Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Kauai HI. Lomi Lomi Trip

Well, I decided to attend the 2 week Lomi Lomi Hawaiian massage course. I was a little nervous since I was not that experienced and NOW I'm going to the advanced course! I think I am going to highlight the trip.
I was nervous since it is an advanced course in Lomi Lomi. I wasn't sure I was ready but everything pushed me into it so I couldn't refuse. HUGE thanks to Dan and Rich for swapping their vacation time with me so I can go to this training!
I was nervous but I had a car and I figured "what can go wrong in 2 weeks"! Well, I if it were not for the 11 other people I met in the training I don't know if I could have continued. We were all VERY supportive of each other and even taught each other what our own strength's were.
We went to several sacred places on Kauai, which were AWESOME to say the least. I have had some personal growth and seen others grow during this 2 weeks.
My wife Denise came to Kauai on the 3rd week so we had that week to ourselves (pretty much), I introduced Denise to most of the group before they left and she said "I was sad when they left" which says a lot about the caliber of the people there! Denise and I zipped around the Island the first couple of days but on the 3rd day it was like I hit a wall and napped for 2 hours...WOOHOO, I needed that!
AND of course I got "swimmers ear" so my ear was extremely painful so we went to a open medical center on Sunday to get it looked at!
I was given some ear drops with made it tolerable..lol

Monday, April 30, 2012

Continuing Education Units (CEU's)

It's been a while since I have blogged..sorry...I am new at this, I will get the hang of it.
Well, I had to go for CEU's this past weekend (April 28th and April 29th). I was expecting it to be a worthless seminar...BUT it was really good, I was totally surprised and impressed. I have learned from some great instructors at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and I thought..I probably already know what they are going to teach. Well...I did... I already learned a lot of what they taught but they taught it in a different way, an easier way for both me and my clients. I can't wait to try these methods on my clients. I really liked Haase Myotherapy, Secrets of Deep Tissue seminar! Thank you to Robert Haase and his assistants. I also met some really nice Massage Therapist's from all over Chicago and Wisconsin!
Overall I had a great experience at the seminar and highly recommend Haase Myotherapy "Secrets of Deep Tissue" Seminar.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Travel day home

I stayed in a hotel in Vancouver the final night so I can make it for my 0620 flight the next day....uugghh. Well, I woke up at 0320 with Patti singing to Aumakua (in my head) so I knew I was going to have a good travelling day. I flew from Yvr to Lax, I was in a 3 seat row by myself..seat 27A (I chose it to mean Aloha)! I flew from LAX to ORD in a 3 seat row with a space between me and the other person..woo hoo!...and I was in seat 15A (Aloha)! I made it home at a reasonable time to see my wife Denise...YEA! Over all I would say it was an excellent weekend with a great location, teacher and friends...MAHALO! to everybody, especially Brenda for being there for me both weekends :)

Last day of Lomi training Monday 2/27/12

Same as before, morning meditation, breakfast, skype with Wayne!  We had a treat today...Patti performed a Hula for us...she was great, I felt honored! Well, this is our final day we each have to give...and get a 3 hour Lomi Lomi massage...phew! We picked partners with pulling slips of paper with names on them...I am working with Chris! I performed Lomi Lomi on Chris first, I feel really good and I don't think I forgot anything. I concentrated on the massage and not the sequence. It was long but when I was finished I felt really good about it, I think Chris enjoyed it too. We only had 45 minutes to go shower, eat lunch and come back for the second session so we did not all eat together. Brenda and I went out to eat together...yep it was good!
After lunch it was my turn to receive and Chris gave me a DEEP but enjoyable Lomi session. After that we received our certificates of completion! Woo Hoo!

3rd day of Training Sunday 2/26/12

Morning meditation...Breakfast...skype with Wayne. We are learning some pretty cool Lomi Lomi moves for the front of the body. It was a really busy day, we did not get out of there until about 8:00 pm. We went to dinner and I headed off to bed...I AM TIRED!
At lunch we (me, Brenda, Patti, Dawne) went to a secret beach. The views were beautiful and the beach was made of rocks...really really cool looking rocks...round, egg shaped, round, flat. It was nice.

2nd day of training Sat 2/25/12

Morning meditation...aahh...so relaxing. After meditation we eat breakfast then we skype with Wayne from Hawaii. Today we learn some arm rotations to go with our leg rotations. After lunch we come back to a house with no power...hhmm. Some neighbors said they heard a pop so we are assuming a transformer blew, also the neighborhood is powerless. We continue as long as we can before dark. After we were finished we went for dinner at a Greek restaurant ( it was a long strange day so only me Brenda and Lincoln go out for dinner). It was in a different neighborhood so it had power...phew...UNTIL..we ordered, they put most of our food down on the table and...yep...power went off. So now we are eating by the emergency lights, which isn't so bad, it is also pretty quiet with no background noise. After dinner they come around to collect for our dinner and yep, they can't accept anything but cash..(I have been charging everything), when she comes by to say they can't accept credit cards...Bing...power came back on...woo yoo! Another day down.
Well, this is our first day of our second session of Lomi Lomi training. As usual we started with some morning meditation. We spoke to Wayne from Hawaii on skype. Then we gave each other a 2 hour massage from what we learned last month...eek...my memory is not what it use to be but hopefully I was better at the massage since that is what I was concentrating on this time. Between our massages we went to lunch (yes good food) we came back and the people that received their massage now gave a massage. Afterward we went out to dinner (yep, i'm not going to say it anymore). I really enjoy coming here, it is beautiful and relaxing and the people are great!

