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Lomi Lomi vs Esalan?
I would like to know the differences and/or similarities of Lomi Lomi and Esalan massage. I get calls for Esalan massages, and I think there are some similarities, but need more info.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on
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Gary, I have spoken to some of the Esalen instructors and asked the same questions. The strokes and meditative state are similar. Apparently the original people who started Esalen spent time studying lomi in hawaii as well. Lomi Lomi as you know covers hawaiian spiritual, the principles of the huna, the ha breath, ho'oponopono etc. All an integral part of "our" healing work, but also allows us to go to deeper levels with our work. Many Esalan/Lomi practitioners have studied both and find they blend well together. From my understanding Esalen (as told to me by their certified instructors), was always done nude (in the beginning) outdoors. Of course limited draping is an option too. THe practitioner also maintains a meditative place/state while performing the techniques.
So that is my understanding from my research...similar, no huna principles.
I am going to do an exchange with an Esalen instructor very soon and I will let you know.
I think the supine work is very different as well -
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Permalink Reply by rudy m smith on
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Absolutely - Esalen massage roots are from lomi lomi. I have studied different massages from all over the world and Lomi shows up everywhere - of course.
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Esalen will help you get over your body issues fast
Lomi will keep you connected to you Aumakua (spiritual body / spiritual world) better than anything else. Breath and prayer and movement. AH!!! -
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Permalink Reply by Pualani Gillespie on
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Aloha mai e Gary,
As a native practitioner of Hawaiian Lomilomi, with your permission, I would like to respond to question regarding Esalan style massage and Hawaiian Lomilomi. First of all I would like to say that Hawaiian Lomilomi is not a massage technique but a lifestyle that has its roots in Polynesian days of old. The lomilomi practitioners studied for many years under the guidance of a Kahuna master practitioner and lived and walked the lifestyle of healing through massage, la'au lap'au (Hawaiian herbal healing) and aiding the Kahuna in the diagnosis of illness especially of the kahuna and ali'i class of people ((masters and rulers). They lived lives of humility, servitude, and universal ho'oponopono (forgiveness). Many massage practitioners came to study Hawaiian Lomilomi from Aunty Margaret Machado in the 1960s and then moved back to San Francisco and Big Sur to begin their massage practices. Many other famous western practitioners also studied here in the sixties and then began their practices on the mainland and called it something else. We as Hawaiians, follow a humble lifestyle and feel that as long as healing is occuring that is Divine in nature and the practitioner follows principles of humility, universal and unconditional love and forgiveness in their practice then it is all good.
I as a visitor to Esalan in the 1980's did experience massage that would be now be illegal in most states due to the lack of draping and protection of personal privacy. Traditional Lomilomi was always done under a tapa cloth covering and there was always attention to privacy of the client. Minimal oil was used, due to the lack of it, except Kukui oil and then later coconut oil. Prayer (traditional style is chanting) is always used before and after the session. In respect of my kumus or teachers and kupuna elders I quote Aunty Margaet Machado in saying "If your hands are gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart, his soul will reach out to yours and God's Healing will flow through you both."
I hope this helps..
Mahalo nui loa,
Kumulomilomi Pualani Gillespie RN, LMT, NCTMB
Kealakekua, Hawaii -
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Pualani , thank you for making this clearer! Much gratitude. I, too, feel it is a lifestyle that is practiced and contributes to the profound aspect of this healing work. I also understand it to be Aloha 'Aina, the love of the land, an integral part as well of the studies with herbs, taro, etc. done with the Kahuna prior to the actual bodywork, as it has been explained and taught to me by several hawaiian elders. Aloha
Pualani Gillespie said:Aloha mai e Gary,
As a native practitioner of Hawaiian Lomilomi, with your permission, I would like to respond to question regarding Esalan style massage and Hawaiian Lomilomi. First of all I would like to say that Hawaiian Lomilomi is not a massage technique but a lifestyle that has its roots in Polynesian days of old. The lomilomi practitioners studied for many years under the guidance of a Kahuna master practitioner and lived and walked the lifestyle of healing through massage, la'au lap'au (Hawaiian herbal healing) and aiding the Kahuna in the diagnosis of illness especially of the kahuna and ali'i class of people ((masters and rulers). They lived lives of humility, servitude, and universal ho'oponopono (forgiveness). Many massage practitioners came to study Hawaiian Lomilomi from Aunty Margaret Machado in the 1960s and then moved back to San Francisco and Big Sur to begin their massage practices. Many other famous western practitioners also studied here in the sixties and then began their practices on the mainland and called it something else. We as Hawaiians, follow a humble lifestyle and feel that as long as healing is occuring that is Divine in nature and the practitioner follows principles of humility, universal and unconditional love and forgiveness in their practice then it is all good.
