I have classes coming up and a little over a week in Temple Lomi Lomi, which is something that I do not do full sessions of regularly. I incorporate many of the moves in my regular massages, but most people do not know what it is to ask for it for full sessions. I did a demonstration session in a trade last week and found that I really need to practice before the class. The comments from today’s ‘victim’ were wonderful.
One thing about Temple Lomi is that it is a full body massage, which is different than what most styles of massage do. Although a Swedish massage works the entire body, it does it as parts work. The therapist will uncover the back, work the back, then recover the back. Then they will move to the next ‘part;’ to be worked. A full body massage does movements that run the length of the body, but for this to be able to happen, one needs to be draped very minimally, usually a towel over the butt or groin, and maybe the breasts. With Temple Lomi, there are many moves that go through the sternum that would be eliminated if a breast drape is used. This is not to say that the massage can not be done as I will always work within someone’s comfort level, but there are less things that can be done.
At any rate, my test ‘victim’ (one of my Reiki students) has had massage before, but never from a male therapist. She was a little nervous about getting completely undressed but told me she was ok with it. As I started working, she relaxed tremendously. By the time I was done with the back of the body, she was very relaxed. After she had turned over, I asked if she wanted her breasts covered, as I knew she had been a little nervous about it. She said that she was fine and did not need the drape. The massage and my energies had relaxed her so that she felt completely comfortable.
I do a lot of my massage with my eyes closed as I tend to see better that way, and it lets me feel instead of think. I was doing this massage that way. At one point, I was working one leg, moving up the leg and then under the body (this is one of the things that is special about this style of massage). While I was working, I must have snagged the towel covering her groin and uncovered her. (This is something that can happen to all therapists. It does not happen all that often, but it can once in a blue moon, and is especially likely when one is using minimal draping.) Still with my eyes closed, I moved to the other leg and for a second opened my eyes. I quickly recovered my client and apologized.
What she said next surprised me. First, she had not noticed that she had become uncovered. But she told me that all she noticed was that she was being worked on by someone that loved her. Wow.
In any massage, my goal is to help that person, and to let them know they are loved by what I do. I guess I want to give everyone a loving touch. I guess I am succeeding. Cool.