FREE Resources for Story Massage during Lockdown

Posted on by May 1, 2020
We have had amazingly positive feedback for our free resources to support the Story Massage Programme at home and at work during lockdown. Here are three opportunities to share the fun, connection and relaxation of massage stories – all for free.

Free Resources – Facebook and Instagram Live Sessions

Mary and her trusty teddy, Emmanuel, are giving live ‘follow-along’ sessions:

Instagram – every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am

Facebook – every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm.

Each day there is one short nursery rhyme and one longer massage story making it suitable for all ages and abilities. And we love giving ‘shout-outs’ to schools, groups, children and adults.

“We love the Story Massage Programme! We follow along every Tuesday and Thursday. All the children were listening to the massage story when we heard a shout out for Wise Owls Nursery! At the end they all wanted to do it all over again.” Wise Owls Nursery and Out of School Club

Free Resources – Video Recordings on Vimeo

There is a whole selection of different massage stories, including bedtime stories, on video for you to follow along at home, or share within your groups or school websites. Some school and college staff are choosing videos to send to individual children or classes as they know they will be enjoyed at home. You can take a look at all the videos here: Story Massage Programme Vimeo Channel

“My daughter, Maisy, has PMLD and absolutely loves the Story Massage Programme. The facebook live sessions have given us another way to give and enjoy the precious effects of the massage programme. And now we have the Vimeo channel too which is wonderful. Yesterday morning, Maisy’s breathing was really rapid. I played several videos from the channel. I did the strokes while she listened to Mary’s voice and it really calmed her.” Sophie Kidd-Munnery

Free Resources – Booklet of New Massage Stories

If you are currently sharing the Story Massage Programme at home or work then you will enjoy this free PDF booklet of 36 new stories. Email mary@storymassage.co.uk and say how you are using the programme. (NB This offer has been going for a few weeks, so do check that you haven’t already made the most of it.)

“Thank you so much for sharing the booklet with us.  We are encouraging families to do a massage story at home every week and the booklet offers a whole variety of new stories to match all ages and abilities. We’ve had some lovely positive responses about how they are all enjoying doing something together. Families are so pleased to have something to focus on.” Julia Barnes, Sensory Manager, Ravenscliffe High School

Online Training Option

This is not free, but a wonderful way of gaining CPD and learning a new skill during lockdown. Our online training option can be started at any time and takes around 12-18 hours to complete. It costs £134 (with the book and stickers) or £115 (without the book and stickers) and we can invoice your school or organisation. Once trained, you have free access to our Facebook Community Page which is a fantastic resource for new massage stories and inspiration from others. You can find all the details here: Story Massage Online Training

“Online training meant that I could complete it at a time that suited me and my family and a bonus that I have time off during lockdown to complete it so quickly. Thank you so much for designing an easily accessible option for your training and for making it so clear and encouraging. I am really enjoying creating new massage stories.” Sarah Combe, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Independent Relax Kids Coach

Story Massage Book

Also not free, but highly popular especially at the moment. The book Once Upon A Touch…. includes an explanation of the strokes and over 25 different stories. It is an ideal introduction to the programme, and great fun to explore at home with your own children. You can order our book (£15.50 inc p&p) here: Story Massage Book 

“We have been working our way through the book and taking videos for Instagram. Myla is really enjoying videoing these and watching herself back. We always laugh together when telling our stories and they’ve been really lovely for me to look back on during our more challenging days. She has also been massaging her dolls and bunny while talking and saying certain words from the stories. So lovely to see her language skills developing every day.” Leigh Williams, Baby Massage and Story Massage Instructor at The Little Wellness Company

More about the Story Massage Programme

The programme combines the benefits of positive touch with the fun and creativity of story, song and rhyme. This short video gives an introduction and a demonstration to give you more information.

 

Luella wins Junior Best Practice Award

Posted on by March 14, 2020

We occasionally present special young people with our Junior Best Practice Award – and today we are delighted to give the award to 11 year old Luella Perkins. She is only the third winner of this prestigious award. A real fan of the Story Massage Programme, Luella shares massage stories with her friends, family and even her pet rabbit!

Happy Birthday Luella!

