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HAWAIIAN LOMI LOMI THERAPY

by Madelyn Miller

Lomilomi is an ancient therapeutic healing practice Polynesians developed several centuries ago. They believed that illness has not only a physical cause but a psychiatric and spiritual cause as well. The healers used lomi lomi as an aid to what might be called "mental" healing. Lomilomi included a combination of massage, bathing and deep manipulation, every action being accompanied by an action of mind to aid healing and relieve pain. So the healer is truly trying for a wholeness of mind and body.

My lomilomi massage at the Ihilani was one of my all time favorites. It may be because afterwards, the sense of well-being lingered for weeks. Or it may be because the massage therapist, Wesley Sen combined Swedish massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, the use of suggestion and the ancient religious practice of" laying on of the hands" to heal. He dealt with the total person: spirit, soul, and body. It didn't hurt that he has a fabulous voice and chanted ancient rhythms. And it didn't even hurt when he walked on my back. The Hawaiian tradition of "walking massage" is unlike any other. In ancient times the natives supported their weight by using heavy sticks or rods.  Sometimes their rods were similar to parallel bars and at other times the bars were above like chinning bars or even like standing polls. This allowed them to control the amount of weight for pressure--feather-like or full weight of the operator. The patient is dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants while laying on the floor on a mattress instead of using a massage table. The Polynesians believe that as the practitioner applies pressure , stepping into the patient's body and pushing it into mother earth, the body is received back into the mother's womb for healing to take place. This is their way of explaining how the use of gravity is more effective than force in releasing compression of the body.

The exact procedure in Hawaiian massage combines both a gentle and hard rubbing and stroking, alternating soft and vigorous kneading. And at the Ihilani Spa, the experience is a total wellness one.

The Spa is constructed from native materials, and all the art work is created by Hawaiian artists. It is a perfect place to leave your worldly cares behind and let them help quiet your mind, cleanse and nourish your skin and refresh and vitalize your body and spirit

RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS;

Hydrating "after sun" body treatment to soothe and calm skin over-exposed to Hawaii's warm sun.

"HEAVENLY SPLENDOR" includes face and body therapies to restore balance and energy flow.

"Ali'i for a day" includes fitness classes, Hawaiian herbal wrap, Swedish massage, an essential facial, and spa cuisine.

If you have a body buddy, try the "ku'uipo celebration" for two, which includes fitness classes, Swedish massage, thalasso hydrotherapy, seaweed body mask and spa cuisine.

IHILANI SPA, KO OLINA RESORT. 92-1001 OLANI STREET. KAPOLEI, HAWAII, 800-626-4446

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