 Lomilomi massage practice is called 'praying' work.
Added: 02/27/2006 |
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Lomilomi massage practice has a very long and difficult history. The lomilomi massage practice was started by early settlers from Polynesia who came to Hawaii. Soon the practice became really Hawaiian. American missionaries who came to the area in 1820 banned the medical and after that the massage practice. Today the massage is very popular, especially in Europe, Japan and Hawaii.
Speaking about lomilomi massage practice, it is necessary to define the meaning of the word lomilomi. From the Hawaiian language lomilomi is translated as a masseur. Lomi is the name of the massage. In Hawaiian lomi means to squeeze, to massage, to press and to rub in the same way as the claws of the contented cat.
People, who perform lomilomi massage practice, massage the muscles of the client using their feet, knees, elbows, knuckles, fingers, forearm, palms as well as stones and sticks. As lomilomi massage practice was indigenous, it varied by island, region and even family. As a medical practice, lomilomi was used for the development of children, during labor and pregnancy, for the physical practice and to set bones.
Some describe lomilomi massage practice as 'praying' work. Lomilomi was performed with intention and prayer. When the practitioner was to give the treatment, the first thing he had to do was to pluck the herbs he was going to use. The practitioner prayed as he was doing this. No one was to call him or distract in some other way. The procedure was to be as still as possible. It was done not to break the vibration. The practitioners knew vibration laws. They knew the great power of the spoken word. In one word, they knew Nature.
Speaking about the history of the lomilomi massage practice, it is necessary to say that it is rather long. There were a lot of hardships on the way of lomilomi traditional practice. So, it was brought to the Hawaii by the early settlers from Polynesia. Soon the lomilomi massage therapy developed and became something really Hawaiian. At that time it was practiced by everyone irregardless of age and social position.
But soon everything changed. American missionaries came in 1820. They converted a lot of Hawaiian people to Christianity. The traditional healing was announced as primitive. Some laws, which prohibited the medical healing practice, were introduced. As a type of medical practice, lomilomi had to go underground. But lomilomi as a massage stayed popular not only with the native inhabitants of Hawaii but also with the foreigners and visitors.
In spite of the fact that the legislature banned the use of 'superstitious methods' on the territory of the Hawaiian Kingdom, lomilomi massage was not subject to the legislation till 1945. In 1947 a special massage board was created. It was to regulate massage and lomilomi. According to the law the practitioners were to pass a written exam in such disciplines as massage theory, physiology and anatomy. There were a lot of skilful native healers who were not able to pass the exam, so lomilomi massage also had to go underground.
Today lomilomi is a very popular type of massage, especially in Europe, Japan and Hawaii. Usually lomilomi practitioners do not want to work in a common massage parlor or spa. They prefer to perform the massage to some selected clients privately and quietly, traditionally in home settings. The practitioners can ask their clients to meditate, pray or change their diet. Lomilomi is more than just a common massage.
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