I as a visitor to Esalan in the 1980's did experience massage that would be now be illegal in most states due to the lack of draping and protection of personal privacy. Traditional Lomilomi was always done under a tapa cloth covering and there was always attention to privacy of the client. Minimal oil was used, due to the lack of it, except Kukui oil and then later coconut oil. Prayer (traditional style is chanting) is always used before and after the session. In respect of my kumus or teachers and kupuna elders I quote Aunty Margaet Machado in saying "If your hands are gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart, his soul will reach out to yours and God's Healing will flow through you both."
I hope this helps..
Mahalo nui loa,
Kumulomilomi Pualani Gillespie RN, LMT, NCTMB
Kealakekua, Hawaii -
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Permalink Reply by Gary Lloyd on
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Thank you all for your help.
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Gary
I just spoke with a colleague who has studied both.
She said the Lomi definitely provides more of the spiritual and sacred aspect of healing, than Esalen.
Her experience in the Lomi residential retreat style training brought a deeper sense of self, spirit and connection to her client. The ceremonies, chants and dances are all integral parts of this modality.
She saw the similarities in the flow and meditative state and that's where it stopped.
Remember, Lomi is more than technique as we spoke previously in class.
Makana Chai has a book out and I can find out the name as i can't recall right now.
Also view this:
http://lifesciencefoundation.org/08Ways05.html#v
It explains much more about the aspect of hawaiian healing by Lomi Kumu Dane Silva. Perhaps this will bring clarity on the lifestyle /life path.
Gary Lloyd said:Thank you all for your help. -
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Aloha Pualani,
You speak Pono (truth) from the heart.
For others - Pono (the truth) surrounding Lomi Lomi today is that many times it has been westernized to accomodate western ideology and cultural norms. Much was also lost to missionary days when touch was considered kapu (taboo). Today Lomi Lomi in it's present form has "evolved". Even classes taught by Aunty Margaret are quite westernized from the ancient forms of Lomi Lomi I studied in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, etc... I know this first hand because I have been to 25 different island locations and studied/shared with hundreds of Kumu throughout the pacific who were considered Kahuna or masters or wisdom keepers in the healing arts. All of the masters agreed that lomi lomi is a life long calling not a modality. This is because Lomi Lomi is more than massage. Lomi lomi incorporates religion, psychology, knowledge of herbs/medicine, hypnosis through chant, bone setting and chiropractic, and usually the practioner has intimate knowledge of the recipient and their family/personal problems. But, all also agreed that if there was a practical and easier way to help someone heal, then that method should be employed. Lomi Lomi was never intended to be a business where you hang a shingle and rub bodies all day for cash, it was a gift that was shared where and when needed! Payment was usually food if anything at all. Books such as Nana I ke Kumu (look to the source) by Pukui, Haertig, Lee, Mcdermott volume 2 , describe many Lomi techniques that would be considered Illegal today including massaging children genitalia in preparation for sex, page 32 and 76.
My point is this: If you want to truly learn Lomi Lomi, we don't realy teach Lomi Lomi these days as much as we provide instruction on some unique massage styles or movements and techniques. Mastering Lomi Lomi takes a lifetime. If someone truly wants to learn lomi lomi then it is best if they were born into and live within the culture where the true essence of Lomi Lomi is understood and best practised. Otherwise be gratefull to learn some new "strokes" and ways of looking at the world which will empower you and your client base..
