Lomi Lomi Nui
Lomi Lomi Nui , also known as Lomi Lomi ( Traditional Hawaiian Massage ), is a form of massage that originated in Hawaii . In its original form, it is more similar to therapeutic body work than a massage and aims to treat not only the body but also the soul. It was part of a healing treatment. The massages offered in the West as Lomi Lomi , on the other hand, are primarily wellness treatments.
In the local language , lomi means something like rubbing, kneading or pressing, the doubling reinforces this meaning. Nui means, among other things, big, important or "main". Lomi Lomi Nui can be roughly translated as "great strong kneading" as a term for this special form of massage.
origin
Lomi Lomi comes from the traditional healing art of Hawaii and was part of the local naturopathy , especially herbal medicine ( la'au lapa'au ). This was practiced by shamanic healers ( kahuna ). So the Lomi massage was only one element in the treatment of diseases. In addition, it was part of initiation rites during the transition into a new phase of life and also the ordination, which is why in the West it is sometimes referred to as "Hawaiian temple massage". Each healer developed his own massage style according to family tradition and tradition, so that there has never been just one “real” Lomi style in Hawai'i. With the Christianization of the Hawaiian population by American missionaries from 1820 onwards, the practice of the Polynesian religion and also of traditional healing treatment was banned, so that it was only possible illegally. As a pure relaxation massage, however , Lomi Lomi was allowed. It was only known in Europe at the end of the 20th century, primarily as a wellness massage. Western interpretations of shamanic philosophy in Hawaii have become known under the name Huna .
The treatment
A Lomi massage is not only used for relaxation, but also for physical, mental and spiritual cleansing. The Huna conception of health and illness is similar to that in Traditional Chinese Medicine : In a healthy body, energy ( mana ) flows. Blockages cause illness or can manifest as physical tension. The massage is intended to release these blockages on a physical and emotional level and restore the harmony of body, mind and soul.
This massage usually lasts around two hours. It is used a lot of oil, originally from the Kukui -Nuss. The practitioner works not only with the hands, but with the entire forearm including the elbows. There is also the four-handed Lomi massage, which is performed by two people at the same time. The movements are basically flowing and rocking slightly, with the "real" treatment being accompanied by Hawaiian music and chants, to which the masseur moves to the rhythm around the massage table. The intensity of the massage can vary, even within one treatment. So it can be very gentle and calming, but also demanding, going into pain in order to dissolve deep-seated tension.
The treatment begins with the back, which from a shamanic point of view is the place of the past. Then the front part of the body is worked on, with the abdomen being the place of feelings and memories. According to the spiritual background, a prayer is said before and after the Lomi massage.
Directions
Internationally, Aunty Margaret Machado , Uncle Kalua Kaiahua and Abraham Kawai'i DeCambra are considered to be important representatives of the Lomi styles. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark (as "Mauri" massage), Australia and Eastern Europe, mainly Lomi Lomi Nui is offered, a mixture of two directions. Another Lomi style is now called Romi . In a pure wellness treatment, however, certain differences in styles are of completely secondary importance. Protected names are always used for marketing. Various institutes offer training courses; training is not regulated by law in Germany.
literature
- Nancy S. Kahalewai: Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage . Verlag Annette Köhler, 2006, ISBN 0-9677253-5-6 (German translation by Simone Kalla)
- Makana Risser R. Chai: Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi - The Traditions of Hawaiian Massage & Healing. Bishop Museum Print, 2005, ISBN 1-58178-046-X
- Klaus Assmann: Lomi Lomi Nui - The temple massage from Hawaii. Aurum im Kamphausen Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-89901-412-X
- My soul massage . In: Die Zeit , No. 39/2005
Individual evidence
- ↑ lomi in Hawaiian Dictionaries
- ^ Nui in Hawaiian Dictionaries
- ↑ Sensual touches for pure relaxation . Focus , November 8, 2013; Retrieved June 20, 2017
- ↑ Lomi-Lomi massage: Pleasure for all the senses . Gala , October 17, 2016; Retrieved June 20, 2017