2nd Lomi Lomi training session 2/23/12 to 2/28/12

Wow, February flew past quick. Before I knew it it was time to travel back to Gibsons B.C. I looking forward to it since it has been a crazy busy month. My flight was pretty uneventful (Yea), I met my friend Brenda on Marine Drive (Thanks Brenda...I appreciate everything you have done for me!). Brenda and I went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch, it was great (oh by the way, I have NOT had a bad meal in Canada at all!). After stopping at her apartment for a little while she drove us to the ferry but stopped off at a lookout to take in the sights. I took several pics and we headed to the ferry. We made it to Gibsons and all of us that were there already went out to dinner. It was nice but we heard that one of the intructors was unable to join us for the weekend....bummer! Lincoln did not make it in at that time so he missed the dinner. I will try and post a pic of us. I did it, this is our class, I am on the left, Brenda is in front of me, Chris is next to me, Lincoln is next to Chris, Dawne is in brown and our Kumu is in purple with her cat...Wisdom (wissy).






Well as you can see, not only am I new to blogging but I'm not really punctual at updating it. I already went back to Gibsons B.C. for my follow up training for Lomi Lomi so I think I will fast forward to this training. The next 3 days of my January training we learned Lomi massage in the prone (face down) position and incorporated several deep rotations with the legs. On the last day we gave each other a 2 hour Lomi massage, which was great and nerve racking all in one. I was trying to get the sequence down and was not concentrating on performing the massage. I guess it is to be expected since I have never performed Lomi and I was new at it..(I know...excuses..haha). I can not wait to go back in February to perform supine (face up) Lomi Lomi which will complete the 80 hour course. On the way home I was stuck in the middle seat from DFW to ORD with people on both sides...but...I made it home! cya next month!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Day 1 of 4 of my first Lomi Lomi learning session 1/26/12

I am staying at a B & B and as it turns out the other person staying there is also here to learn Lomi Lomi! She is from Canada AND has a car AND knows where she is going AND she doesn't mind that I tag along...woo hoo, things are looking up!
We get up early since we have to be there at 0730 and drive around for a bit, we find a Tom Horton's (I guess its like a Dunkin Donuts in the U.S.. We go in for a cup of coffee and get to know each other a little better, she is really nice, I'm glad I met her! After the coffee we go to class, I never know what to expect. We meet our Teachers, they are great (very nice).
The first half of the day we meditate, exercise, talk about the Hawaiian massage Lomi Lomi and learn a few basic words. There are 5 students total, all from Canada, except for me. They are all extremely nice and very personable. At lunch, we talk about various things and get comfy with each other.
After lunch, we talk some more and start with some basic Lomi (no oil). I really think I am going to like
 learning and performing Lomi Lomi massage. All of us students go out for dinner and enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow is another early and long day!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Travel day to my first Lomi Lomi class 1/25/12

Well I'm off to go to my training for the Hawaiin massage..Lomi Lomi in Gibsons B.C.
It started out great, I was early to the airport, I'm feeling good...Lets get this show on the road. I park in remote parking, get on the automated train, 1/2 way to AA's terminal, it stops and then we get a message stating, it will start momentarily when an issue is resolved...Uh Oh.
Ah, I have plenty of time..no worries, then, my phone rings...hhmm, its AA, my flight to DFW is cancelled...uh oh. I go to the counter...worried...but the agent helps me out and gets .me to YVR (Vancouver). Thank you, Thank you!! Right before I board, I get a message..its the agent, she overcharged me but she said I can get a refund when I come back...cool!
I go through LAX on AA and connect with WestJet to Vancouver, everything goes smooth. I am in Vancouver, I find the train, take it downtown to catch a bus (made the bus) to go to the ferry. I get to the ferry, now its raining but I am an hour early, I'm getting there! I Get off the ferry in Gibsons...NO TAXI'S...AND, its still raining. Most everybody there gets a ride or catches a bus. I'm not sure where I'm going so when I ask a guy about where I have to go, he tells me he never heard of that street...eek!
He suggests I go into town to the mall and catch a taxi. The bus comes and the driver gets out and asks if we are getting on, I ask him about the street I need...he never heard of it...uh oh...now I'm wondering if I got on the right ferry (yes there is more than 1). I get on the bus since the guy at the stop, the bus driver and I agree that I should go to the mall and catch a taxi. Yes, it's still raining...
I get dropped off at a strip mall, there is a gas station that the bus driver suggests I go into to ask the attendant for directions. I do and YES, she never heard of the street...uugghh! Yes I am getting concerned AND a little discouraged. I call the person I am staying with and tell her where I am...she
is not sure where I'm talking about...yes, I want to go home now :(    Then she says I am about 20 minutes away to walk back the way I came and go to her street, she can't come get me since she is teaching a class...no problem. I start walking..yes it is still raining, with my luggage, I start walking. It's dark, wet, hilly and every other street sign is across the street so yes I am zig zagging back and forth the streets in the rain, dragging my luggage.
I come across a pizza place and go in to ask if I am going the correct way and YES I am AND he has heard of the street...woohoo! I keep walking and now I am by some boats..hmm, doesn't seem right. I see a guy filling water cans and ask him...yep...I passed the street...aaaggghhh, but he offers to give me a ride and I finally get there...Yea! Boy do I sleep like a baby!