Lomilomi Massage

Lomilomi massage This article is about the massage technique. For Lomi herbs to be used. He prays as he picks the herbs. No one lomi salmon, see Lomi salmon. should call him back or distract his attention, all should be as still as possible for they do not want the vibration Lomilomi is the word used today to mean “massage ther- broken. They knew the laws of vibration. They knew the power of the spoken word. They knew Nature. They apist” or “Hawaiian massage.” In the Hawaiian language, [4] the word used traditionally, called lomi, means “to knead, gathered the vibration of the plentiful.” to rub, or soothe; to work in and out, as the paws of a contented cat.”[1]

1

2 History of lomilomi

Traditional practice

The early Polynesian settlers brought their own form of massage and it evolved to become something uniquely Hawaiian. It was practiced by everyone, from child to chief. As an indigenous practice that evolved over hundreds of years in isolated valleys throughout the island chain, there are many different “schools” of lomilomi with different approaches and techniques.[1]

Lomilomi practitioners use the palms, forearms, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, feet, even sticks and stones. It may be performed with or without lubrication. Lomilomi practices varied by family, Ahupuaʻa (traditional region) and island.[1]

Traditionally in ancient Hawaii lomilomi was practiced in After American missionaries arrived in 1820 and converted many in the Kingdom of Hawaii to Christianity, four contexts: various laws prohibited “heathen” worship and any related Native Hawaiian healing practices. Lomilomi as 1. As a healing practice of native healers -- kahuna part of medical practice went underground. But lomilomi lāʻau lapaʻau (healers) and kahuna hāhā (diagnosas restorative massage remained popular not only among ticians) the Hawaiians, but among foreign residents and visitors 2. As a luxury and an aid to digestion, especially by the as well. Charles Wilkes describes it being offered after his ascent of Mokuaweoweo in 1841 on the United ruling chiefs (aliʻi) States Exploring Expedition.[5] For Robert Louis Steven3. As restorative massage within the family son it was “disagreeable”, but English adventurer Isabella [6] 4. By ʻōlohe lua (masters of the Hawaiian martial arts) Bird found it delightful. Not only did foreigners receive lomilomi, they also gave it. According to William Brigham the first Director of the Bishop Museum, writAlthough the term kahuna lomilomi is widely used in ing in 1908, one of the most skilled practitioners was contemporary writings, traditionally the people who perSanford Dole, one of the leaders of the overthrow of the formed lomilomi were called ka poʻe lomilomi (the mas- Kingdom.[7] sage people) or kanaka lomi (massage person). A related term, kauka lomilomi, was coined in 1920 to de- Although the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi scribe osteopathic physicians.[2] The word kauka is the banned curing through “superstitious methods” in 1886, massage was not subject to legislation until 1945. In Hawaiianized version of doctor. 1947, the Board of Massage was established to regulate Future practitioners were selected in childhood, around lomilomi and massage. The law required practitioners to age 5, based on birth signs such as weather events, birth- pass a written test on anatomy, physiology and massage marks (especially on the head), and kind behavior. After theory. Many renowned native healers were unable or una decade or more of study, they would begin to practice willing to pass the test, and thus lomilomi as restorative but mastery was believed to take a lifetime.[1] massage was forced underground. In 2001, the LegislaLike all endeavors in old Hawaii, lomilomi was conducted ture passed Act 304, amending HRS section 453, allowwith prayer and intention. Hawaiian kupuna (elder) Aun- ing native practitioners to be certified by the Hawaiian tie Margaret Machado describes lomilomi as “praying” medical board, Papa Ola Lōkahi, or by the various comwork.[3] Emma Akana Olmstead, a kupuna of Hana, munity health centers. This law is controversial among Maui, in the 1930s, said, “When a treatment is to be some native practitioners, but those who are certified (but given, the one who gives the treatment first plucks the not licensed) can provide lomilomi without fear of pros1

2

4

REFERENCES AND SOURCES

ecution under Hawaii state law.[8]

• Pukui & Elbert dictionary

3

• R. Makana Risser Chai, Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: The Traditions of Hawaiian Massage & Healing, Bishop Museum Press.

Lomilomi today

Many traditionally taught lomilomi practitioners find it virtually impossible to offer authentic lomilomi in a spa setting and are unwilling to work in most spas or massage offices. They prefer to treat selected clients quietly and privately, often in home settings. Lomilomi practitioners may also ask their clients to pray, meditate, change their diets, and engage in other self-help activities usually believed to lie outside the scope of massage in an effort to truly help the clients obtain optimal health. Unlike traditional lomilomi kupuna (elder) recognized by the Hawaiian community who require students to study with them for years, some massage schools around the world purport to train therapists in lomilomi in a few hours and some massage therapists may incorporate techniques from other massage modalities during the session. While often pleasant, this style of massage which is now a common and popular massage modality throughout the world, especially in Hawaii, Japan, Europe and Australia, is very different from authentic lomilomi.[9]

4

References and sources

[1] Stillerman, Elaine (2009). Modalities for Massage and Bodywork. Mosby. pp. 115–126. ISBN 032305255X. [2] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 85. [3] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 39. [4] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 40. [5] Charles Wilkes (1849). Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. Volume IV. p. Page 162. [6] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 77. [7] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 26. [8] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 177. [9] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page 209.

• R. Makana Risser Chai, Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha, Hawaiian Insights. • Nancy Kahalewai, Hawaiian Lomilomi - Big Island Massage, Island Massage Publishing. • Robert Noah Calvert, The History of Massage, Healing Arts Press. • History of Lomilomi, July 2000 issue of Massage Magazine. • Hawaiian Lomilomi Association

3

5

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1

Text

• Lomilomi massage Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomilomi_massage?oldid=623123631 Contributors: Ahoerstemeier, Kzhr, Zora, Karl-Henner, Rich Farmbrough, Viriditas, A2Kafir, Markaci, RHaworth, RussBot, Asarelah, Curpsbot-unicodify, NiTenIchiRyu, Sardanaphalus, SmackBot, Makana Chai, Bronayur, LadyofShalott, CmdrObot, Amn Kit, Cydebot, MantaRay, Thijs!bot, SGGH, Julia Rossi, Janventures, RickSalsman, ThT, Jimjamns, JabbaTheBot, Luminator, Nasisu, Ngebendi, XLinkBot, Addbot, Manaola33, Megan Hieatt, Jarble, Newportm, Jim1138, Sesu Prime, W Nowicki, Hellknowz, MastiBot, Gluclose1, Lomiola, EmausBot, Rami radwan, Solarra, Edwardraish, Helpful Pixie Bot, Mairehau, TylerDurden8823, Ethnoarchaeologist, Cerabot, Kamahua, Karinpower and Anonymous: 34

5.2

Images

5.3

Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0