Lomi Lomi

 As I transition back into massage therapy from my regular non-massage jobs I have taken on in other states, I have taken a Lomi Lomi course.  It's important for a serious massage therapist to update their technique periodically.

The reason for the importance is if a therapist has the same routine every session, it becomes recognizable to the client.  They will know the routine and will eventually know what you will be doing next.  A true massage artist will have a lot of different techniques, and might not have a routine at all.  Each treatment is customized to the client's needs.

Lomi Lomi is a traditional Hawaiian massage.  Lomi Lomi is both a Hawaiian and a Samoan word.  It means to knead or make soft.  Simplifed, it means massage.  It is also known as the "loving hands" massage. Incidentally, it doesn't use much of the hands as other massage modalities do.  This art is believed to have been brought to Hawaii by the early Polynesian settlers, while others believe it's an ancient healing art brought to ancient Hawaii from the mystical land of Mu.  It is performed in the spirit of Aloha and is based on the Hawaiian philosophy of Huna.

True Lomi Lomi incorporates other forms of healing with the knowledge of herbs and natural remedies, which also include a prayer, breath, and energy restoration.  It helped in relieving in blockages of the body, mind, and emotions.  In modern times, in the field of massage therapy, we do it more for the healing qualities of the bodywork and muscle manipulation.

In Lomi Lomi, different parts of the body can be massaged at the same time, as the therapist's arms can go over a larger range.  It brings out a deeper sense of relaxation and less focus on the practitioner.  According to Huma philosphy, the mind and body are invariably linked and mutually dependent on each other.  Good health happens when the body and mind are both in balance.

In the 1800s, with the colonization and overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and introduction of Christianity, lomi lomi was banned as it was thought to be shamanic.  It involved prayers and chants that Christians related to sorcery.  However, in modern Lomi Lomi, we do not rely on prayers and chanting and still completely benefit from the bodywork provided.

Scope of Practice

 Scope of practice is the range of techniques and practices a person can do in a job, that they are trained in.  A lot of clients have asked things outside of my scope of practice as they don't truly understand the difference between a chiropractor, a nurse, or a massage therapist.  A chiropractor is a doctor.  A massage therapist is not.  A massage therapist is also not a nurse.  Chiropractors and nurses can massage, but a massage therapist cannot do what Chiropractors do, nor what nurses do.

Massage means to rub the muscles.  So, in essence, Massage Therapists are people who went to school to learn how to manipulate muscles by applying pressure, palpation, effleurage, petrissage, kneading, holding, positioning, mobilizing, and stretching; for circulation, for relaxation, for pain relief, etc.

What we (or I) do NOT do is:
adjust (crack/pop) your bones (at least not on purpose)
diagnose (we will not tell you you have a disease or disorder)
we don't x-ray
we don't prescribe medications
we also don't do massage or bodywork modalities we are not certified for

Massage and Bodywork I am trained in:
Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue
Acupressure
Shiatsu
Reflexology
Aromatherapy
Hot Stone Therapy
Crystal Therapy
Reiki
Lomi Lomi
This list will be updated on a separate page on this website, eventually, as I continue learning and updating my techniques.

How I Got Into Massage Therapy

One of the questions I always get during a massage (or even in casual talk in my personal life) is: How did you get into massage therapy?

I was literally conceived in the industry.  My mother used to be a "cleaning lady" for the massage school, California College of Physical Arts (CalCOPA), in Huntington Beach, California.  Back then, it was only a one room classroom with a jacuzzi and shower.  She was pregnant with me when the founder of the school, Roland "Rollie" Clark, threw a baby shower for her.

As a toddler, my parents purchased a business in Huntington Beach called Huntington Sans Sauna.  This was where my earliest memories of receiving massage begin.  The spa included 2 showers, 2 bathrooms, a dry sauna, and about 5 or 6 massage rooms.  My mom used to take me to work with her and have me either sit in the lobby and be quiet as sessions were going or stay in one of the back rooms with all my toys and coloring books.  When I was allowed to sit i the lobby, sometimes regular clients got to know me.

During the times I got to sit in the lobby, I had access to the water cups and would get excited to fill up a Dixie cup with water to offer the clients who were finished with their session.  They would always seem delighted to see the three-year-old child giving them water, service with a smile.

When, I became a young adult, I was my mother's receptionist.  She needed someone who spoke great English to answer the phones and book appointments, while she and her employees were busy.  I did this for a couple years, and some of her massage therapists were continuing their education as laws and ordinances began to change in the county.  Sometimes, I was asked to be a practice body for their upcoming tests for licensure.  As I received massages, I enjoyed every minute of it.  I also thought, "I can do this."  My mother offered to send me to massage school.

Sitting on the thought of whether I should go or not, I decided to go to school.  I attended CalCOPA just like my mother did.  At the time, I only needed 200 hundred hours to get my license, but by the time I finished school, ordinances changed again, bumping the least amount of hours to 500 at the time.  At first, I was a little discouraged.  I wanted to earn money, not keep spending it on courses.

It went by quickly, and I was earning money, and I eventually started paying for my own classes as I continued education every year.  While in school, I was told the average career span for a massage therapist is 6 years.  I have been a massage therapist since 1998.  I owned a spa by the time I was 24.  I didn't like "owning" a business, but that's another story.  Though, I have had breaks in between my career, because of moving and needing to work, I took on jobs in other industries (retail and real estate), I have always considered myself a Massage Therapist.