Healing Energy Practices Promote Connectedness
- by Uncle Harry Jim
(other article below by Gloria Coppola)
• The News Journal
• June 22, 2010 When
Linda Sapienza was in nursing school 15 years ago, students were
taught
how to give back rubs as part of standard patient care. These
days,
with hospital nurses juggling myriad responsibilities, including
more
patients with pressing chronic health problems, back rubs have
gone the
way of doctor house calls.
But she still sees value in simple human contact.
"In
our world of medicine, we give all kinds of medications, we do
invasive
procedures," said Sapienza, a registered nurse and quality
outcomes
analyst at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. "But there also has
been
study in the power of touch. There is a great deal of healing in
touch."
Patients
and staff at Beebe will be able to experience the power of this
connectedness for themselves, thanks to the addition of a
traditional
Hawaiian healing practice through the hospital's integrative
medicine
department.
Laulima
is a nonreligious, nondenominational laying of hands performed
with the
intention of allowing positive energy to flow to those in need,
said
Cheyenne Luzader, who directs the integrative medicine
department at
Beebe. About 15 staff members from the hospital have been
trained in
this complementary health practice, which often elicits
comparisons
with reiki, another energy-based practice that originated in
Japan and
has been used for relaxation, stress reduction and pain relief.
Beebe
has offered Reiki and therapeutic touch -- another type of
energy-based
therapy -- for 10 years.
While
laulima can be commonly found in Hawaiian hospitals, it's
relatively
unheard of in hospitals on the mainland, said Harry Uhane Jim, a
native
Hawaiian who leads energy and body work seminars across the
country and
also conducted the laulima training at Beebe. Among Hawaiians,
the
healing practice is considered a family tradition, passed down
from
elders to younger members as part of their vibrant culture.
Laulima,
which translates as "many hands," doesn't require any special
equipment. The technique can be performed one-on-one, though
most
people practice it as part of a group of four to eight people.
Participants lightly lay their hands on the person in need of
healing,
touching them for about 10 minutes while they focus on positive
feelings.(2 of 2)
The
practice creates a space where healing energy can travel to the
person
in need, helping them relax, decrease their pain and feel better
overall.
"There's
the benefit of having an emotional safety net. That's quite an
amazing
experience," said Jim, the author of "Wise Secrets of Aloha."
Other
cultures have a long tradition of laying on hands to promote
healing,
said Dr. Seth Torregiani, an integrative medicine physician who
practices in Stanton. In addition to reiki, there's also qigong,
which
is practiced in the Chinese culture. Typically, the practices
rely on
the idea that there is energy in and around the body, and when
it is
impeded, misaligned or blocked, health can suffer as a result.
While
no studies have yet been able to identify this so-called
bio-energy,
some research on reiki and therapeutic touch suggest increased
relaxation and a reduced need for pain medication following
surgery
among those people who used it, Torregiani said.
"It's something that happens between the practitioner and the
patient
that seems to be therapeutic," he said.
So
far, laulima has been practiced only on three patients at Beebe,
Luzader said. Several staff members, including those who have
been
trained, also have had laulima practiced on them.
Luzader
said the response from staff, who volunteer their lunch and
break times
to practice laulima, has been overwhelmingly positive. For some,
it's a
reminder of what it was like years ago when nurses had more
individual
time to spend with their patients.
"We
still make an effort to do that, but we've become little more
technical," she said. "This is a way to bring back that art of
healing
and mix it with the science of medicine."
Sapienza,
who said she has felt a surge of heat and cold, and also seen
colors
while practicing laulima, appreciates the opportunity to make a
difference for patients but also to share a moment of stillness
with
her co-workers.
"It's not often you can stop everything and just be still," she
said.
OTHER ENERGY PRACTICES Laulima
is one of several energy practices that use laying on hands to
promote
relaxation and healing. Here's a look at some practices in other
cultures:
•Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction
and relaxation. It is based on the idea that an unseen "life
force
energy" flows through the body. Practitioners place their hands
lightly
on another person or just above the body to release energy
blockages
and promote stress reduction.
•Therapeutic touch also uses
hands to direct human energy for healing purposes. Those who
practice
it believe it may be useful in reducing anxiety and increasing
the
sense of well-being in some people.
