Workshop in Japan – Cocoro
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Benefits of Story Massage
Child:
“Doing story massage makes everyone happy. It feels good to do something nice for my friends.”
Parent:
“My son loves making up his own story massages. It is a time when we can laugh or simply sit quietly together.”
Teacher:
“Story massage sessions help the children to calm down so they can concentrate better on their work.”
Social worker:
“Story massage has offered great comfort to the children living in the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami.”
“Doing story massage makes everyone happy. It feels good to do something nice for my friends.”
Parent:
“My son loves making up his own story massages. It is a time when we can laugh or simply sit quietly together.”
Teacher:
“Story massage sessions help the children to calm down so they can concentrate better on their work.”
Social worker:
“Story massage has offered great comfort to the children living in the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami.”
quotes-storymassageinaction
Read the Reviews
Gayle Keenan, Relax Kids Coach and Learning Assistant
“My pupils with PMLD and SLD love your massage stories. We use them in nearly about all of our curriculum areas to support and engage our special learners.”
Kerri Ovel, Assistant Headteacher
"The Story Massage Programme offers our foster children an avenue to open up about their emotions in a new, expressive way. Children are often more willing to listen and become more understanding of others' difficulties when they are shared through massage stories."
Jessica Pagett, Therapeutic Support Worker
“The Story Massage Programme is joyful and gentle, inclusive and consensual. I love it’s brilliant simplicity, yet multi-layered uses for all ages and abilities.”
Claire Mendelsohn, Complementary Therapist and Tutor
“One of my pupils can be very hard to engage with activities but recently he signed “please” when I asked if he wanted a massage story repeated. That was a very special moment. This is just one example of how the Story Massage Programme helps engagement and builds up bonds and trust for my pupils with PMLD.”
Pia Delucchi, Class Teacher
“The Story Massage Programme is ideal for our hospital patients. We have regular patients who come to us with additional needs who enjoy sensory play. It can also help children with any hospital fears they may have to relax them during their stay.”
Liz Luton, Children’s Hospital Play Leader
"It is amazing that with ten simple massage strokes you can open up a whole new world! Non-verbal and anxious children are particularly enjoying the sessions. We use it during relaxation and circle time. It is a great addition to our daily schedule.”
Orsolya Wraight, Teacher Assistant
“We love your YouTube channel and I use it when my daughter, who is registered blind, is in hospital. We do massage stories every day to help calm her. It’s perfect as no equipment is required and it’s a different voice and the strokes give that sense of connection. Fab!”
Allison Curry, Mum
"The Story Massage videos on YouTube are a fantastic resource. The children thoroughly enjoy watching and listening to the stories while following along with Mary and Emmanuel. They really look forward to Story Massage sessions and it is clear to see the positive impact that it has on the ethos and relationships within the class.”
Rachel Harkness, Class Teacher
“I am a play therapist who uses your stories with children in therapy and also with my children at home to teach them about safe and loving touch! Thank you for the wonderful resource!”
Rebecca Lawlor, Play Therapist
““The Story Massage Programme can be so easily adapted for all ages. Babies love the singing, rhyming and one-to-one interaction with their parents. Toddlers enjoy the interactive nature of massage stories and the sensory experience of props during the sessions. Pre-schoolers and school age children like sharing tunes and stories they know – and there is always great enjoyment when they write their own massage stories.”
Katie Smith, Infant Massage Instructor
“The combination of positive touch and story makes the Story Massage Programme appealing to children as they can easily relate to it. They focus, listen and fully engage in the moment.”
Julie Whittingham, Relax Kids Coach and Forest School Leader.
“I love seeing the interaction of families with the Story Massage Programme. Parents and children really love it. My advice to everyone is just go and do the training!”
Lucie Ellis, Certified Infant Massage Instructor.
“Some children who have specific needs can struggle to feel calm, but they really benefit from the Story Massage Programme. There is often a reduction in hyperactive behaviour after the session. It can really help children as one of the strategies to manage their anxiety.”
Claire Gage, Relaxation and Wellbeing Coach.
