What to Expect from Your Lomi Lomi Massage

Lomi Lomi is sometimes known as the ‘loving hands’ massage. This name helps to explain its principles – the massage works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, allowing the recipient to relax and give in to the nurturing touch.

The treatment takes place in a warm, safe and relaxing environment with a qualified and experienced practitioner. The massage session works with the client’s intention for healing, so clients are invited to consider their reasons for wanting a treatment.

As this is an all-body oil massage, clients are invited to remove as much of their clothing as they feel comfortable with and cover themselves with a sarong which is provided. The back of the body receives the massage first.

The location is easy to find in a quiet village between Totnes and Newton Abbot. This is roughly half way between Exeter and Plymouth. There is plenty of off-road parking and easy turning space.

You will be given a warm welcome and we will have an opening conversation about your hopes and desires for the massage session and where I will talk you through some of the practicalities so that you can feel totally safe and comfortable for the whole of your visit.

If it is your first visit, I will ask you to complete a short questionnaire to determine any particular health issues that I should know about and to give your consent to the massage. I will explain a little about how the massage will progress and answer any questions or concerns that you may have so that you can feel completely at ease.

There will be opportunity to shower before the massage if desired and just so you know, I can take payment by either cash or card.

The treatment itself will take place in a very warm and comfortable space on a high-quality professional massage couch with heated under-blanket. The room will have subdued lighting, with candles, essential oil fragrances and gentle music (if desired). The massage uses warm un-fragranced coconut oil unless you have expressed a preference beforehand for a different type of oil.

Since this style of massage requires less body covering than most massages, and uses a lot of oil, the room temperature will be kept high enough so that you continue to feel warm and comfortable for the duration of the treatment. There are several draping options for the massage, and these will be explained to you so you can choose what you feel most comfortable with.

There will be fresh clean towels available should you wish to have a shower before or after the massage and you will be left to undress and make yourself comfortable on the couch with a sarong covering the length of your body. A sarong is provided although you are welcome to bring you own if you prefer.

The massage starts with you lying face down, with your head in a comfortable face cradle. The sarong is gently removed, leaving whatever covering has been agreed beforehand. The first stage of the treatment works with long flowing strokes on the whole back and both sides of the body from head to toe while excluding any covered areas. All other areas are included in the massage except those where you have indicated you would not like to be touched.

Approximately halfway through the treatment I will cover you again with the sarong, ask you to shuffle down the couch and turn over while remaining covered. As you receive massage to the front of the body the sarong will be removed gradually to expose the areas of your body that you have chosen to include.

At the end of the treatment, I will cover you again and leave you to rest and integrate for a short while before you take a drink and get dressed or shower. There will be opportunity to talk about your experience of the massage and ask questions if you so wish.