Luella celebrated her birthday recently and one of her favourite presents was a Story Massage Programme set – with a book, DVD, wallchart and stickers. This was a present from her aunt, Sophie Kidd-Munnery, a trained Story Massage Instructor, who knows just how much Luella loves sharing massage stories. “I love my set, especially the big posters,” says Luella, “Using these posters, I have already been showing other people (including my dad) all the different strokes.  I love making up stories in general and it makes it even more fun with strokes to go with the words too.”

Luella’s cousin, Maisy, who is several disabled, enjoys receiving massages – and so Luella and Poppy (Maisy’s sister) often give a joint massage to make her smile. You can them in the photo above. “I love doing massages on Maisy and Poppy and on my friends too, but especially my rabbit Dotty,’ says Luella. “It definitely helps everyone relax.”

Story Massage for Pets

And here is a video of Luella sharing a massage poem with Dotty. Luella wrote the words herself as a way of showing Dotty how much she is loved. We think it is fab – and clearly Dotty does too!

Congratulations Luella!

We hope you enjoy your award and continue to enjoy and share the Story Massage Programme.

More about the Story Massage Programme

The Story Massage Programme combines positive touch with the fun and creativity of storytelling. Ten simple massage strokes form the basis of the programme. These ten strokes each have a name, such as The Circle or The Sprinkle, and an easy to recognise symbol making it accessible for all. It is a fully inclusive activity. No clothing is removed and no oil is used. You can enjoy it anywhere at anytime – even like Luella and her family – in the rain!

Would you like to train in the Story Massage Programme?

Are you inspired by Luella’s enjoyment of Story Massage? Could the programme bring benefits for your family or your workplace? Our training is open to everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities with adults or children. All the information is here: Story Massage Training

The Story Massage Programme in Action

Posted on by March 23, 2020

The best way to explain the benefits of the Story Massage Programme is to see it in action. So here are six video clips showing children and young adults engaging with the fun and interaction of a Story Massage session. You can see the wide variety of settings where the programme brings benefits to people of all ages and abilities.

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The Sensory Projects Goes on Tour

Posted on by March 12, 2020

We are delighted to welcome Jo Grace, founder of The Sensory Projects to our Story Massage Programme blog. Jo writes about the rewards and challenges of taking her training days on tour – whilst also being pregnant! If you are supporting people with profound disabilities, at home or at work, you will find Jo’s training days are full of inspiration, ideas and information. Over to Jo…..

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Introducing Meaningful Props to Story Massage Sessions

Posted on by February 23, 2020

Simple and meaningful props can enhance your Story Massage sessions, explains Caroline Hill, Founder of Making SENse Creative Services Limited. A trained Story Massage Instructor, Caroline shares how she uses props within her sessions with adults with complex learning disabilities in residential homes.

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“Wonderful, Interactive and Calming Experience for Children with PMLD”

Posted on by February 3, 2020

“A wonderful interactive and calming experience for children with PMLD” was how Sophie Kidd-Munnery described the Story Massage Programme in a recent facebook post. We were really touched by Sophie’s glowing testimony of the benefits for her two daughters, Maisy and Poppy (pictured below). So we’ve repeated it here … in Sophie’s own words.

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Story Massage Training Day in Folkestone

Posted on by February 6, 2020

Join us for a Story Massage training day in Folkestone. Open to everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities.  The Story Massage Programme is a fun and inclusive activity that is making a real difference to children and adults of all ages and abilities.  Continue reading →

Centre of Excellence Winners – December 2019

Posted on by March 11, 2020

We are thrilled to announce our three latest Centres of Excellence – all from Scotland! This prestigious award is presented to schools, charities and organisations where at least four members of staff are trained in the Story Massage Programme and they have been using it for over a year. Our Centres of Excellence show remarkable commitment and enthusiasm for delivering the benefits of the programme.

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Best Practice Winners – December 2019

Posted on by January 24, 2020

Many congratulations to our latest Best Practice Award winners. And what an inspiration they are! It has been such a privilege to read through the entries. Here is a brief look at just some of many ways that the Story Massage Programme is bringing benefits within a whole range of settings.

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