Heart-Centered Healing Modalities
About Lomi Lomi
What is Lomilomi?
Lomilomi (or Lomi Lomi) is the traditional bodywork of Hawai'i. It has existed since ancient times and been passed down through the generations by the Kahunas and healers of the islands. Each island has their own unique lineages but all shared some common traits. Lomi is a holistic healing modality; the body, mind, and spirit are viewed as one. Practitioners use meditation and breathing to be fully present with the receiver, offering them what they need in that moment. For this reason, Lomi is not generally practiced as a uniform routine, the same for every client. Instead, we "read the script" of the body, and work to release physical and energetic blockages that are causing pain, and other symptoms. In Hawaiian spirituality, physical pains were not seen as separate from the mind, so Lomi is designed to work on the psychological level as well, releasing old unhealthy patterns, beliefs, and traumas.
Lineages of Lomilomi
In my practice, I blend techniques and principles from several different lineages of Lomi to create customized sessions for each receiver. I honor and thank all the Kahunas and teachers who have shared these lineages with the world. Mahalo!
Sherman 'Raman Das' Dudoit
Heartworks Lomilomi
Kahu Abraham Kawai'i
Temple-Style Lomi
Lomi Ke Ala Hoku
Aunty Margaret Machado
Big Island Lomi
Serge Kahili King
Kahi Loa Lomi
Uncle Harry Uhane Jim
Traditional Hawaiian Touch Medicine & Lomi HA
Heartworks Lomilomi
Heartworks is a traditional style of Lomilomi, passed down since olden times by the Kahunas of Maui. The story is that in ancient times, warriors would come back from battle beaten and broken, and the healers would use this style of Lomi to prepare the body for 'bonesetting' a technique used to reset broken bones. Heartworks was shared with the world by a man named Sherman 'Raman Das' Dudoit, a Hawaiian native who was instructed to do so by his teacher, a powerful Kahuna.
Like many styles of Lomi, Heartworks strokes are inspired by the ocean waves. What makes this lineage unique is the use of long, full-body strokes that are highly effective at releasing blockages and getting energy flowing. On a physical level, this provides a thorough lymphatic drainage massage, which helps the body detoxify and release stagnant energy. The full length strokes, help open the body, and then individual areas are targeted specifically, working the way through the whole body in a very fluid way. Pressure varies to suit the receiver. This work can be very light and gentle or provide deep tissue massage. Sherman was also a devout practitioner of Indian Advaita (Nondualism) philosophy, and integrated this meditation and philosophy into his practice.
On a mental and emotional level, it is highly soothing to the mind, calming to the nervous system and very relaxing. In Hawaii, each part of the body is correlated with different emotions, so attention is paid to that while working on the body. On an energetic or spiritual level, this work is very meditative. The practitioner practices breathing into their heart and breathing out divine love through the palms of their hands, which are connected to the heart. The receiver is also instructed to breathe deeply which often has a profound effect on their experience.
Temple Style Lomi
Temple-Style Lomi is almost completely opposite from Heartworks in appearance and technique, although the underlying philosophic principles are similar. This lineage was shared by a Kahuna named Kahu Abraham Kawai'i. It is called "Temple Style", a reference to the ancient practice of sending young people to the temples to receive hours, often days of Lomi to help them transition into adulthood in a balanced and healthy way.
Another aspect of Temple Style Lomi is the use of assisted stretches, hip twists, backbends, and Deep Joint Rotations. Those familiar with Thai Yoga Massage know that a qualified practitioner can help you get into deeper stretches and twists than you can achieve on you own. As you relax into the stretch, the body loosens and opens, releasing tightness, pain, and old thought patterns, while increasing flexibility.
In Temple Style Lomi, we generate mana (energy) with the breath and a dance step called the Ka'alele'au and share that energy with the receiver. This work is like a dance, following the rhythm of the body with cascading waves of forearm and elbow strokes which clear away blockages, obstructions, or traumas being stored in the body that can manifest as physical symptoms such as pain, tension, inflexibility, and disease. Like with Heartworks, pressure always matches the needs of the receiver and can be light or very deep. However, the use of forearms as a primary connection point makes Temple-Style feel very different from Heartworks.
Deep Joint Rotations are unique to this lineage, and involve rotating the shoulders, hips, knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, and neck very slowly at their maximum capacity several times in each direction. This clears out the joints where many Hawaiians believe memories of old traumas are stored and improves range of motion.
