The Makoha Story
the story of makoha
It is Elaine Denton's vision that Makoha introduces you to an authetic massage and spa care range from Aoteaora - New Zealand.
The infusion of New Zealand culture and New Zealand's natural flora.
"an authentic experience that is nourishing and nurturing," she said."I want to take Makoha around the world as a living cultural experience which has something the world is asking for: relaxation, wellness, and peace."
From a pocket coastal village in New Zealand with serene names and beautiful, ancient healing ways comes Makoha - practised and promoted by the descendant of a great line of wise and gentle healers.
There's a little spring up high on Mt Taranaki, on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's name is "Rautini". It flows into another spring, "Pungaereere", before the combined waters gently slide down from the mountain and into the sea at a small coastal town called Rahotu.
Elaine Denton's Maori birth name is taken from the Pungaereere spring (loosely and variously meaning "lush waterfall life", "movement of the stars", and "the beginning of life'). Her grandmother's name was taken from the Rautini spring.
Elaine is borrowing from the centuries of wisdom from the Rautini spring, to introdcue Makoha ocean energy and natural gift spa care wellnes range.
Elaine's work in creating a centre for Makoha at The Bay of Many Coves Resort in Queen Charlotte Sound in New Zealand continues with international location in Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria in Australia.
With great mana "pride" Elaine has all the zeal of someone who is custodian of a rich heritage: Maori culture is so organic, and verbal. My grandmother used to take me for long walks and just talk to me, that was my learning. That's the Maori way.
"In a language where one word can have many meanings, 'miri miri' means 'tranquil', 'massage', 'healing', 'wellness', 'understanding', 'appreciation' and 'acceptance'."
"The miri miri I know and practice is Makoha." said Elaine.
"I would go to New Zealand spa resorts feeling like a complete stranger in my own country through having a Swedish massage; nobody was teaching our ways.
"At 23 years -old, Elaine wanted more satisfaction than her work at New Zealand's Police College gave her. She completed a massage course in the usual styles: remedial, sports and various relaxation massage methods and beauty therapy. "It was all very clinical and there was an emptiness, a missing ingredient to what I had grown up with".
Though more spiritual than most 'massage' treatments, Elaine's Makoha is "not about trying to fix - it's just trying to make you feel lighter, helping you tap into your awareness and your inner peace."
'Makoha' has two meanings: 'natural gift' and 'ocean energy' - the end journey of the Mt Taranaki springs.
Makoha waters the seed (gift) that was planted within the therapist, for her to stregthen their mind, body and spirit, therefore, you experience an authentic spa journey.
"Makoha can actually have the power to get you to look inside yourself and remember that you love what you see.