How to Give a Lomi Lomi Massage

If you're a massage therapist, or are learning more about the art of massage, you'll definitely want to find out all the benefits of a Lomi Lomi massage. This type of therapy originated in Hawaii and helps to promote overall health. The technique has been passed down in Hawaiian families for generations. It involves using the elbows and arms to provide a fluid motion.Before you begin the massage, it's best to make sure that you are able to massage your client in a peaceful and relaxed environment. Giving the massage outdoors may be ideal if you are working at a resort or on a beach and aromatherapy will also help to make the client more relaxed. Try scents like lavender, which promote sleep and help to draw out impurities, or rose, which awakens the senses while relaxing the body.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aromatherapy
• Massage Oils
• Relaxed Atmosphere
• Music

Getting Started

1. Using your forearm and elbow, apply light pressure and move both over and under various body portions in a sweeping fluid motion. Make sure that you use your forearms to work both up and down the areas of the body that you are massaging. This will take some arm strength, but you'll definitely improve with more practice.

2. Now you're ready to move to the legs. Be sure to apply constant pressure down the entire length of the leg; run your forearm up and down the foot and leg while stretching the hip and lower leg. Then, you can apply pressure to the back area. You should move in a number of different directions all at once and use long strokes to stretch out the muscles of the lower back

3. Next, you'll massage under the shoulder blade. To do this, you will have to pull the recipient's arm behind his/her back and massage the shoulder blade using the tip of your elbow.

4. After you complete the steps listed above, you may want to repeat the steps again to give the recipient more of a relaxed feeling.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that practice makes perfect. If you are administering the Lomi Lomi massage as a professional, you may want to practice on a mannequin a few times to make sure you are massaging the correct areas of the body. Mark the parts of the back, shoulders and legs that should be massaged. Become familiar with the range of motion you should use, since you should be constantly moving during the massage in order to thoroughly relax the recipient's muscles.
• If you're giving the massage, be sure that you've exercised your arms and pectorals so that you can execute the massage properly. You may also want to enhance the experience by playing tranquil music, or a CD with nature sounds. If you're receiving the massage, be sure to drink lots of water after the massage to make it easier for toxins to leave your body.