As I transition back into massage therapy after working in other industries and living in other states, I have continued to invest in my professional education. Most recently, I completed a course in Lomi Lomi, a traditional Hawaiian massage practice.
I believe continuing education is an important part of being a serious massage therapist. No matter how many years a therapist has been practicing, it is valuable to periodically expand and refine one's techniques. Continuing education not only introduces new approaches to bodywork, but also helps prevent a therapist's practice from becoming predictable or overly routine.
When a therapist performs the exact same sequence during every session, regular clients may eventually become familiar with the pattern and anticipate what is coming next. While consistency has its place, skilled massage therapy should not be about simply repeating a memorized routine. A well-rounded therapist has a broad range of techniques and understands how to adapt each treatment to the individual client. Ideally, every session should be responsive to the client's needs rather than dictated by a predetermined sequence.
What Is Lomi Lomi?
Lomi Lomi is a traditional Hawaiian form of massage. The term is commonly translated as “to knead” or “to make soft,” essentially referring to the process of massage or working with the body.
Lomi Lomi is often described as the “loving hands” massage. Interestingly, despite that description, the technique does not necessarily rely on the hands as extensively as many other massage modalities. Practitioners may use broad, flowing movements involving the forearms and other parts of the body, creating a distinctive rhythm and continuity to the treatment.
Lomi Lomi developed within the cultural traditions of Native Hawaiians and has historically been associated with broader concepts of healing and wellness. Traditional practices varied among practitioners and families, and some forms incorporated knowledge of plants, prayer, breathwork, and other cultural practices.
The practice is often discussed in connection with Aloha and Huna, concepts that emphasize relationships, harmony, balance, and the interconnectedness of the mind and body. These cultural and spiritual dimensions are important to understanding Lomi Lomi in its traditional context.
There are also stories and traditions regarding the origins of Lomi Lomi, including accounts connecting it with the early Polynesian settlement of Hawaiʻi. Some modern teachings additionally incorporate stories about the legendary land of Mu. These accounts belong to the mythology and oral traditions surrounding the practice rather than established historical evidence.
The Lomi Lomi Technique
One of the characteristics I find particularly interesting about Lomi Lomi is its use of long, flowing movements. Rather than concentrating on one small area at a time, the therapist can work across a much broader portion of the body. Different areas may even be addressed within the same continuous movement.
This creates a distinctive quality of movement that can encourage deep relaxation while allowing the therapist to maintain a fluid connection between techniques. The emphasis is less on a rigid sequence and more on the overall flow of the treatment.
The philosophy traditionally associated with Lomi Lomi views the mind and body as interconnected. From that perspective, physical and emotional well-being are not entirely separate concepts, and balance is an important component of overall wellness.
In contemporary massage therapy, practitioners may incorporate aspects of Lomi Lomi primarily for the physical benefits of massage, including relaxation, mobility, and the manipulation of soft tissue. A modern professional massage session may therefore differ considerably from traditional cultural healing practices.
Lomi Lomi and Hawaiian History
The history of Lomi Lomi is also connected to the broader history of Hawaiʻi. During the nineteenth century, Hawaiian cultural practices were heavily affected by colonization, political upheaval, and the introduction and expansion of Christianity. Certain traditional healing practices were discouraged or suppressed because they were viewed by missionaries and others as incompatible with Christianity or associated with sorcery.
Traditional Hawaiian healing could include prayer, chanting, and other spiritual practices. These elements were sometimes misunderstood or condemned by outsiders.
Modern Lomi Lomi massage, however, can be practiced as a form of bodywork without incorporating prayer, chanting, or religious elements. For me as a massage therapist, the value of studying Lomi Lomi is in learning its distinctive approach to movement, rhythm, body mechanics, and therapeutic touch while respecting the cultural tradition from which it developed.
Continuing education allows me to bring new techniques into my practice without losing sight of the most important principle of massage therapy: the treatment should be adapted to the individual client rather than forcing every client into the same routine.
