Sorry, but you havent lived if you havent yet had a Kahuna massage - Body+Soul

[massage]

For some, getting a massage is a weekly non-negotiable. For others, it might be a twice-yearly treat. But wherever you fall on the spectrum of body work - I implore you to seek out and book a Kahuna massage next time you need more than some knots kneaded - but a total body and mind rejuvenation.

I'd only seen signs at my local massage parlour for the Hawaiian specialty, but never dared to try. That is until I booked myself in for a two-night retreat at Elysia in the Hunter Valley.

A standard 'relaxation' or 'aromatherapy' type of massage is my usual go-to, but swayed by some very enthusiastic (and charming) upselling my the spa manager upon check in, I was persuaded to upgrade to the Kahuna massage - which I soon found out is a very different experience.

My kind but very focused therapist Katie alerted me to the fact that this was not going to be the standard 60-minute massage - but instead would incorporate breath work (from both of us), energy work (mostly her), some singing (all her) and 80 minutes of full nudity (just me - with a small cloth over my nether regions for modesty). I was a little apprehensive, but figured 'when in Rome', right?

Firstly, what is Kahuna massage?

A little background may help. Kahuna, or Ka huna, is a traditional therapeutic massage technique that originated on the island of Hawaii - thought be have been brought by Polynesian settlers and evolved into its current form. The meaning comes from 'huna' meaning 'secret knowledge', so a kahuna was a master of the huna arts. 'Lomi lomi' is the massage component, but it's widely known in the West as a Kahuna or healing Kahuna massage.

So after stripping off and lying on the massage


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