"Quite simply I cannot imagine a life without the Story Massage Programme! I use it at least once a day, 5 days a week. It has become such a natural thing to do. It brings benefits to all the children who use it - and everyone loves it." Julie Whittingham, Relax Kids Coach and Forest School Leader.
“I love seeing the interaction of families with the Story Massage Programme. Parents and children really love it. My advice to everyone is just go and do the training!”
Lucie Ellis, Certified Infant Massage Instructor.
“Some children who have specific needs can struggle to feel calm, but they really benefit from the Story Massage Programme. There is often a reduction in hyperactive behaviour after the session. It can really help children as one of the strategies to manage their anxiety.”
Claire Gage, Relaxation and Wellbeing Coach.
Gayle Keenan, Relax Kids Coach and Learning Assistant
“My pupils with PMLD and SLD love your massage stories. We use them in nearly about all of our curriculum areas to support and engage our special learners.”
Kerri Ovel, Assistant Headteacher
"The Story Massage Programme offers our foster children an avenue to open up about their emotions in a new, expressive way. Children are often more willing to listen and become more understanding of others' difficulties when they are shared through massage stories."
Jessica Pagett, Therapeutic Support Worker
“The Story Massage Programme is joyful and gentle, inclusive and consensual. I love it’s brilliant simplicity, yet multi-layered uses for all ages and abilities.”
Claire Mendelsohn, Complementary Therapist and Tutor
“One of my pupils can be very hard to engage with activities but recently he signed “please” when I asked if he wanted a massage story repeated. That was a very special moment. This is just one example of how the Story Massage Programme helps engagement and builds up bonds and trust for my pupils with PMLD.”
Pia Delucchi, Class Teacher
“The Story Massage Programme is ideal for our hospital patients. We have regular patients who come to us with additional needs who enjoy sensory play. It can also help children with any hospital fears they may have to relax them during their stay.”
Liz Luton, Children’s Hospital Play Leader
"It is amazing that with ten simple massage strokes you can open up a whole new world! Non-verbal and anxious children are particularly enjoying the sessions. We use it during relaxation and circle time. It is a great addition to our daily schedule.”
Orsolya Wraight, Teacher Assistant
“We love your YouTube channel and I use it when my daughter, who is registered blind, is in hospital. We do massage stories every day to help calm her. It’s perfect as no equipment is required and it’s a different voice and the strokes give that sense of connection. Fab!”
Allison Curry, Mum
"The Story Massage videos on YouTube are a fantastic resource. The children thoroughly enjoy watching and listening to the stories while following along with Mary and Emmanuel. They really look forward to Story Massage sessions and it is clear to see the positive impact that it has on the ethos and relationships within the class.”
Rachel Harkness, Class Teacher
“I am a play therapist who uses your stories with children in therapy and also with my children at home to teach them about safe and loving touch! Thank you for the wonderful resource!”
Rebecca Lawlor, Play Therapist
““The Story Massage Programme can be so easily adapted for all ages. Babies love the singing, rhyming and one-to-one interaction with their parents. Toddlers enjoy the interactive nature of massage stories and the sensory experience of props during the sessions. Pre-schoolers and school age children like sharing tunes and stories they know – and there is always great enjoyment when they write their own massage stories.”
Katie Smith, Infant Massage Instructor
quotes-resources
Read the Reviews
"This book is filled with stories and so much more. Simple massage strokes are illustrated with little icons. As a story is read it can also be felt, as the teller of the story delivers it through touch. Perfect for an anxious world. Perfect for connecting people. Perfect for communicating without reliance on words!"
Joanna Grace, founder of The Sensory Projects.
“My family absolutely adore the Story Massage book. We’ve got heaps of great memories of sharing massage stories together.”
Megan Drakeley
"Mummy bought me the Story Massage book. I like it because I can read the words and I can know all of the massage strokes myself. I can show my friends how to do the stories and I can share the book with my family."
Erin Goble, aged 6.
"I found the book easy to use and the stories highly enjoyable. I tested some of the stories out on my daughters and found it to be the perfect way to relax before bedtime. They also enjoyed learning to use the different strokes on each other, and this provides a chance for fun and bonding between them.”
Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Specialist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing.
“It is fantastic how the ten strokes can illustrate more or less every key object, action or emotion in a story when you vary speed, direction and pressure. It opens up so many possibilities for fun and interactive curriculum-based activities.”
Jane Iley, Class Teacher in a SEND school
“Many of the children that I work with are receiving medical treatment for serious illnesses. Most of the touch they receive is for testing bloods or giving medication. The Story Massage Programme offers them the opportunity to experience positive, calming, pain relieving touch. Parents are often grateful for the resources offering guidance and ideas for activities they can use with their child in times when they are not in a position to think of these things themselves. The Story Massage Programme offers parents, siblings and other caregivers the chance to be involved in the care of the child. And it offers some respite from a sometimes harsh reality.”
Sarah Vaughan, Holistic Therapist and Founder of The Play Well Trust
“I use this book every week. I highly recommend it. My pupils massage each other, and in one case their toy dog, (touch sensitive) until he recently allowed me to massage him while he is massaging his dog! .”
Nicole Billing, Special Needs Teacher (Complex Needs)
“In our generic special school, we now have massage stories for every key text in school and the children love to use them! My class and I are very grateful for your excellent resources - and also all the free resources and support that you offer. Thank you.”
Zara Juffkins, Literacy and Communication Lead
“As a SEMH teacher, I am always looking to develop my practise and training for the purpose and outcomes of my amazing pupils with SEN and SEMH needs. It is wonderful to see tailored programmes like this that highlight the fact that the learning experience is, and should be, different for everyone.”
Jennifer Price, SEMH Teacher
Joanna Grace, founder of The Sensory Projects.
“My family absolutely adore the Story Massage book. We’ve got heaps of great memories of sharing massage stories together.”
Megan Drakeley
"Mummy bought me the Story Massage book. I like it because I can read the words and I can know all of the massage strokes myself. I can show my friends how to do the stories and I can share the book with my family."
Erin Goble, aged 6.
"I found the book easy to use and the stories highly enjoyable. I tested some of the stories out on my daughters and found it to be the perfect way to relax before bedtime. They also enjoyed learning to use the different strokes on each other, and this provides a chance for fun and bonding between them.”
Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Specialist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing.
“It is fantastic how the ten strokes can illustrate more or less every key object, action or emotion in a story when you vary speed, direction and pressure. It opens up so many possibilities for fun and interactive curriculum-based activities.”
Jane Iley, Class Teacher in a SEND school
“Many of the children that I work with are receiving medical treatment for serious illnesses. Most of the touch they receive is for testing bloods or giving medication. The Story Massage Programme offers them the opportunity to experience positive, calming, pain relieving touch. Parents are often grateful for the resources offering guidance and ideas for activities they can use with their child in times when they are not in a position to think of these things themselves. The Story Massage Programme offers parents, siblings and other caregivers the chance to be involved in the care of the child. And it offers some respite from a sometimes harsh reality.”
Sarah Vaughan, Holistic Therapist and Founder of The Play Well Trust
“I use this book every week. I highly recommend it. My pupils massage each other, and in one case their toy dog, (touch sensitive) until he recently allowed me to massage him while he is massaging his dog! .”
Nicole Billing, Special Needs Teacher (Complex Needs)
“In our generic special school, we now have massage stories for every key text in school and the children love to use them! My class and I are very grateful for your excellent resources - and also all the free resources and support that you offer. Thank you.”
Zara Juffkins, Literacy and Communication Lead
“As a SEMH teacher, I am always looking to develop my practise and training for the purpose and outcomes of my amazing pupils with SEN and SEMH needs. It is wonderful to see tailored programmes like this that highlight the fact that the learning experience is, and should be, different for everyone.”
Jennifer Price, SEMH Teacher
quotes-training
Read the Reviews
Lynn Walsh, Head of Shotts Family Learning Centre
“Many thanks for such a successful INSET training day. It was wonderful to see the TAs so enthusiastic about learning Story Massage and the possibilities for our students with additional needs. They all said that it was a really worthwhile day and they couldn’t wait to put their new skills into practice the next day!”
