RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Do Morley College still do such a course? It isn’t mentioned on http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/guide/exer_hea/exer_hea.htm
I did the one-day course organised by Essentials for Health on 20 November and was extremely impressed. But the woman who gave the course (Lizy Newton - www.hawaiianlomilomi.co.uk ) is based in Wales: too far for me to travel for a massage!
I’m wondering whether there are different types or schools of Lomi? The course taught what was described as the ‘Temple Style’, which involved deep forearm strokes over the whole length of the body, from shoulder and ankle and back again. This seems very different from the ‘Hawaiian pulsing and Lomi’ advertised on http://www.massagelondon.org , which refers to pulsing through clothing and without oil.
According to http://www.marlboroughhousetherapycentre.co.uk/ , there are ‘only three Lomi Lomi specialists in the country’. But if anyone who was on the course on 20 November reads this forum, I would definitely be interested in exchanging treatments.
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
oh - maybe they don't this academic year, but they did one last year -
sorry for the misinformation -
maybe i looked at the website before they changed their prospectus
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
i found it on the link actually Alan, it is on page 7 it ran for 6 weeks in october....
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Thanks for pointing this out: sorry that I didn't see it the first time I looked (but I was too late for this year's course anyway !) I've sent the college an email asking if they intend to repeat the course in 2005. I would definitely recommend this type of massage (subject to my confusion about whether there are different types of 'lomi', as mentioned in my previous email).
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
I'm now halfway through the 'Lomi Lomi' course at Morley College: many thanks to Miss Alaska for recommending it. The tutor is Rosalie Samet who has been referred to earlier in this thread. She describes her style of Lomi Lomi as 'transformational style' and there seem to be some significant differences from the 'Temple style' as taught by Lizy Newton at the 'Essentials for Health' course and in Wales. But both tutors teach the use of bodyweight to apply fairly firm pressure (rather than the 'gentle strokes' referred to by 'frangipanisue'). Also, as 'Angelfish' mentioned, both tutors teach it as an oil massage over the whole length of the body, requiring the student/client to undress completely. This seems very different from the style of 'lomi' advertised on [link= http://www.massagelondon.org/ ] http://www.massagelondon.org [/link], which refers to pulsing through clothing and without oil. I would guess that 'lomi' may simply be a Hawaiian word for 'massage'? But a client who was used to the 'through clothes' style of massage advertised on [link= http://www.massagelondon.org/ ] http://www.massagelondon.org [/link] (which sounds rather similar to shiatsu) may well be unhappy at being asked to undress completely for an oil massage, and a client who was used to either the Lizy Newton or the Rosalie Samet style of 'lomi lomi' would probably be surprised at being told to keep all their clothes on!
If anyone knows any more about the different styles of 'lomi lomi', or can guide me to some websites other than the ones already quoted on this thread, I would be very interested to hear from them.
Thanks
Alan
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Alan, thanks for coming back and updating us with your training.
Sounds really interesting, i'd love to hear more about the massage technique, how you use it and how is it to give, and most importantly what is it like to recieve as a client?
Thanks
Mat xxx
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Hi Mat
I have really enjoyed receiving the massage: having the whole length of the body from the shoulder to ankle ‘smoothed out’ in one flowing stroke feels really relaxing. The depth of pressure does depend on the therapist giving the massage: over the two courses, I have so far received treatment from four different students, and one of them did use very much lighter pressure than the other three.
I have had this type of deep ‘full length’ effleurage several times in Jamaica, and in hotel spas in Europe, but there seem to be very few tutors in the UK who teach such techniques: most of them prefer the ‘ITEC’ method of doing ‘one bit at a time’ (although I am lucky to have found an excellent therapist within travelling distance of Croydon who is very good at such full-length strokes). The other massage which I have sampled which gives a similar feeling of deep relaxation is ‘chavutti thirumal’.
Giving the massage feels relatively easy because the therapist is using bodyweight and leaning into the client, rather than using muscular strength. In this respect it is broadly similar to the style of massage taught on some sports massage and deep tissue courses. But one difference is that Rosalie Samet seems to disapprove of the wide ‘lunge’ stance which is commonly taught on other deep tissue courses: she prefers the therapist’s legs to be kept only about hip distance apart, so that the therapist keeps moving the feet (in a sort of Hawaiian dance motion) as he/she moves up and down the client’s body.
One difference between the ‘Lizy Newton’ technique and the ‘Rosalie Samet’ techniques is that in Lizy Newton’s treatments, quite a lot of work was carried out underneath the client’s body. With the client face down, this was largely restricted to work on the quadriceps; but after the client had turned into a supine position, the massage included some long strokes with the masseur standing at the client’s head, placing his hands under the client’s shoulders, and then sliding the hands and arms along the length of the client’s back.
