How To Choose a Lomi Lomi Practitioner

Any time you choose a massage therapist, you want to make sure he or she has the skills and training to provide you with a safe and effective experience. Choosing a Lomi Lomi massage practitioner is like choosing any massage therapist, with a few important differences.

Check to see what kind of certification she or he holds. While Australia doesn’t require massage therapists to be licensed, you should always ask a prospective massage therapist about the training he or she has received. In addition to any specialized training, a basic massage therapy course should include training hours in Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology and all the most common massage techniques. Lomi Lomi massage requires specialized study and an understanding of nutrition, spirituality and human behavior. Be wary of any practitioner who took a three-hour or weekend course in Lomi Lomi techniques. To be sure the practitioner you choose is qualified to work on your body, mind, and spirit, he or she should have had 40 hours of training in Lomi Lomi massage alone.

It’s also useful to find out if they’re members of either the Australian Association of Massage Therapists or Australian Natural Therapies Association. Membership in a professional organization is not a requirement, but it does suggest a level of commitment to keeping up with current issues in the field. More importantly, members are required to follow a Code of Ethics and commit to Standards of Practice. This means that you can expect a certain level of respect, confidentiality and professionalism from a member in either organization, and that there are guidelines in place for filing complaints.

Don’t hesitate to ask how long the practitioner has been in business. Find out, too, what types of massage the therapist utilizes and which he or she prefers. Lomi Lomi is as much a way of life as it is a kind of massage. Does the practitioner look/act like he or she lives the principles of Huna philosophy? Can she or he tell you what they are? The Seven Principles are as follows:

1. The World Is What You Think It Is
2. There Are No Limits
3. Energy Flows Where Attention Goes
4. Now Is The Moment Of Power
5. To Love Is To Be Happy With (someone or something)
6. All Power Comes From Within
7. Effectiveness Is The Measure Of Truth

Insurance and Emergency Training
The practitioner you choose should have public liability insurance that is renewed annually and an up-to-date Senior First Aid Certificate. If relevant, ask if the practitioner is registered with the appropriate health care providers in order to issue clients private health fund rebates.
References

You may have received a referral from a friend, in which case it’s easy to ask for information about the therapist. If no-one has been recommended to you and you’re starting out cold, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for references, although the therapist may have to get permission from clients first for you to speak with them. Ask if they’re satisfied with their experiences, if the treatment has been effective for them and whether they’ll continue to get massages from the therapist. Were they treated with respect? Was the therapist punctual and a good listener?

It’s important that the massage therapist you choose clearly explains the costs of Lomi Lomi sessions and his or her billing practices and cancellation policies. Is there a discount for referring friends? Rates may vary depending on how much experience the therapist has, how often you see them and any number of other factors. Make sure you’re comfortable with the financial investment in your health and happiness that ongoing work may require.

Do you like the practitioner you’re talking to? Massage of any kind requires trust and respect. This is even more true with Lomi Lomi massage. Entrusting your body, mind and soul to a healthcare professional is serious business and you should trust your instincts when it comes to determining who’s right for you. Do you think you and the therapist will get along? Does he or she seem interested in helping you? Is the therapist positive and encouraging? Ultimately, it boils down to who you feel you can relax with and trust.

A side note about gender…Many women choose female doctors, female chiropractors and female massage therapists because they believe they’ll feel more comfortable with a woman. They may think a male will be dismissive of their complaints or fail to understand what they’re going through. This may be true in some instances, but when it comes to choosing a Lomi Lomi massage therapist, don’t rule out the men! Men trained in Lomi Lomi techniques are respectful, intuitive and invested in your well-being. We connect with you on a spiritual level where energy has no gender. Evaluate who you can work with best carefully, but remember to keep an open heart and mind!