The psychological and energetic effects of Temple Style can include a balancing of the body's energy, release of traumas and old patterns and wounds, and a sense of alignment.
Big Island Lomi
Another lineage I incorporate comes from Aunty Margaret, a beloved Kahuna Lapa'au (healer) from the Big Island. She was known for saying, "Lomi is praying work. I just Love the person and God does the rest!" Her style of Lomi included taking herbal remedies and doing saltwater colon cleanses along with massage.
The techniques in this style also emulate the ocean waves and include both hand and forearm strokes. They are a bit more gentle in nature and many techniques are repeated three times for body, mind, and spirit.
Traditional Hawaiian Touch Medicine & Lomi HA
This work was shared with me by modern-day Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim who studied with many kahunas and healers on Kauai and the Big Island. Harry practices a very intuitive method of healing that uses a variety of skill sets for what he calls "Easy Aloha".
Techniques include:
Bonewashing: Clearing the skin of the bone of stored memories and traumas
Creating Space: Moving stuck energy out of the body through pulling, shaking, & stretching
Lomi Ha: Hawaiian-Style Breathwork, very effective at trauma recovery
Lau Lima: Laying on of Hands - Sharing Aloha through touch
Ho'oponopono: Releasing unforgiveness and coming back into harmony
Kahi Loa Lomi
This lineage is not really "massage", but more of a shamanic bodywork, taught by Serge Kahili King.
In this work, the practitioner invokes each of the 4 elements (Water, Fire, Stone, and Air) and the 3 kingdoms (Plant, Animal, and Human). The receiver chooses a specific example of each to receive the blessings of, and the practitioner shares that energy with the receiver through gentle touch, over the clothes.
The experience of receiving can be very calming and peaceful and is often used with the elderly and children.
Some Info About the Sessions
What to Bring: The sessions often involve a lot of oil, so please come with clothes that you're ok getting oily afterwards. If you have long hair, please bring a hair tie. I also suggest bringing a water bottle, as it is important to drink extra water following the session to support your lymphatic system in the detox process.
The Session: We will usually begin sessions with a bit of dialogue to discuss your goals and intentions for the session. The intention may be simple like relaxing or relieving some pain, or we can go as deep as you want into the emotional/spiritual side of things. You are welcome to share as much detail as you like.
Breath is very important during the Lomi sessions. I will often guide some breathing or meditation at the beginning, and encourage you to continue focusing on your breath throughout the session. Deep rhythmic breathing will help the body release physical and mental/emotional tension, so maintaining a breathing pattern can increase the benefits of the work dramatically.
Lomi can sometimes bring up different emotions or memories as different areas get worked on. If they do, I encourage you to continue breathing with them and you are free to share anything that comes up out loud if you feel inclined to do so.
Draping: There are several options for draping in my practice.
Lomilomi is often done with a loin-cloth-style draping which allows for more flow across the body. This promotes integration between the regions of the body. If you feel more comfortable with the conventional western-style of draping, we can do that...uncovering one area of the body at a time. Or we can do the session fully clothed without oil, which is also common in some styles of Lomi. It is up to you to decide how you will feel the most comfortable and you don't have to make the same choice at each session.
Lomilomi sessions have the option to include front body and abdominal work. The benefits of the work include stimulating digestion, detoxing the gut, lymphatic drainage, relieving cramps, and releasing emotions and traumas that get stored in this part of the body. If there is time in the session, you can choose to receive the full front body work, just the abdominal work with chest draping, or to skip this section entirely and devote more time to other areas.
Lomilomi, along with everything else I offer, is entirely non-sexual. Any attempt to make it so, will result in the immediate ending of the session with no refund.
After the session is over, I recommend leaving yourself some spacious time. It is ideal to let the effects of the work settle in your body and mind before returning to your regular activities. Sometimes, messages and intuitions will continue to drop in over the next dew days!
Of course there is only so much I can explain in writing...by far the best way to learn about Lomi is to experience it.
Become a Lomi Lomi Practitioner
If you want to become a practitioner of Lomilomi and offer this healing work to others, I would be happy to train you in it. I host residential trainings where you will develop the skills to begin a bodywork practice or add this amazing modality to your existing practice. I also host classes with some of my favorite teachers to share their knowledge.
If you want to hold a Lomi Training in your town, contact me to arrange it! I am happy to travel and teach anywhere!