stimulated.
So, what happens during a Lomilomi massage? How is it performed? A Lomilomi usually commences with a stillness between the practitioner and client, often with the practitioners hands gently resting on the clients back. In this stillness the practitioner will quietly say a blessing or prayer asking for whatever healing is needed to take place during the massage. Alternatively or as well, the client may be asked to set their intention for any healing they would like to receive. The masseuse then works very intuitively with the client. In this respect there is no set format or sequence for the massage and no two massages will ever be identical.
The massage is given in fluid, rhythmic motion using the forearms as well as the hands. Some people have described this as feeling like gentle waves moving over the body. Another feature is that different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, for example one arm or hand may be working on a shoulder and the other hand may be working on the opposite hip. This assists the recipient in totally relaxing as it is impossible or at least extremely difficult for the brain to focus on the two different areas at once. By not working on areas in isolation a deep sense of balance and harmony is achieved. As I said earlier, whilst technique is important, the priority is loving the body, using intuition so the massage is "right" for the client. The client on the table is not viewed as someone to be fixed, but a being to be returned to harmony and balance. It is important to remember that the practitioner does not heal but is the facilitator for the healing.
According to Huna philosophy, energy also gets blocked in the joints. Gentle stretches of the body and gentle rotations of the joints are therefore also incorporated to assist the release of tensions and assist the flow of energy, once again not forcing, but feeling the level of the clients resistance or comfort. The masseuse may also hum or breath at various points during the Lomilomi as the vibrating and amplified energy that results also aids the release of blockages.
Dancework or hula movements, combined with the breathwork of the practitioner are also important and integral aspects of Lomilomi. The reason for the hula type dance around the table whilst massaging is not just because it looks cute! The movements are all important to assisting the energy flow both within the practitioner and recipient and helps keep the energy at a high level. This combined with breathing techniques by the masseuse are also important in assisting the energy flow.
The massage can be done by one person or by two or more people working together. Having two people massaging tends to send to recipient into an even deeper level of relaxation as you really can’t focus on four hands doing different things - it really is a blissful and fairly mindblowing experience.
Appreciation, compassion, respect and so many other elements - this is the very foundation of a Lomi Lomi massage.
There are primarily two styles of Lomi Lomi that have become more well known on the mainland US and in Hawaii. They are “Temple Style” and “Auntie Margaret’s Style or Big Island Massage”. Sacred Lomi® was developed by Tom Cochran and Donna Jason from ‘Temple Style’ Lomi Lomi.
All styles of lomi lomi integrate some form of movement, chant (mele), prayers (pule) as well as the core intention of aloha.
Temple Style lomi lomi uses primarily forearm runs integrating movements that are circles and figure eights. The movements are designed to confuse the thinking mind and invite the client to surrender, letting go of anything that is no longer serving them and to receive more of their soul energy.
In ancient Hawaii, Lomi lomi was practiced as both medicinal and restorative. Some believe that Temple Style lomi lomi is was practiced in the temples of old Hawaii, where Kahuna, or Hawaiian Shaman, practiced a unique lineage that Kahu named Ke Ala Hoku, “Pathway to the Stars” or Hawaiian Temple Bodywork or Kahuna Bodywork.