So what exactly is Hot Stone Massage and where does it’s healing power come from?

It is a well-known fact that heat applied to the body can be very healing, however not so well-known is the fact that stones themselves also have powerful healing qualities. Many native cultures believe that stones have innate ‘healing powers’ and the Hawaiian culture which is well known for it’s many effective healing methods, believe that stones are in fact, ‘keepers of the spirit’ and are in fact ‘alive’. Further to this, every type of stone has a different vibrational quality that in turn effects the vibration of everything it comes in contact with. The most common and effective stones used for hot stone therapy are volcanic ‘basalt’, which tend to have a soft, soothing vibration, which has a potent calming effect on the person receiving a hot stone therapy treatment, and at the same time an ‘energising’ effect on the hot stone therapy practitioner. Keeping this in mind, if you combine the healing power of heat, along with the healing vibration of the stones as well as the healing ‘intention’ of the hot stone therapy practitioner (and client), it should come as no surprise that more and more people are flocking to hot stone therapy for relief from their ailments. It is very healing!

So what can you expect in a Hot Stone Massage treatment?

Well, although hot stone therapy treatments will vary considerably in quality, the stones themselves are used in 3 primary ways:

1) As a massaging tool in combination with the therapists hands.

2) Placed stationary on top of the body as part of a specific layout i.e. chakra balancing.

3) Placed underneath the weight of the body under the major muscles groups and especially along each side of the spine.

You’ll find that the best Hot Stone Massage treatments will last at least 90 minutes and some hot stone therapy treatments will go beyond 2 hours. This longer time is needed to experience the full benefit of the stones. Do not even bother with a Hot Stone Massage session that is less than 90 minutes, unless of course it is an introductory treatment/taster. Otherwise you’ll be left wondering what all the hype was about. When done properly, most people experience very deep levels of relaxation and some clients often have profound personal realizations while having a Hot Stone Massage treatment, as the stones work on unblocking energy patterns on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. This is why it is recommended that on the day of your Hot Stone Massage booking you plan your schedule accordingly so that you give yourself plenty of time after the treatment to allow yourself to slowly ‘come back and ground.

Although the effects of each Hot Stone Massage treatment will be unique for each person depending on their current health condition and state of mind etc, if you have a desire for healing on any level, you would do well to experience a Hot Stone Massage at least once in your life.

The answer is different for everybody and will depend on your state of health, your time and your finances.

Ideally, if you can manage to have a massage once per week, you will be largely ‘maintaining’ and building on the work and healing that has been done in the prior sessions.

To put it another way, you’re not allowing the tension to build up and take hold of your body, mind and emotions, allowing you to function and move through your daily life with much more ease and focus.

However, if every week is too much for you, the next best option is to have your massage, once per fortnight. Although this is not as great as having a massage every week, it will still provide you with excellent benefits. If a fortnightly massage suits you better, you may like to book in for 90 minutes (instead of 60 minutes) to allow for more time to work out the tension in those areas that need it most, without me needing to rush on other areas of your body.

Last but not least, is having your massage every month. This in my opinion is the absolute minimum if you want to maintain a basic level of ease and flow in your body. Beyond this and any work that has been done in a previous session is completely lost. This is especially so if you lead a stressful to moderately stressful lifestyle.

So ultimately a massage once per month is minimum. Next best is once per fortnight. And the absolute best option is if you can come and have a massage every week. The long-term health benefits of a weekly massage are really incredible. You’re investing in not only feeling good today, but in your long-term future health and wellbeing.

I myself get a 90 minute massage every single week. If I happen to miss a week because I’m super busy (I’m a mum as well as a masseuse), I really notice it. So I really make it a top priority to book in my massage every week. That way I’m feeling really good and I’m able to pass this onto you and make you feel good too.

So when was the last time you had a really great massage? Why not come and see me this week.

Welcoming a child into the world is without a doubt one of life’s great miracles. However for a mother-to-be, pregnancy can be a time that is overwhelming as emotions of joy and excitement mix with doubt and fear.

To participate in this journey is a gift in itself, but it may also come with a few challenges. As the pregnancy develops mother nature tries to do everything necessary to prepare the mother-to-be for the development of her precious parcel and for child birth. Massage and touch can be invaluable for the mother-to-be during this process.

PRENATAL DISCOMFORTS IN THE BODY:

As the pregnancy develops the physical body makes necessary changes and adjustments and may as a result cause a number of discomforts.

These discomforts may include, but are not isolated to the following:

Back pain (especially the lower back),
Neck pain,
Tense shoulders,
Headaches,
Hip and pelvic pain,
Swollen feet, ankles and hands,
Rib pain,
Swollen veins,
Skin changes / irritations,
Expanding of the abdomen,
Fatigue.

