The Chakras and the A'o

Anyone who has attended one of my workshops knows that there are definitely certain things that I encourage people to do for total health.  The first is meditation, the second is yoga, and the third is massage.

Growing up in Hawai’i, the art of massage, or lomilomi, was as much a part of my upbringing as the hulahula or respect for the Earth.  I was in a gnarly surf accident when I was younger and it was through the power of lomilomi that I am able to walk today. 

The massage that I have learned and that I pass on to others is focused on kino-aka - that is merging your mind, your body and your spirit.  Many of us are familiar with the Chakra points that run from our head to our genitals along our spinal cord.  In addition to the Chakras, I like to focus on what we in Hawai’i call the A’o.

The A’o are energy centers in the human body that are to often overlooked and consequently make for added tension in our bodies.  In our massage classes, I tend to teach people how to focus on the A’o for total harmony.

The A’o centers are located in these parts of the body:

1.  Crown (the top of your head) - This A’o is focused on our Will and is the guiding force in all matters that affect our lives.
2.  Right Eye - the right eye A’o focuses on Time - time a concept, time as a sequence, time as a reality and time as you perceive it.
3.  Right Shoulder - the A’o in our right sholder is focused on Endeavors.  Truly beginning new things whether physical, emotional, metal or spiritual.
4.  Right Hip - this A’o is focused on Action and is usually efforts already happening on what is being considered.
5.  Perineum (area between your anus and your genitals) - this A’o is your Anchor.  This A’o ensures your actions are real and lasting.
6.  Left Hip - Contemplation is the focus of this A’o.  Refelction on what has been and what is to be.
7.  Left Shoulder - this A’o is about Appreciation.  Not just appreciation for what you have accomplished but also for those gifts from the Divine.
8.  Left Eye - the A’o here is about Harmony with the Divine Plan.  This is about striving for divine completeness.
9.  Heart - this A’o is about the Aloha Spirit. 

When you experience a sensation in one or more of these A’o, your being is directly focused on what it corresponds to above.  Through massage, you free your A’o points to be receptive to these sensations - to be more aware of your body and the world around you.