Well, I just returned from four days of training in Temple Lomi Lomi. It was a very rewarding experience, and most of the moves I learned are completely integrateable into what I do now.
The class consisted of about 31 students, two of which were male. The only issue was that there were only 11 massage tables, so we ended up doing three sessions per day with each person being worked on by more than one person.
On the first day, we were introduced to our instructors, Tom Cochran and Donna Jason. They talked about what we were about to learn and how it is a very loving style of massage. They talked a bit on spirituality which worked very well into what we were going to be doing. They had us doing various exercises to loosen our minds and bodies, then we were shown the basic massage on the back of the body.
After lunch, we learned the draping style, which is minimal draping. With the client face down, the back is uncovered, and then the legs. Then the drape is lifted up to uncover the sides of the glutes. This leaves the center of the backside covered with the drape folded between the legs of the person on the table. In some cases, the sheet is replaced by a hand towel (which makes less bulk to get jostled while working). Next, we oiled the body and learned the routine.
The routine itself is a dance. There are specific steps to it, and for the most part, they need to be followed. Because of the minimal draping, the moves can start at the shoulders and run all the way to the ankles and back. It encompasses the whole body as one instead of compartmentalizing it as we normally do. It does this by making one stroke down and back on one side and then immediately doing the same thing on the other. This can continue back and forth as long as the therapist wants. The nice thing is that it feels wonderful.
On the second day, we stated by waking up with yoga and meditation (we did this each morning of the class from that point on). We then were shown the rest of the moves on the back of the body. This involved shorter moves and figure eights. It is a very neat routine that can be put together in any combination that the therapist wants. This makes it pretty much a free-form style of massage.
Now, I know I was learning it, but I was working too hard. I looked at what I was doing and realized that I don’t work that hard with what I usually do. I think with familiarity the level of effort will decrease.
The next day, we learned the basic moves on the front of the body. Draping for this was similar to what we had learned Monday. With a female client, the breasts are covered with a small towel, and then the sheet is folded down, and the legs uncovered, and the sides brought up just as was done on the back of the body. Again, if the person was comfortable, the sheet was replaced with a hand towel. Now, with the towel over the breasts, the sides are brought up exposing the sides of the breasts. This is necessary to be able to do moves the run from the shoulder to the ankle. (The key is to be careful, and mindful of the drapes so that the movements don’t dislodge them.)
The movements on the front were similar to the ones on the back in idea. There were long sweeps and short areas. The big difference here is that there are a lot of underbody moves. This is where the therapist reaches under the client and works the back even though it is against the table. The bizarre part about this is to be able to do this well, the client needs to be put directly on the table. (I tried this with sheets under my ‘client’, but could not do the moves.) There is no sheet covering the table as there is in most normal situations. This allows oils to get on the table so the therapist can glide under the body and do the moves. (The table must be cleaned between clients. This is normally the situation, and the state of Florida states that we must keep on hand some solution for cleaning the table between sessions. I don’t usually do this because I have a heating pad and comforter on the table before I put the cover sheet on. No oil gets on my table.)
The underbody moves do feel great. Imagine a movement starting at the ankle and going up the side of the leg, and then under the back to the shoulders. Imagine also of a circular movement on the stomach that is happening at the same time, in the same area on the back. It feels really wonderful. The small amount of buffeting that the client experiences actually makes their mind release their body allowing them to get more out of it. (When I get worked on, it is hard for me to release. I am usually feeling the movements and wondering what the therapist is doing.)
As for the last session, I was down on the table with three people working on me. One of them was the other male therapist who was experienced at this. His moves were harder and faster than the other two who, like me, were learning this for the first time. The sensation was wonderful. I had to let my mind release my body. I had no option other than to ride the waves and enjoy.
The last day, they showed us the advanced moves on the front of the body, and let us put it all together. Now, the advanced moves worked the upper shoulders, pecs, and chest. To do these movements, the drape over the breasts must be removed. (This has always been the contention with Temple Lomi. The lack of draping can make most people feel uncomfortable, and the fact that to do all of the moves, the breasts can not be covered can be an issue. I’m not saying that it needs to be done as one can simplify the moves and have proper draping, but the advanced moves feel very nice. The only issue is the client’s comfort, and the draping laws that change from state to state.) The teachers had built up a high level of comfort and love, so much so that the students were very relaxed comfortable. (In fact, they were so comfortable, there were a lot of emotional releasing going on all weekend.)
Most of the women were comfortable being undraped for the purpose of learning. This was quite a change from previous classes I had been to where the maturity level was so low, they should have been teaching nursery rhymes. When I went to massage school, I felt that none of my fellow students were mature enough to be doing massage. When I took hot stone massage, they judged everyone by shape and size. I ended up working with someone that wore a one piece swimsuit. (Try doing a massage with that.) It was nice to work with people that were mature and willing to help others learn what they need to. It was the same taking MFR. I know my feelings are that a body is a body and I don’t judge it. This is the attitude a therapist must have, but all too often they don’t.
The class was a very rewarding experience. Tom and Donna seem to bring in people who are looking to work in unconditional love. That is what keeps people coming back and taking the classes many times.
Now, knowing what I do, there will be some issues doing this in the studio. The first is going to be draping. People have to be comfortable with the lesser draping to do most of the moves and get anything out of it. The other will be knowing ahead of time what they want. If they specifically want this style of massage, I will have to prepare by having the table uncovered. I think that what will happen is that most of the time, I will just incorporate many of these moves with what I do based on need (like I do with the other style of Lomi).
But the class was a great experience. I made some friends, one of which lives an hour from me (so we will be getting together to practice).
To see the Temple Lomi article written for the newsletter, go here.