Question: What is ka huna massage and what is it good for?

Answer: Once only practised by the mysterious South Sea island kahunas or native priests, ka huna massage (also known as lomi lomi) is known in Hawaii as 'loving hands massage'.

A key concept of this deceptively powerful therapy is that the practitioner has to remain totally focused on the client, feeling deep love and compassion for them, rather than treating them as an 'object' to be 'fixed'.

Ka huna massage affects the lymphatic, immune, digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. It can therefore help a variety of ailments, from irritable bowel syndrome to headaches and asthma. It's especially appropriate for stress-related aches and neck and upper back tension.

Some practitioners will have the room very warm so that you can lie naked on a couch (as you would in Hawaii); others tailor their work to a more traditional Western style where you are covered with towels. Some practitioners start by placing warmed volcanic rocks down your spine, or by asking you to look in a mirror. Then, using light scented oils, the practitioner massages your back, sweeping down from your head right through to your legs in long, fluid strokes. The movement is rhythmic and repetitive and, after a few minutes, it becomes hard to tell where one stroke ends and the next begins.

Practitioners throw their whole bodies into the work, moving around the table using flowing hula-style movements and often using not just their hands but the whole length of their forearm as they pull, twist and stretch you. It's easy to drift into a sense of total timelessness. Many people find their have flashbacks and feel intense emotions, finding themselves either crying or laughing.

To find a qualified therapist near you, visit www.mettesinstitute.com.au or www.kahunacentre.com.au.