There is an article under “Publications & ‘Ike’ on this website titled Hawaiian Lomilomi & Seeking a Practitioner. I originally wrote an extended version of this for the AHHCA Newsletter to assist in the understanding of what Lomilomi is & the questions to ask when seeking an authentic practitioner.
http://aloharainbows.earth/hawaiian-lomilomi-seeking-a-practitioner/
As I was laying on the massage table myself last week, receiving a lomilomi, it occurred to me that 99% of my clients are NOT Health or Wellness practitioners of any modality. Hmmmm, I surmised this means one of two things. Either they seek other forms of bodywork for their own maintenance & replenishment, OR they are not receiving any regular bodywork at all. As I thought about this, I realised that the latter is primarily the case.
My mind then drifted to many health & wellness practitioners I have met on my many years of life, both in mainstream medicine & in natural/alternative/spiritual health practices, who are less than glowing pictures of health. Ola (health) is multi-layered & must involve healthful practices physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually.
Those who have studied with me know I speak of the importance of walking the talk. Being a shining example of practicing what you promote. What are you fuelling your kino (body) with ? Are you moving your kino regularly? If you walked into the room as a client and saw you as the practitioner, would you be instilled with confidence?
Over my many years in this field, both as a client & as a practitioner, I have heard & seen soooo many excuses. One of my favourites is from morbidly obese spiritual workers saying they needed to be that size to ‘hold energy’. Come on, Seriously Dude!! I’m a size 10 (US 6), always have been (as an adult ) & hold the energy just fine thankyou! In fact, because I eat nutritiously, exercise, have regular bodywork & have spiritual practices, I have a ‘vehicle’ that functions really well. Perhaps it’s because I’m turning 56 in a couple of weeks that my capacity for listening to those M.E’s (many excuses) has spandexed to its limit. Over these years I have studied a great deal in the health & wellness area. I also live what I speak. So when I offer some guidance around health, fitness & wellness, it’s because I do/have done those practices myself. As a practitioner, if a client asks you about your own health & wellness regime, how will you answer them? A client does have the right to ask about that. They have the right to know that the person placing their hands on them is a representation of clear & healthy energy.
Perhaps it may be beneficial to take a realistic look ( ie.cut the M.E’s!) at personal health maintenance & wellbeing practices, along with spiritual & energetic clearing regimes, to ensure being the healthiest, shiniest aloha & pono version of you that you can be.
In the meantime, I’ll continue do what I do & to smile at, & be inspired by the awesomeness of all the 70+ year old pocket rockets at the gym. 
Mālama Pono