Mahalo -
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Beautiful Rudy and you are so fortunate to have traveled and studied with all those wise elders.
I am compiling information for an article on the Roots of Lomi and have a few kumu contributing. If you are interested or if I can quote what you wrote below, that would be great.
I would like people to understand the original legacy and what it means and how it differs from the westernized versions.
Mahalo, Gloria
rudy m smith said:Aloha Pualani,
You speak Pono (truth) from the heart.
For others - Pono (the truth) surrounding Lomi Lomi today is that many times it has been westernized to accomodate western ideology and cultural norms. Much was also lost to missionary days when touch was considered kapu (taboo). Today Lomi Lomi in it's present form has "evolved". Even classes taught by Aunty Margaret are quite westernized from the ancient forms of Lomi Lomi I studied in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, etc... I know this first hand because I have been to 25 different island locations and studied/shared with hundreds of Kumu throughout the pacific who were considered Kahuna or masters or wisdom keepers in the healing arts. All of the masters agreed that lomi lomi is a life long calling not a modality. This is because Lomi Lomi is more than massage. Lomi lomi incorporates religion, psychology, knowledge of herbs/medicine, hypnosis through chant, bone setting and chiropractic, and usually the practioner has intimate knowledge of the recipient and their family/personal problems. But, all also agreed that if there was a practical and easier way to help someone heal, then that method should be employed. Lomi Lomi was never intended to be a business where you hang a shingle and rub bodies all day for cash, it was a gift that was shared where and when needed! Payment was usually food if anything at all. Books such as Nana I ke Kumu (look to the source) by Pukui, Haertig, Lee, Mcdermott volume 2 , describe many Lomi techniques that would be considered Illegal today including massaging children genitalia in preparation for sex, page 32 and 76.
My point is this: If you want to truly learn Lomi Lomi, we don't realy teach Lomi Lomi these days as much as we provide instruction on some unique massage styles or movements and techniques. Mastering Lomi Lomi takes a lifetime. If someone truly wants to learn lomi lomi then it is best if they were born into and live within the culture where the true essence of Lomi Lomi is understood and best practised. Otherwise be gratefull to learn some new "strokes" and ways of looking at the world which will empower you and your client base..
Mahalo -
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You are free to quote me... please make sure your quote credits the kapuna/kumus who compiled so much wisdom and information from days of old in the book/series I referenced. It would be easy for someone to take my quote about massage and children completely out of context without a full understanding of Hawaiian culture.
Gloria Coppola said:Beautiful Rudy and you are so fortunate to have traveled and studied with all those wise elders.
I am compiling information for an article on the Roots of Lomi and have a few kumu contributing. If you are interested or if I can quote what you wrote below, that would be great.
I would like people to understand the original legacy and what it means and how it differs from the westernized versions.
Mahalo, Gloria
rudy m smith said:Aloha Pualani,
You speak Pono (truth) from the heart.
For others - Pono (the truth) surrounding Lomi Lomi today is that many times it has been westernized to accomodate western ideology and cultural norms. Much was also lost to missionary days when touch was considered kapu (taboo). Today Lomi Lomi in it's present form has "evolved". Even classes taught by Aunty Margaret are quite westernized from the ancient forms of Lomi Lomi I studied in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, etc... I know this first hand because I have been to 25 different island locations and studied/shared with hundreds of Kumu throughout the pacific who were considered Kahuna or masters or wisdom keepers in the healing arts. All of the masters agreed that lomi lomi is a life long calling not a modality. This is because Lomi Lomi is more than massage. Lomi lomi incorporates religion, psychology, knowledge of herbs/medicine, hypnosis through chant, bone setting and chiropractic, and usually the practioner has intimate knowledge of the recipient and their family/personal problems. But, all also agreed that if there was a practical and easier way to help someone heal, then that method should be employed. Lomi Lomi was never intended to be a business where you hang a shingle and rub bodies all day for cash, it was a gift that was shared where and when needed! Payment was usually food if anything at all. Books such as Nana I ke Kumu (look to the source) by Pukui, Haertig, Lee, Mcdermott volume 2 , describe many Lomi techniques that would be considered Illegal today including massaging children genitalia in preparation for sex, page 32 and 76.