The other issue with this type of massage is draping (particularly with supine female clients). Rosalie has told us that in America, female clients are usually ‘topless’ to receive the massage. Most of the women on the current Morley course didn’t seem keen on this; so firstly, Rosalie has segregated the men from the women (so that the massage is on a same-sex basis) and secondly, the women are draped so that the ‘loincloth’ covers their breasts and abdomen as well as the genital area. However they are required to leave the sides of the body bare, so that the draping is less secure than most of us are accustomed to. On the earlier ‘Lizy Newton’ course, I worked on two women who were draped in this way, and it does require careful placing of the ‘loincloth’ so that it doesn’t slip to one side and expose a breast. Also, from a male perspective, having the loincloth tucked into one’s genital area can feel a bit intrusive.
Regards
Alan
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Hi
The oil which is generally used in Lomi Lomi massageis Kukui nut oil.
The Hawaiian word kukui means enlightened, and this highly penetrating oil was treasured by ancient Hawaiians for its soothing and healing properties.
High in Linoleic essential fatty acids with vitamins A, C, E absorbed through the skin. Used by Aromatherapists for psoriasis, sunburn, irritations, superficial burns, chapped skin, baby oil, minor skin disease, moisturising and renewing skin for a natural look. Kukui Nut Oil penetrates, moisturises and helps renew skin for a natural, healthy look with anti-oxidant vitamins A, C, E. Useful for psoriasis, a penetrating oil and when smoothed on the skin it soothes and softens sunburns and irritations. In Hawaii new born babies were bathed in this easily absorbed oil. It has a reputation of being excellent for the treatment of superficial burns, chapped skin and some minor skin diseases. This oil is high in Linoleic acids, which are essential fatty acids vital to the metabolism of healthy skin. These organic fatty acids cannot be synthesised by the body, but must be acquired from dietary sources. Kukui Nut oil is readily absorbed by the skin, providing those tissues with essential elements.
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
An interesting discussion,
For some reason I thought Hawaiian massage was done with both the practitioner and the recipient standing up and being more akin to a wrestling mach than a massage as in a bear hug etc. you learn something new every day 🙂
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Hi Paul
Sorry to disappoint whatever ideas you may have been harbouring about wrestling with your clients, but we havent been taught anything resembling such a technique !!
With regard to Mantras comments about Hawaiian kukui nut oil, Lizy Newton advised us against using this because
it solidifies in normal UK temperatures and the nut oils turn rancid in your massage clothes. I found that however much I washed my T-shirts and pareos they retained a stale smell.
Morley College advised us to bring almond oil to the classes (although personally I prefer to use grapeseed, in case any clients have a nut allergy).
Regards
Alan
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Hi Alan
I do remember watching a TV program about someone travelling around the world and trying out different things in different areas, the program showed a massive Hawaiian who looked more like a sumo wrestler, at one point in the treatment as it was done standing up. The therapist put one arm around his shoulder and the other went between his legs and he lifted him sideways and squeezed him and then proceeded to shake him.
Not quite what I had expected to see but it looked very impressive 🙂
IMO I think one of the problems we have is imported therapies are often adulterated and westernised when they bring them across, this is a real shame as if something is worth doing then it is worth doing it properly.
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
Hi Paul
Thanks: the more I learn, the more curious I become about the different types of lomi lomi / Hawaiian massage !
Regards
Alan
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
I'm 'bouncing' this thread, not because I have anything much to add to what I wrote two years ago, but in response to Bodywork's recent query.
Alan
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
I was fortunate to study with Rosalie Samet several years ago when she was still in Glastonbury. Last I was in touch with her, she had moved to Sussex (Hove) if anyone is looking to experience this style.
RE: Lomi Lomi Massage
ORIGINAL: Paul Crick
Ido remember watching a TV program about someone travelling around the world and trying out different things in different areas, the program showed a massive Hawaiian who looked more like a sumo wrestler, at one point in the treatment as it was done standing up. The therapist put one arm around his shoulder and the other went between his legs and he lifted him sideways and squeezed him and then proceeded to shake him.
Temple style lomi lomi, I've seen it done when turning the client over, I've usually seen the client being turned over by sliding them around on the table, but if the therapist is strong enough, actuallylifting up the client is an option, sometimes a bit of a walk around the room. It makes good TV footage, but a minute either side of that footage would've been someone lying on the table with someone working on them, not nearly as entertaining 🙂
Lomi means to knead, so it is just the word for massage, and there are different styles or lomi. Lomi is also used for kneading anything - Lomi fish is a well known traditional dish - the fish is marinated and massaged with the marinade (usually in a plastic bag these days).