Jody Soltau Mountain introduces us to Lomi Lomi Nui and how she began her journey into it.
The name for what is often referred to Lomi Lomi Massage is ‘Lomi Lomi Nui’ or ‘Kahuna Bodywork’ and is an ancient form of massage from the original inhabitants of Hawai’i.
When I first came into contact with it, I was a dancer and choreographer living in Toronto – somehow getting paid to massage my fellow dancers without any massage training. When I went to the introduction for the work, I was completely captivated. The teacher was speaking about the ancient view of the body, which was way beyond anything I had ever heard, and at the same time, felt absolutely right. One profound truth that blew me away was that our system — including emotions, spirit, thoughts, sensations, memories, hopes and dreams — is simply one being.
All of us is always here right now. I went rapidly through my first five 15-day intensives within a year, feeling the layers of my past fall away. As I entered this new modality, my whole life underwent transformation.
My ability to navigate the body as well as everyday life with Grace, Ease and Flow increased. My fears about the future, and old pains from the past diminished. I began to feel more at home in my body, and this seemed to translate to my clients.
After moving to Hawai’i, I began studies with the Kahuna who was the original teacher of the work: Kahu Abraham Kawai’i. These trainings were beyond description, bringing me to be able to see and feel more aspects and dimensions of myself than ever before, and embrace them. He transmitted an ‘opening’ into the Divine within. In the bodywork, it is this recognition, in myself and in the participant, that brings forth transformation.
More than a mental knowing, this work is an embodied opening into deeper and higher aspects of Spirit in my body. More and more I have an increased sense of freedom, joy and peace…..closer and closer to the place that Kahu describes: ‘Finally, you know yourself to be the walking, breathing Truth’.
Watch a video of Jody practicing Lomi Lomi Nui and find out more about her upcoming workshop in Co. Clare.