The change of centre of gravity can stress the back, neck, shoulders and abdominal muscles. While a change of posture can result as the pelvis starts to pull forward and the ligaments that hold the pelvis in place start to relax, (making the pelvis joint less stable). This forward rotation of the pelvis, along with the weight of the baby puts additional strain on the pelvic girdle and hips, and as the curve of the back increases the knees can rotate out putting more strain on the hips and lower back.

During pregnancy the body also creates up to 50% extra blood, so along with the extra weight on the legs this can cause extra pressure on veins as they become engorged, which in turn can cause cramps and for the legs to become very sore.

Fatigue can start to set in as a cumulation of all of the above along with the body’s need for more iron

PRENATAL MASSAGE THERAPY: BENEFITS

There are several observed or identified benefits to massage therapy during pregnancy including:

• Relief of muscular tension, especially in the lower back, upper back, shoulders and neck

• Gives emotional support and nurturing

If you are pregnant, I invite you to come and enjoy a beautiful pregnancy massage with me. Pregnancy massage is a very sacred thing to me, especially being a Mum and experiencing first-hand the wonderful benefits of getting regular massage throughout pregnancy.

I’ll make you feel comfortable and safe and like you and your baby are the most important people in the world, just like you already are to your family.

Please give me a call on 0407 774 552 and I’ll be happy to answer questions you have and make a suitable appointment time for you.

So what exactly is Lomi Lomi?

In basic terms, Lomi Lomi in Hawaiian language means, ‘to knead’, ‘to squeeze’, ‘to make soft’ among other similar definitions. Most non-Hawaiians know ‘Lomi Lomi ‘ to refer specifically to Hawaiian ‘massage ‘ but it originally refers to traditional Hawaiian food or dishes such as ‘Lomi-Lomi Salmon ‘ that is prepared by ‘Lomi-ing ‘ (kneading with the hands and fingers) the ingredients to soften, marinade and mix them together.

This same motion is also used to ‘soften ‘ the muscles of the body, which is why they also refer to massaging / softening the body as ‘Lomi Lomi ‘. The Hawaiians believe that where there is ‘softness ‘ there is no ‘tension ‘, and tension on some level they believe is the root cause of illness.

Though there are varying techniques used and philosophies taught among the different schools, the same ‘flow ‘ and healing intention exists in all lomi styles of Lomi Lomi.

What makes Lomi Lomi so special?

Lomi Lomi is a powerfully healing style of massage that uses the forearms in addition to the hands and fingers in long-flowing strokes along the body to remove layers of tension, not unlike the waves of the ocean. This constant flow makes it very difficult for the reciever ‘s mind to follow the movements and therefore encourages them to ‘switch off ‘ and enter into deeply healing states of relaxation.

Contrary to popular belief, Lomi Lomi can be a soft, relaxing massage or it can be very deep and ‘remedial ‘ depending on the needs of the client.

The belly too is gently massaged to balance the stomach and internal organs (Opu Huli) and the limbs are rotated and stretched in ways so subtle, yet focused, that the receiver can feel the release of tension deeply within their muscles and bones.

The unique flow and pressure of the Lomi Lomi, both soft and deep appropriate to the receiver ‘s needs, used in combination with the breath, encourages the body, mind and spirit to heal, leaving both the giver and the receiver feeling relaxed yet alive and energized. In my own practice and in that of many of my students, seemingly ‘miraculous ‘ results have been achieved.

For example, chronic pain has been completely alleviated in one or two sessions, limbs that could barely be moved (i.e frozen shoulder) have been completely freed up and on a spiritual level, clients have reported experiencing profound personal realizations including the release of old emotional blocks, and even contact with loved ones who have passed over. So Lomi Lomi is much, much more than just a ‘physical ‘ massage. It is deeply powerful.

How to get the most out of a Lomi Lomi session.

If you‚’ ve ever had a Lomi Lomi massage from a skilled and caring practitioner you‚’ ll know very well the deep levels of relaxation and rejuvenation that can be achieved. However, as deeply relaxing and healing as Lomi Lomi massage is, there are a few things that we can do before and after our Lomi Lomi session to ensure that we get the absolute most out of the experience.

To follow are my 5 suggestions for getting the most out of your lomi lomi session.

1) Make your Lomi Lomi session the number number 1 priority for your day.

On the day of your Lomi Lomi booking, make sure that you organize yourself so that the most important thing in your day is your Lomi Lomi session. This means making sure that you clear your schedule so that you are free at least 1 hour either side of your Lomi Lomi session.

