January 26, 2022
Mirimiri more than a massage in hands of healer
A Wellington-based traditional healer is leading a hikoi around Te Waipounamu to show whānau the benefits of practices like mirimiri and romiromi.
A dozen practitioners from the rongoā collective Manawa Ora are taking part in the roadshow, holding eight events in 16 days from Nelson to Invercargill.
Jolie Davis says growing up in Ahipara, rongoā was a part of Māori life.
She trained as a nurse but came back to rongoā after realising people needed a system that can address the emotional and mental distress that comes with illness as well as their physical pain.
“Over the years I have realised our traditional practices have become watered down to the point where people assume mirimiri is just massage. Mirimiri is actually a powerful indigenous healing modality and it is a philosophy of life and it is also a powerful system of self-care to keep you well,”
Whānau can register for the wānanga at www.manawaora.org