My point is this: If you want to truly learn Lomi Lomi, we don't realy teach Lomi Lomi these days as much as we provide instruction on some unique massage styles or movements and techniques. Mastering Lomi Lomi takes a lifetime. If someone truly wants to learn lomi lomi then it is best if they were born into and live within the culture where the true essence of Lomi Lomi is understood and best practised. Otherwise be gratefull to learn some new "strokes" and ways of looking at the world which will empower you and your client base..
Mahalo -
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Permalink Reply by Makana Risser Chai on
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Aloha kakou,
This conversation is interesting to me because I took my first massage course at Esalen. 10 years later I studied with Auntie Margaret Machado, and later I edited the Bishop Museum book, Na Mo'olelo Lomolomi: Hawaiian Traditions of Massage and Healing (which includes the quotes from Nana i ke Kumu mentioned above). I agree with much of what Gloria, Pua and Rudy say about traditional lomilomi. I think where the confusion may lie is with so-called "Temple Lomi" in the lineage of kahu Abraham. Both that style and Esalen use a lot of oil and very long strokes (e.g. toes to fingers).
The one thing above that I cannot fully agree with is the comment that lomilomi "always" occurred with the patient under a kapa. Although there is a quote in my book that the patient lies under a kapa, that is from one kupuna, in one place, at one time. I don't think we can generalize throughout all of Hawaiian history and throughout all of the Hawaiian Islands. Indeed as I noted in my book, traditionally, nudity was not remarkable.
I've also had some new information about oils I recently posted on my blog here http://hawaiianmassagelomilomi.blogspot.com/2009/10/secrets-of-lomi...
The most important aspect of lomilomi and all Hawaiian medicine is spiritual. Although I have had many amazing massages at Esalen, none of them had that spiritual connection. -
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Aloha Makana,
I agree with you on the nudity issue in old Hawaii (pre-missionary) is was unremarkable. Tapa or the fabric for much Hawaiian clothing/mats etc... was precious and a lot of work to produce and it was Kapu (taboo) to use anothers tapa. Given how hard it was to produce (tapa or kapa) having one that would be saturated with oils or dedicated to giving/receiving lomi lomi would be an unlikely thing. The Hawaiian language did not use the letter (t) Tahitians did. Hawaiian language used the letter (k) instead. As far as Lomi Lomi styles it realy is not important. Like all massage it can very different from place to place; BUT the connection with Aumakua/Spirit and Ancestoral roots IS what makes Lomi Lomi special and a true gift. Kahuna's were so very wise and understood that healing ultimately came from putting things right - body, mind and spirit and our relationships with others. The word LOKAHI means: peace, harmony and balance and is also the same word for HEALING. AH!
Mahalo for everyones gifts here.
Makana Risser Chai said:Aloha kakou,
This conversation is interesting to me because I took my first massage course at Esalen. 10 years later I studied with Auntie Margaret Machado, and later I edited the Bishop Museum book, Na Mo'olelo Lomolomi: Hawaiian Traditions of Massage and Healing (which includes the quotes from Nana i ke Kumu mentioned above). I agree with much of what Gloria, Pua and Rudy say about traditional lomilomi. I think where the confusion may lie is with so-called "Temple Lomi" in the lineage of kahu Abraham. Both that style and Esalen use a lot of oil and very long strokes (e.g. toes to fingers).
The one thing above that I cannot fully agree with is the comment that lomilomi "always" occurred with the patient under a kapa. Although there is a quote in my book that the patient lies under a kapa, that is from one kupuna, in one place, at one time. I don't think we can generalize throughout all of Hawaiian history and throughout all of the Hawaiian Islands. Indeed as I noted in my book, traditionally, nudity was not remarkable.
I've also had some new information about oils I recently posted on my blog here http://hawaiianmassagelomilomi.blogspot.com/2009/10/secrets-of-lomi...
The most important aspect of lomilomi and all Hawaiian medicine is spiritual. Although I have had many amazing massages at Esalen, none of them had that spiritual connection. -
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