"Sharing a massage story quietens a rowdy class extremely quickly, regardless of their age. It engages all children, even those who lack concentration and attention skills. I would highly recommend this training day."
Louise Roberts, Higher Level Teaching Assistant
“I bought the book and started using Story Massage with our adult learners with complex needs. But the training day opened up so many more possibilities and encouraged me to start creating my own stories.”
Astrid Gilmartin, Life Skills Lecturer, Hertford Regional College.
“The Story Massage Programme is proving a big success within our Special School campus at Beatlie. It is very difficult to find a resource that can be used by all our children and is therefore beneficial for all our staff to be involved with. We were delighted to find this fully inclusive positive touch activity. We now have 12 staff members trained!”
Debbie McCulloch, Principal Teacher, Beatlie Campus
“Training in the Story Massage Programme has added a whole new dimension to my work. It is the perfect follow-on to my baby massage classes. I love to see how the babies, especially the more active ones, suddenly stop still, look at their Mum, and start to sing back or settle and become relaxed. They clearly enjoy the mix of songs, stories and positive touch.
Tracey Allport, Occupational Therapist and Baby Massage Instructor.
“Over the course of the year the programme has been steadily embedded into our nurturing approaches at our family learning centre. Children, aged 3-5 years, readily ask for and give Story Massage either from a practitioner or their peers. It has been so successful that we organised an INSET day and also a Family Learning training day.”Louise Roberts, Higher Level Teaching Assistant
“I bought the book and started using Story Massage with our adult learners with complex needs. But the training day opened up so many more possibilities and encouraged me to start creating my own stories.”
Astrid Gilmartin, Life Skills Lecturer, Hertford Regional College.
“The Story Massage Programme is proving a big success within our Special School campus at Beatlie. It is very difficult to find a resource that can be used by all our children and is therefore beneficial for all our staff to be involved with. We were delighted to find this fully inclusive positive touch activity. We now have 12 staff members trained!”
Debbie McCulloch, Principal Teacher, Beatlie Campus
“Training in the Story Massage Programme has added a whole new dimension to my work. It is the perfect follow-on to my baby massage classes. I love to see how the babies, especially the more active ones, suddenly stop still, look at their Mum, and start to sing back or settle and become relaxed. They clearly enjoy the mix of songs, stories and positive touch.
Tracey Allport, Occupational Therapist and Baby Massage Instructor.
Lynn Walsh, Head of Shotts Family Learning Centre
Sunita Widlake, Assistant Head Teacher (Inclusion), Winsor Primary School, Newham.
quotes – online course
Read the Reviews
“The Story Massage Programme is the best intervention I’ve done in my 25yrs in the teaching profession. I work with children with complex medical needs and sharing massage stories. It just opens up their world. We absolutely love our sessions and we often change things we do in class to link to the Story Massage movements.” Tracey Smith, PMLD Class Teacher
“I really enjoyed the flexibility of the course. From a management point of view this was fantastic as it did not mean releasing staff from school to attend the training which can be a huge barrier. This has enabled us to put forward a large number of staff to complete the online training.The main challenge of online courses is always lack of opportunities to share with others but I feel the Facebook Community Group and You Tube videos are an excellent way of supporting those who are completing the training.”
Debbie McCulloch, Principal Teacher,
Beatlie School Campus
“My sister, Lauren, is 30 years old and is disabled. She is blind, deaf, autistic and has global development delay. She lives in her own house with 24/7 support from a local company who are fantastic. Lauren really looks forward to her Story Massage time. Your resources are so helpful and give us all such pleasure. The Story Massage Programme really is fully inclusive. It is a wonderful activity for everyone.” Natalie Smith
“What can I say apart from WOW! I have been working with children for many years and understood the benefits of positive touch, so I completed the online course just for fun. However, learning about the Story Massage Programme has totally changed how I work. The online course is easy to follow, fantastic clear videos and gaining certification is a clear process. Highly recommended.”