•Qigong can be used to
train the mind to direct the body's energy, or chi, to any part
of the
body. Some believe that, when moved correctly, chi can bring the
body
to a natural state of balance.
Sources: American Cancer Society, National Center for
Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, WebMD
Massage Magazine
Article Written By: Gloria Coppola L.M.B.T.
Lomi lomi has often been described as a Hawaiian healing massage
that
provides nurturing and loving touch.Some people learn about more
contemporary styles of lomi lomi by viewing video tapes, which
do not
provide the full essence and depth of lomi lomi healing. They
have
expressed being attracted to the long, flowing strokes and the
dance
that appears so graceful through one of the styles being taught,
often
described as temple lomi.
Lomi lomi means massage or “to shift,” which may be translated
by many
into a variety of styles and techniques. Hawaiian healing is a
tradition that is handed down for generations to family (‘ohana)
and
varies among islands and families, many of which are still
secret. This
is what differentiates the traditional form from the
contemporary
styles and other styles of massage, the essence of a culture of
healing
vs. a technique.
Kumu Harry Uhane Jim states one of the first cultural
differences he
brings to the table is, “Be quiet and listen.” He continues to
say the
method is simple: You do the work, and the wisdom will come.
Contemporary, or integrative, lomi lomi trainings are taught
across the
world and often don’t require the intense amount of training
that is
expected traditionally, in which a student might spend up to 20
years
with a kumu (teacher). Some classes might only last a few days
and
merely touch upon this ancient healing method. While the forearm
technique is attractive to many, continued studies will teach
that a
variety of techniques have been handed down through the ages.
This may
include spiritual wisdom, for instance, ho’oponopono (a system
for
forgiveness that creates harmony and balance through expressing
truth)
as well as creating and utilizing mana (creative or life force
energy).
One might find methods that are similar to oriental techniques
like
Thai massage or qigong that balance energy and create flow.
Others
might describe abdominal techniques similar to the Mayan methods
or chi
massage very beneficial in aiding digestion and other health
issues.
Hawaiian healing methods use warm baths for aches, salts, steams
and
clays for detoxification or mineral rebalancing, similar to what
we may
experience nowadays in a spa treatment without the ceremonial
and
sacred aspect of “holding a space” for these healing methods.
Huge stones were also heated by the sun and rolled on the body,
employing methods of friction or compression. Today, we see
massage
therapists utilize hot stones in their treatments; however, what
we
typically do not see is wrapping noni leaves or other medicinal
herbs
around the stones, which is practiced traditionally.
Lomi lomi is more than technique. Handed down through the ages
from
family to family, it was and is a lifestyle of health and
wellness,
physically and spiritually. A few well-known Hawaiian healers
are
Auntie Margaret and Kahu Abraham who have since passed on. They
chose
to start sharing some of the methods and secrets of the Hawaiian
healers. Today, Kumu Harry Uhane Jim, Kumu Dane Silva and Kumu
Brenda
Ignacio continue to teach and share the ancient wisdom that has
been
passed on from their elders.
Lomi lomi requires a commitment to healing oneself, too. Student
will
learn more about themselves and what their purpose in life might
be.
They will learn how to honor and respect the earth and how to
bring
harmony and unity to community (lokahi). The elders acknowledged
and
worked with the forces, God, nature and humans to create this
harmony.
Some training may include martial arts techniques, yoga, qigong,
breath
work, learning about nature and herbs and much more. Unlike
typical
massage trainings that focus on anatomy and technique, lomi lomi
brings
the practitioner to a deeper or more connected level to a
spiritual
side of healing work. Kumu Harry Uhane Jim says “As soon as your
soul
knows connection with yourself, you can offer bodywork as
opposed to
massage.”
Another aspect of lomi lomi was offered by the Kahuna (healer),
who
might also include complete cleansing regimens for a client.
This
included purging, use of enemas, joint adjustments, medicinal
herbs and
salts—all to help one regain health, similar to what a
naturopath in
our Western culture might employ.
As you can see, lomi lomi may encompass many things depending on
the
training of the practitioner, and it is not limited to massage
techniques.
Where does lomi lomi originate?
