It feels like the masseurs hands are dancing on my back. I can see gracious dancing motions through the face hole in the massage table.
The left foot crosses the right leg, knees bend and the right foot crosses the left leg in a calm rythm which flows across the floor. The softly
swaying dance eases the body’s tensions.
With the body well oiled with a mixture of olive oil, peanut oil and sesame oil, the masseurs hands and forearms sweep over it like the
waves of the sea. The movements are long, sweeping and rythmic and yet powerful, causing the breathing to slow down. The massage
comes from Hawaii, where one has used traditional massage for thousands of years. The dancing steps are said to be derived from an old
Hawaiian martial sport and the hula.
Secret Knowledge
lomi-lomi2
The forearm is used a lot in Hawaiian massage. Much oil is used.
Very little was written down, all was taught orally by a kahuna. The kahuna could be a priest, master or magician, but also an expert in
different areas from architecture to medicinal herbs or massage. There are not many of the old masters left on Hawaii and the old
knowledge is disappearing. The knowledge was kept secret in the traditional Hawaiian society and was only taught to select students who
had talent and discipline.
Long tradition
There are several different forms of Lomi Lomi which means massage and to “rub, rub”. In the old Hawaiian society there was always
someone in the family who knew Lomi Lomi, the knowledge of which was handed down to someone who had the best prospects of carrying
the tradition on.
The spiritual aspect and prayer play a central roll, the first days of a course being dedicated to working with oneself by cleansing oneself
both physically and mentally to come into balance.
Healing power in the hands
One can describe Lomi Lomi as a mixture of Swedish massage, Japanese shiatsu and Chinese acupressure. There is much talk about
presence and how important it is that the masseur has both love and joy in both his hands and heart during the massage. Our love goes
from heart to heart and from soul to soul through our hands, which give the power of healing.
Love the body
The kahuna Aunti Margaret’s definition is “that the loving touch is a relation between heart, hand and soul in connection with the source of
all life.” You should love the body you massage as though it were your own. If your hands are soft and loving your patient will feel the
sincerity of your heart. “The person’s soul will stretch out to yours and God’s healing power will flow between you both,” according to Aunti
In the old days on Hawaii, the masseur would prepare himself carefully before a massage by telling stories, singing and rituals. The spiritual
still plays a central role in Lomi Lomi.
The grips move towards the heart
The whole body is massaged by stroking, rocking and stretching by means of the hands, back of the hands, thumbs, knuckles and
forearms. The rocking motions cause the body to rock in a form of wave motion. The wave-like rythm can rock one and shake one up so
that old repressed memories and trauma can come to the surface and the tensions be released.
The massage goes deep into the muscles, always in the direction towards the heart and affects all organs and the nervous system. It
improves the circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system so that the body’s elimination of waste products is enhanced.
Strokes and stretching
The back is massaged first, using long, deep strokes. Joints are loosened by rotating them, and even the palms of the hands, fingers and
toes are massaged. The legs are stretched and the knees gently thumped three times against the massage table to loosen waste products
that have accumulated at the ankle so that the circulation and flow will resume. One half of the body is massaged at a time, the treatment
ending with massage of the head and face. |