This will give you enough time to slow down and relax before your treatment, it will ensure you arrive on time without stress, and at the end of your Lomi Lomi, it will give you time to more slowly integrate back into your world, without having to rush back in and pick up where you left off.

2) Make sure you are clean and comfortable before your Lomi Lomi.

When we get onto a massage table, it‚’ s only natural that we can become somewhat self-conscious about our bodies, especially in the heat of summer. So you can just relax without needing to give this a second thought, it‚’ s a great idea to have a shower before your Lomi Lomi session.

This will not only make sure that you are clean, smell nice and feel comfortable on the table, but will also begin the process of warming up your muscles and relaxing your system. It is also a good idea for men to have a shave a couple of hours before-hand, so that the face massage is enjoyable (i.e. not rough) and for women, you may feel more comfortable if you have performed your hair removal routine a day or two before your Lomi Lomi session.

3) Make sure you drink water throughout the day, prior to your Lomi Lomi session.

A Lomi Lomi massage can be an intensive treatment in terms of detoxifying the body, so it’ s a good idea to make sure that you are well hydrated before your treatment. Now this doesn’ t mean that you need to flood your body with water, but rather it means keeping a water bottle with you all day, and taking regular mouthfuls to keep your water levels topped up.

However, you shouldn’ t drink anything at least 30 minutes prior to your Lomi Lomi session, otherwise you may find yourself needing to go to the bathroom in the middle of your treatment. In regards to food, it’ s good idea to avoid eating heavy food, such as meats, pastas and dairy at least an hour before your Lomi Lomi session.

This will help your system relax and ensure that your body‚’ s energies are free for healing and not spent on the digestion process.

4) Create a special healing intention for your Lomi Lomi session.

As Lomi Lomi works on treating the ‘whole’ person, and we each create our own reality with our thoughts, creating an intention for how you would like the Lomi Lomi to help you is a powerful way to actually ‘make it happen’ . In fact, it turns the Lomi Lomi into a powerful ‘prayer’ for calling what you want into your life, whatever that may be. ‘ Ask, believe and you will receive! I have experienced this to be so true in my life.

5) During your Lomi Lomi session, breathe ‚’ into‚’ your tension and let go!

A skilled and intuitive Lomi Lomi therapist will naturally be drawn to your areas of tension in your body and although they will never ‘force’ their way into these areas, you may feel your body muscles wanting to ‘resist’ which can result in a little discomfort. The way to alleviate this is simply to breathe. When your Lomi Lomi practitioner finds an area that is particularly tense/painful, you should take a deep breath, and visually your breath going into that area. Then, as you exhale you will feel the tension/pain dissolve as that area relaxes.

The key is to ‚’ work with‚’ your practitioner and let them ‘ into’ your body as they peel back the layers of tension, like removing the layers of an onion.

The philosophy behind Lomi Lomi is where there is ‚’ relaxation‚’ there can be no illness! After your Lomi Lomi, it‚’ s really nice to have a cleansing warm shower to wash away any lingering ‘energy’ . It’ s also a good idea to go and sit somewhere peaceful, preferably in nature and allow yourself some time to ‘come back to earth’ and integrate the Lomi Lomi experience. This is especially so before getting behind the wheel and driving anywhere.

It‚’ s also a ‘must’ to drink plenty of water afterwards as the effects of the Lomi Lomi in detoxifying/healing your body will continue to work well after the treatment.

If you ‘ve never actually experienced a Lomi Lomi massage before, you owe it to yourself to give it a try at least once in your life.

It is truly a healing gift from Heaven and we are so blessed and privileged that the beautiful Hawaiian people have chosen to share their wonderful ‘Touch of Aloha ‘ with the rest of the world. Mahalo Nui Loa (A very big thank you)!

If you’d like to experience an amazing Hawaiian Lomi Lomi here on the Gold Coast, please give me a call on 040 777 4552.

For example, massage increases your circulation, helps to remove toxins from the body and can also increase your energy levels, among many other positive effects.

However there is one primary benefit that trumps all the rest…

“Massage relaxes you!”

Now I know this is an obvious, ‘well-known’ fact, but what is important to understand is that when we are not ‘relaxed’ which for many people is most of the time, we are in fact ‘tense’. When we feel tension in our bodies it is because we have experienced or are experiencing some form of stress either on a physical, mental or emotional level, or all of the above.

If left untreated, stress can be a catalyst for serious illness. So it is vital that tension (on all levels) be alleviated as quickly as possible, allowing a return to a healthy, relaxed and ‘stress-free’ state of being.

Many people are aware that massage is effective in alleviating tension and stress in the ‘physical’ body, but in truth, the effects on quieting the mind and calming the emotions are also equally profound. This is because all levels of the person (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) are interconnected and therefore affected positively by the massage.