From the dust of the earth and through the interaction of our parents, we become this physical body,
but as we know, we are more than just a body. We also have our thinking mind,
consciousness, feelings, emotions and what is termed a spiritual body and
Holistic bodywork seeks to treat the body in such a way that all the above
elements are included.
Philosophy
To understand the depth of Holistic bodywork, it helps to have an understanding
of of the totality of who we are as human beings. But this is an area where new
discoveries are constantly being made such as; God exists in our heart, the
fluid of our lymphatic system helps to integrate our spiritual energy, that we
have an aura and chakra system. Biologists, doctors and medical scientists often
disagree on the above points, but millions of ordinary people understand and can
actually experience what are often described as undefined phenomena.
Medical science is a rapidly evolving field, and it is evolving so rapidly that
the information taught to trainee doctors has been superseded before they
complete their degree and the connection or relationship between the seen and
the unseen parts of our selves is not addressed or included in medical training
in the same way that a seven year medical degree course seldom includes more
than a one hour lecture on diet and nutrition.
The massage industry is largely sanitised, few clinicians treat the whole body
and in this age of political correctness, the front of the torso, the energy
transfer areas of the hips along with the lymph drainage points are ignored and
left untreated. While this is not intended as a rebuke of the medical profession
or massage industry, these issues do need to be pointed out as when a part of
that person is denied, healing cannot be complete.
The successful bodywork treatment helps to provide a sense of wholeness or
oneness with body and being and there are many forms of holistic bodywork from
the Chiromassage in Russia and the Lomi Lomi
massage in the Pacific.
Bodywork Treatment
Treatment incorporates elements of different bodywork modes including massage,
holistic pulsing, shiatsu, reiki and energy work and chakra balancing so that
during the treatment, the thinking mind is encouraged to relax to allow
consciousness and feeling to become more present while the body completely
relaxes.
Pressure on the muscles may be soft or firm, the limbs may be moved or
manipulated to produce muscular stretches and compressions to help balance the
skeletal structure.
Stress Release
Stress and negativity is stored in all the
cells of our body.
The Hawaiians look at things in terms of energy flow, suggesting that an idea or
belief can block energy flow as much as muscle tension can. Lomi Lomi helps
release the blockages, whilst at the same time giving the energy new direction.
Thus Lomi Lomi is not just a physical experience; it also facilitates healing on
the mental, emotional and spiritual levels as well. The Hawaiians view all
aspects of the body as one and believe that the physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual are all part of the "whole" self - when healing is effected on one
level, all levels are affected.
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. On the physical level, through Lomi Lomi, stress and
tension are relieved, the flow of blood and lymph is assisted and the elimination of
wastes and toxins stimulated.
The Lomi Lomi Massage
A Lomi Lomi
usually commences with stillness between the practitioner and client, often with
the practitioner’s 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 therapist 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.
Under body and full body strokes also help to free the energy, make the body
soft, promoting free and abundant flow of life energy in the recipient.
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 client’s resistance or
comfort. The therapist may also hum at various points during the Lomi Lomi as
the vibrating and amplified energy that results also aids the release of
blockages.
Dance work or hula movements, combined with the breath work of the practitioner
are also important and integral aspects of Lomi Lomi. 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 help keep the energy at a high level. This
combined with breathing techniques by the therapist are also important in
assisting the energy flow. The sharing of the breath, the essence of the Creator
or universal energy--whatever name you like to give it--is an old Hawaiian
custom and greatly enhances the energy flow once again.
Because the practitioner works intuitively, a massage may be slow and very
relaxing or at times it may be a little faster and, therefore, more invigorating
and enlivening to the body. Sometimes the recipient may experience an emotional
release as the massage can release and shift negative emotions, negative beliefs
and other "stuff" that has been stored in the cells of the body, with the
healing effects of the massage continuing long after the massage is over.
While Lomi Lomi is often referred to as a spiritual massage, the technique is
also practical and specific. It is, for example, effective in breaking up
calcium deposits and lactic acid build-up. This is accomplished by a variety of
movements, such as circular thumb strokes that are done in a one-two-three
rhythm directly over the area. Knuckle strokes are used on larger, denser
muscles in the same rhythm, followed by soothing forearm strokes and hacking.
Release
In addition to Lomi Lomi's physical benefits are the emotional releases felt
during and after a session. Recipients of a Lomi Lomi treatment often experience
freedom from anxiety, worry, fear and a host of other negative thought patterns.
This freedom comes only when the practitioner is aware of their responsibility
to the client.
"It is a process that allows the patient to meet the practitioner mid-way in
their crisis so healing can take place." Yates says. "It is the Lomi Lomi
practitioner's responsibility to guide and treat each patient with right
intentions using the correct protocol of treatment based on his/her feelings.
The purpose of Lomi Lomi is to bring alignment back to the individual in body,
mind and spirit."
During a genuine Lomi Lomi session, the therapist is aligned with divine energy,
and keeps his or her heart and mind clear for Spirit to move through them as a
conduit for healing energy. Proper breathing and pure thoughts are important.
According to the Hawaiians, thoughts contain mana, or energy. When thoughts are
combined with touch and breath they are transferred to the receiver. Therefore,
the therapist's thoughts must be focused on love and healing.
Spiritual Practice
If something has occurred which interferes with the therapist's ability to
control their thoughts, then ho’oponopono is practiced. Ho’oponopono is a prayer
of forgiveness and of making things right. It must be done if we have harmed
another person or ourselves in thought, word or deed. Ho’óponopono "is a
spiritual practice of making things right with yourself and all others before
God. One who truly practices ho'oponopono is one who takes a daily inventory of
his or her thoughts. This practice is frequently performed at sundown as a way
to end the day with a right heart. Any intent to harm, any conscious or
unconscious attitudes of malice, jealousy, or hatred must be rooted out and
replaced with aloha. Aloha is recognizing the divine nature in every living
thing."
Ho'opnopono is a Spiritual practice which was nearly lost in the last few
generations. It is a precisely structured traditional family health maintenance
procedure in which discordant family conflicts and problems are resolved through
pule, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution, forgiveness,
release and severance. Its overall goal is to "set things right", to correct and
restore pono among family members.
Learning Lomi Lomi
Most therapists come to Lomi Lomi after years of doing other types of massage
and bodywork. One can expect months of training and years of practice to truly
master the technique. This is due to the mental and emotional clarity and
physical stamina required of the practitioner. Many massage traditions teach
that the therapist must continually shield him or herself from negativity that
may be coming from the client, but Lomi Lomi teaches the opposite. The client is
considered to be the vulnerable one, open to and receiving the therapist's
energy, positive or negative. Lomi Lomi practitioners must learn to control
their thoughts and trust in their higher selves in order to direct positive
healing energy to clients. Dedicated practitioners know that this is a constant
process of self-awareness and prayer.
Disclaimer: All Information is provided for
educational purposes only and not intended
to be used for any therapeutic purpose, neither is it intended to diagnose,
prevent, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care
professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
While all attempts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this information,
The Health Information Network does not accept any responsibility for any errors or
omissions.