HISTORY: Lomi Lomi massage therapy has been practiced and has been part of Hawaiian culture for thousands of years. It was practiced by “kahunas,” which is basically the term for medicine man (such as the Native American name “shaman”), and then the techniques were passed on from them. People who learned of the techniques and practiced them would then pass those down to their family members and it continued from generation to generation. Each family had its own method of lomilomi, but every form of lomilomi performed had some sort of religion attached to it. Then, in the early 1900’s a woman named Margaret Machado (often known as “Auntie”) began to make diagrams of her moves and began later teaching the technique to outsiders.
The emphasis of lomilomi massage is on soothing, rather than more pointed techniques such as accupressure. The massage is like a beautiful dance that gently rocks one into a blissful release of tension. Polole Lomi, "the gentle hand of the mother, " Oluea Lomi, "to harmonize body, mind and spirit, " and Oluli Lomi, "to ignite the life-force." Lomi lomi has also been called "loving hands." 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. Lomilomi is also part of a philosophy known as Huna. A fundamental assumption of Huna is that everything seeks harmony and everything seeks love.
HOW IS IT DONE: LomiLomi usually begins with the practitioners hands gently resting on the clients back. The practitioner will say a blessing asking for whatever healing is needed to take place during the massage. This includes a pule, or prayer for gratitude, guidance, and grounding - quite often silent - it requires an open heart and loving hands.
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 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 uses the forearms as well as the hands. Flowing strokes help to free the energy, make the body soft and promote free and abundant flow of life energy. According to Huna philosophy, energy tends to get blocked in the joints. Gentle stretches of the body and rotations of the joints are also incorporated to assist the release of tensions and assist the flow of energy. The masseuse may also hum at various points during the massage as the vibrating and amplified energy that results also aids the release of blockages. Another major difference from other massages is that in LomiLomi the person lays directly on the table and not on a towel, and rather than being covered completely by towels, is covered by a small sheet or towel leaving most of the body exposed during the massage
Lomilomi can be given by a single practitioner or with two practitioners working together- double the bliss!
The Hawaiian people view all aspects of the body as one and believe that the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are all part of the "whole self".
Thus the intent of lomilomi is to free energy flow by releasing stress and tension in the body and restore balance and harmony to mind, body and spirit by working deeply through these levels.
When a lomilomi practitioner touches your body, it is with total respect, non-judgmental, compassion, and love.
Different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, and full and under-body strokes are used to bring the body back into balance and instill a deep sense of peace, harmony and well-being.
At completion of the massage, you will feel blissfully relaxed, with the benefits of the healing continuing long after the massage has ended.
The translation of lomi is "to weave"... weaving light, weaving love and spirit. Un-weaving unhealthy patterns in the body, unweaving wounds and old belief systems. The purpose of "weaving" is to free energy flow by releasing stress and tension in the body and to restore balance and harmony to the mind, body and spirit by working deeply through these levels. Old physical and emotional patterns are released, opening up a space for new, healthier patterns to take root and grow.
WHO IS IT FOR ?: Lomilomi is excellent for the entire Adult population. It relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation and creates a tangible sense of well being. It is useful for maintaining health, and relieving pain from injury and debilitating illness. The technique of lomilomi massage is one that breaks up muscle spasms with a special moving of the fingers, therefore relieving much pain. Just as with most massages, the most basic benefit that is achieved through lomilomi is the increased circulation throughout the body. This includes blood and lymph circulation, and when the circulation increases, better health and healing are the result. The other most pertinent benefit for clients is the spiritual healing that often takes place with a lomilomi treatment.
WHERE CAN I LEARN IT?: Lomilomi is an intuitive art that has been passed down for generations, but only taught in massage schools in recent years. Many credit "Auntie" Margaret Machado and her school on the Big Island for sharing the secret. Hawaiians believe the intent of the practitioner is an essential element in the healing power of the massage.
You can learn Lomilomi from many practioners, teachers, and schools around the world. You can buy instructional videos. You can take workshops ranging anywhere from 3days to 14day intensives. There are scores of classes available throughout the internet. And, there are as many different variations of LomiLomi available. However, since these traditions come from Hawaii, it is a good idea for anyone seriously wanting to share them, to go and experience the spirit of Hawaii first hand. From the research that I have found, when you walk on the land in Hawaii, feel the wind and sun, smell the flowers, hear the rolling waves -- something happens. They say the voices of the ancients are so easily recognized and a confidence emerges. You feel that you are not alone.
Thus Lomi Lomi is not just a physical experience; it also facilitates a harmony of healing on the mental, emotional and spiritual levels as well. 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. Lomi Lomi helps release this and therefore facilitates the road to healing. It is to the Islands of Hawaii, and this philosophy that I have a heartfelt calling.
Mahalo!
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