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Lomilomi Restorative Massage

Lomilomi restorative massage is a technique derived from traditional Hawaiian massage. The word "lomi" means "to massage", or "to work in and out like a contented cat."

Practitioners of Lomilomi massage use more than just the hands. The forearms, elbows, knees, feet, and implements like sticks and stones are also part of this massage technique. In Hawaii, Lomilomi restorative massage varies widely, depending on the practitioner's family, island, and region.

The Lomilomi discipline was traditionally practiced in four basic contexts. It was a restorative practice of native healers, a luxury for ruling chiefs that aided digestion, a massage used to restore health and well being within the family, and it was also practiced by masters of the Hawaiian martial arts. Lomilomi massage was used in conjunction with prayer, as well as special herbs.

Lomilomi restorative massage evolved originally from early Polynesian methods. However, over time it became uniquely Hawaiian. The majority of the Hawaiian population practiced Lomilomi in some context. When missionaries from America arrived in the early 19th century, this native massage practice was scorned as part of heathen worship, and was forced to go underground, at least as far as medical practice went. It remained in common use as a form of restorative massage, however. Foreign visitors to the islands were known to receive it, although opinions varied.

In 1947, the Board of Massage was created to regulate massage practice, under which Lomilomi practice fell. Because most of the existing practitioners of Lomilomi techniques were either unwilling or unable to pass the required written test on anatomy and mainstream massage theory, Lomilomi went underground. Only in 2001 was the law modified to allow native practitioners to be certified for practice under alternative means.

Today, Lomilomi restorative massage is common not only in Hawaii, but also in Europe and Japan. However, most traditional practitioners do not work at a spa or mainstream massage office however this is slowly starting to change. They are more likely to see clients as part of an independent practice run out of the home.

Because Lomilomi restorative massage is part of a traditional holistic medical practice, clients may be asked to pray or meditate, as well as engage in lifestyle changes and self-help activities. Most massage disciplines consider this outside their scope, but the cultural origins of Lomilomi mean that it is as important as the massage itself.

Because Lomilomi restorative massage is a traditional practice, it can be hard for non-native Hawaiians to learn it. The Hawaiian Lomilomi Association maintains a list of teachers around the world. The majority are in Hawaii, California, Canada, and Japan. Some massage therapy schools in the United States teach this school of massage. There is no specific certification for Lomilomi outside of Hawaii. It is learned as part of a conventional massage therapy program.

Index of Massage Techniques

Swedish Massage - Deep Tissue Massage - Chair Massage - Ayurveda Massage - Hot Stone Massage - Craniosacral Therapy - Reflexology - Shiatsu - Sports Massage - Thai Massage - Rolfing Massage - Lomilomi Restorative Massage - Reiki Massage - Myofascial Release

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