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HAWAIIAN
LOMI LOMI
By
Patricia Peters, LMT MA0021012
How
is it that an ancient healing art can be described as “new”?
How is it that Lomi Lomi has gone from being virtually unknown in
the mainland, to becoming the hottest new healing technique in the nation?
The
answer lies in
Hawaii
’s living treasure, Aunty Margaret Machado whose massage career began at
the tender age of 10, when her Kahuna grandfather gave her the blessing to
be the healer of the family. An
ancient tradition passed down in families from generation to generation,
Lomi Lomi healing was practiced by the Kahunas (priests highly revered by
the Hawaiians for their mastery of body manipulation and healing knowledge
based upon their spirituality and deep connection to nature).
Frequently, the village priest or Kahuna would train the successor
to the family knowledge over a period of years to be sure of his or her
abilities and sincerity in becoming a healer.
Aunty’s
family did not want her to teach Lomi Lomi outside of the native culture,
but because she was raised in a missionary home, she wanted to share it.
Aunty would say, “The Lord wants me to share it.
It’s love work, and because I love the Lord, I’m going to
teach.” And that’s what
she has done since the 1940’s. Now
retired, her teachings are carried on by her daughter Norita on the
Big
Island
and by students who have asked for permission to teach her “Loving
Touch.”
Aunty’s
philosophy is simple, yet profound. Aunty
says, “Lomi Lomi is a loving touch, letting them feel you.
When they feel loving hands on their body, they’ll respond:
‘She loves me, she’ll take good care of me, and I’m going to get
well.’ It’s your talk and
your approach. They know that
you love them. Getting them to
relax their body so there will be no stress. It’s
love!” “If your hands are
gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart.
His soul will reach out to yours.”
Aunty
also incorporated ho’oponopono, which she considered her special
ingredient for healing. Ho’oponopono
literally means to empty your heart and mind.
Focus on the healing of your patient.
Ho’oponopono also means to forgive yourself and others before the
sunset. Aunty said that you
couldn’t go to sleep with a troubled mind or troubled heart.
So,
what makes Lomi Lomi massage so unique?
The practice is similar to a Swedish massage in that they both use
long smoothing strokes. These
long strokes called effleurage, are usually done with the hands, but in
Lomi Lomi they are performed with the palms, knuckles and forearms to
compress and stretch the tissue. Lomi
Lomi technique focuses on finding areas of congestion in the body, then
dispersing them with rhythmic, dance-like motions.
After
identifying the congested areas that need treatment, the Lomi Lomi
practitioner uses static compression to facilitate relaxation of the
muscles. Static compression is
the primary tool for healing. Other
modalities use stripping, or cross-fiber work to release muscles.
The stretch and compression of the Lomi Lomi technique is done
slowly and held longer than other modalities, such as Shiatsu.
The body will subconsciously react at first by tightening the
muscle but, after a few seconds, will relax with the comfortable
compression of the forearm. Holding
the compression allows the client to become aware of the tightness in the
tissue and allows them to consciously relax.
Benefits
of a Lomi Lomi session include: dilation
of blood vessels, improvement of circulation, relief from muscle spasms,
increase in the rate of nutrients brought to the muscles by the blood
without increasing lactic acid production, stimulation of the lymphatic
system to release waste products, dispersing edema in injured ligaments
and tendons, restoration of vitality, increased metabolism and
facilitation of emotional release.
“Hawaiian
Lomi Lomi – the Loving Touch – a connection between heart, hand and
soul with the source of all life; it’s a praying work.”
This is the legacy of Aunty Margaret Machado:
our love flowing from the heart through the hands, a touch from
soul to soul. Lomi Lomi – a holistic treatment that soothes the body,
mind and soul. “Loving
hands” massage.
I
would like to thank my teacher, Alice Belusko for sharing Lomi Lomi with
me (Doctor of Success Seminars, Inc. www.HawaiianTherapies.com,
1-888-568-7976) and I would like to share my understanding of Aunty’s
Lomi Lomi with you. Treatments
by appointment. Patricia B.
Peters, LMT; MA 0021012. 407-281-7773
morning and evening; 407-595-7773 cell.
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