There seems to be some ideas and concepts that some
practitioners or
styles have passed on techniques that are not traditional lomi
lomi, as
described to me by some of the Hawaiian healers. No one seems to
quite
understand where and how it really came about when I listen to
the
stories. Maybe some more contemporary practitioners may have
created
this style without fully understanding the more traditional
Hawaiian
healing lineage? Makana Risser Chai did extensive research at
the
Bishop Museum on Oahu and with many Hawaiian practitioners,
hoped to
find the routines and remedies of lomi lomi. She found very
little
information in English about lomi lomi and only a few current
articles
or books. Her book, Na Mo’olelo Lomi Lomi, is a compilation of
the
information she was able to locate, mostly discussing plant
remedies.
It has been said the elders kept many things secret and,
therefore,
much of the indigenous healing methods may have been lost.
When I spoke with Makana Risser Chai, she shared how she noticed
each
lomi lomi practitioner is different. She once asked Kumu Kaipo
Kaneakua
how many different styles of lomi lomi were out there and he
replied
“How many ‘ohana are there? Some have the person fully clothed;
some
half and some remove all the clothing. Some use lots of oil,
others
none. Some practitioners do lots of joint manipulation, others
don’t.
Others use forearm techniques, some hands, some only feet.”
The atmosphere created by the practitioner, says Makana Risser
Chai, is
also different. She describes how some might have a serene and
quiet
room while others have people coming and going, laughing and
joking.
She said some sessions may be two hours or more, while others
are 20
minutes—and yet, all lomi lomi is done with love (aloha) and
prayer
(pule). Traditional lomi lomi was done in the open, often in
nature. It
was a part of everyday life, and while they shared stories, they
might
also share lomi lomi. This is what makes lomi lomi unique.
Through my research and studies, I have found a common
denominator with
lomi lomi: compassion. It is a heart-centered healing modality
that
provides for a deep healing space, some of which is beyond
explanation
in words. One must experience it to truly understand its power.
What do lomi lomi practitioners or instructors have to say?
In a personal interview with Lomi Kumu Dane Silva from the Big
Island,
he stated, “Traditional lomi respects you for who you are and is
a
relationship with ‘ohana and nature.” He refers to contemporary
lomi
lomi as an integrative healing arts practice. He continues to
state
that “intention with movement and breath prepares a lomi
practitioner
to perform successfully, so that waves of energy will flow.”
Beautifully described by lomi lomi practitioner and instructor
Karen
Reifinger from Pennsylvania, “We can only hope to foster the one
common
thread at the core of Hawaiian healing: unconditional love and
aloha,
based upon the philosophy that all things seek harmony and love.
Clients are empowered with self-responsibility to heal and
change the
many aspects that define the nature of our human existence.
These old
concepts are timeless, even in this new world.”
Penny Prior, one of my mentors who lives on Kauai, says lomi
lomi to
her is a lifestyle. She believes one must live the principles of
what
they teach. The most important thing to her is integrity for any
practitioner or instructor. There is not power over someone, she
states, and teachers and practitioners need to be very
conscious. Lomi
lomi encompasses everything, even the food you eat, intention,
prayer
(pule) and how you express your thoughts.
Nana Veary states in her book, Change We Must, that
Hawaiians
called upon their inner wisdom to make the most of nature’s
offerings.
The elders chanted and prayed, “Let that which is unknown become
known.” Lomi lomi students might learn similar chants to use
before
they start a session.
Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim brought joy and laughter upon our
meeting. In
his book, Wise Secrets of Aloha, he shares, “Now is the
time to
share aloha with humanity. Aloha means the Breath of God is in
our
presence. It is time to reveal the profound Lomi Lomi secrets of
the
kahunas for personal and planetary peace.”
After conversations with several of these contributors, it seems
we had
a mutual vision to see the lomi lomi practitioners and teachers
in the
world come to honor our differences and similarities and respect
the
Hawaiian culture and traditions of lomi lomi. Whether we
practice
traditional or contemporary integrated styles, remember to share
aloha.
Gloria Coppola, L.M.B.T., is a lomi lomi practitioner and
continues
to study this Hawaiian healing style. She has been a massage
instructor
for more than 22 years. Currently she is the director at
Privai Academy
in North Carolina. She also offers “The Rhythm of the Heart ™”
an
integrative lomi training, approved through the NCBTMB. Visit
her
website, www.lomilomimassagece.com,
for more details.