Cheryl Kennedy, Autism and Wellbeing Consultant for AIW Consultancy
“The time is 5.30 am (the children are still asleep, and I have “me” time) and I rush to the computer to continue the online course. It is not difficult for me to get up, because all the knowledge of the course inspires me every day…I would recommend it to everyone to use at work and at home.”
Katja Rinc, Infant Massage Instructor, Slovenia
“In all honesty, I have thoroughly enjoyed the WHOLE course from start to finish. It has not felt like a ‘course’ with any sense of pressure; I have had lots of fun and exercised my creativity in the process. And there is so much support during and after the online course. I am really enjoying finding out how others are using the programme in so many different settings. I love the creative ideas such as adding sensory props, adapting stories, and running online sessions.”
Jennifer Price, SEMH Teacher
“The Story Massage Programme is a wonderful way to connect with young adults with complex needs. Many young adults living in residential care homes have limited opportunities to engage with stories, so I incorporate Story Massage in my sensory drama and sensory art sessions. It provides the benefits of positive touch as well as an interactive and sensory way to share stories and songs. Sessions can be tailored to an individual’s needs and can vary in length and content. They can choose their favourite strokes and receive the massage on whatever part of the body is best for them.” Caroline Hill, founder of Making Sense Creative Services Ltd
“Sharing positive touch has made a real difference in my upper school nurture groups, especially with some of the older boys who struggle with expressing emotions and self-esteem. It puts them in a calm frame of mind to go back and join their class.” Stephanie Lawson, Nurture Lead
“The online course is well laid out and well explained. From the beginning I practiced the Story Massage strokes on my children. I was amazed at how often they began to ask for a ‘meditation massage’ at bedtime. All three of my children have really taken to Story Massage and they often take turns to either read one from the book or to make up their own story. This has increased their bond and has given them something lovely they can do together.” Carmel Donaldson, Connected Kids Tutor, Homeopath and Mum
“I felt engaged…. more so that I thought would be possible via an online course where positive, nurturing touch is at the centre! I am impressed by the authors’ attention to detail and recognition of different learning styles. It is a well-balanced and varied course with excellent pacing of sessions to build up confidence. Most of all, I appreciated the gentle guidance with tips, suggestions and lots of inspiring and useful links to resources.”
Helene Goulet, Elementary School Teacher, Canada
“I am a Speech and Language therapist in a special school and have been using the Story Massage Programme with one of the children on my case load to reduce his anxiety and improve his engagement with me. He is making so much progress – he calms so much quicker and gives me lots of eye contact. I thoroughly recommend the training.” Nicky Mearing, Speech and Language Therapist
“The online training is the best thing that I have done for a long time. I have been able to incorporate the programme into so many different areas of my work. It has become a valuable tool to support bonding between child and parent or caregiver.” Carol Brookes, Practitioner for Deafblind/MSI (Multi-Sensory Impairment) children.
“Mothers tell me that massage stories soon become part of their routine and are the most valuable time that they spend with their children. Sharing positive touch with a relevant story can promote effective communication and encourage children to express their feelings in a safe environment.”
Kefaya Al Mubarak, Psychologist and Children’s Massage Instructor, Bahrain.
“The Story Massage Programme offers an activity that adults with varying levels of need can enjoy as a group. It doesn’t require any pressure to ‘perform’ or ‘do the right thing’ so everyone can relax and have fun together.” Jaime Ballett, Manager, Out and About Dorset Ltd.
“I wholeheartedly recommend using the Story Massage Programme in schools (and in your own home!) as the children LOVE it. There are many benefits from introducing this into your setting and you can spark creativity and imagination by inviting children to design their own massage stories too.”
Sarah Combe, Relax Kids Coach and Senior Mental Health and SEND Lead in primary schools.
“When a child feels loves and taken care of, then they feel safe. When a child is feeling nervous or scared, simple words combined with a massage story can help calm their nerves and help them feel safe.” Fiona Pattison, Managing Director of Rainbows Sensory Space Ltd.
“During the last two years we have been running the Story Massage Programme, children have learnt to sign ‘Thank you” in Makaton as the end of the session. We are all so proud of them.” Naya Alexiou, Lead of Complex Needs at a Special School.