We have had so many positive reviews for our Story Massage Online Course that it is hard to know how to share all the many benefits and applications. So, we decided to ask for feedback from our most recent students to discover how the training has helped ten different people working with the programme in ten different ways …
Hospital Teacher and ALNCo
“I’m using the Story Massage Programme on the wards in our hospital setting. It’s really popular especially with our learners with complex needs. It helps them to relax and offers something familiar from their school in what can be quite a traumatic setting for them. Parents and carers were always asking if we offered the programme, and now we can say that we do! A huge thank you to the Story Massage team for delivering this worthwhile training.” Isabel Thomas
Teacher in a Special School
“I teach KS2 pupils with complex SLD. Our current topic is Space. I added the Story Massage strokes to the nursery rhyme Zoom, Zoom, Zoom and tried it out with my class and they loved it. One of my pupils can be very hard to engage with activities but he was so engaged with this massage and even signed “please” when I asked if he wanted more. That was a very special moment and I am excited to regularly use the programme in class. I feel that it will help with engagement and building up bonds and trust for all of the pupils.” Pia Delucchi
Family Reflexologist
“I absolutely loved this online course. I feel this has been the missing link on my journey as a therapist. Having been a family Reflexologist for many years, the Story Massage Programme will change how I work for the benefit of children and adults. It can promote and open up to wellness, well-being, nurturing, connection, bonding, consensual touch and fun. I have surprised myself so much by rediscovering my inner child and slowly releasing my fun creative side.” Barbie White
Early Years Teacher of the Deaf
“I am using the Story Massage Programme with young children with hearing loss. It is a great resource to introduce for children, parents and teachers. The repetitive movements and repetitive language helps support their early listening skills and own language development. The massage movements and whole sensory experience can really help the children to ‘feel’ the rhythm of language.” Janice Barnett
Class Teacher in a Mainstream School
“The online course has given me the skills to develop another method of bringing excitement and engagement into literacy for my Primary 1 class. Children love stories and the programme offers a means to interact with stories and also create their own stories using Story Massage strokes. It is adaptable to individual needs as it can be done one-to-one, self or peer. The training has given me another avenue for including all learners in lessons. It has also been beneficial in helping to settle some learners in my class who require support when socialising with their peers in a positive manner.” Sinead Boyle
Specialist Play Lead at a Children’s Charity
“We provide respite and play sessions for children and young people with additional needs and complex health needs. The online course helped me to gain confidence in delivering Story Massage sessions and unlocked my creative potential for story writing! The programme will help our children develop an understanding of boundaries and consent around physical touch. And it will reduce stress and anxiety in some of our children who require high levels of physical sensory input. We had a wonderful session for Pancake Day. Watch the follow-along video here. ” Charlie Carter
Physiotherapy Technician
“One of the best bits about the Story Massage online course for me was its simplicity. There wasn’t masses of information that I had to learn. I could do it at my own pace, which made it easier to have time to practice on my students. The book and course material were a great help and gave me lots of ideas. We now use the Story Massage Programme most weeks in our Physiotherapy sessions. The students look forward to the sessions and even want more after we have finished the stories.” Jennifer Salmon
Intervention Disability Worker
“I thoroughly enjoyed the online course. The Story Massage strokes are easy and simple to learn and there is a good mix of hands-on practical work and theory. The positive feedback from everyone receiving the massage stories really increased my self-esteem and confidence in my skills.” Suzanne Davies
Specialist Teaching Assistant
“Thank you for making this lovely programme. The online course has been great, being simple to follow yet very interesting and informative. I loved watching the clips of people of all ages and abilities enjoying the massage stories. I work with pupils with autism and other special educational needs. The inclusive manner in which the programme is created is great for my students. Those who don’t want to be touched can enjoy self-massage. And those who have not had a nurturing start in life can engage in positive touch. A bonus of the Story Massage online course is that I have enjoyed using my skills at home with my wife and children. It is relaxing for everybody!” Rob Thacker
Mother with Alzheimer’s
“The main benefit of the Story Massage Programme is its inclusivity. It is suitable for varying needs and abilities. I work with children but having completed the training, I will also be using the Story Massage Programme with my own mother who has Alzheimer’s. I found the story Where is Flynn? a complete joy to watch and seeing the reaction of the mother in that video has inspired me to try it at home as a means of connecting with my own mum.” Breandan McHugh
More about the Story Massage Programme
The Story Massage Programme combines the benefits of positive, respectful touch with the creativity and engagement of rhymes, songs and stories. Ten simple massage strokes form the basis of the programme. These strokes have a child friendly name, such as The Circle or The Sprinkle, and an easy to recognise symbol. It is a fully inclusive activity, no clothing is removed and no oil is used.
Would you like to train in the Story Massage Programme?
Sign up for our Story Massage Online Course and help share the benefits with the children or adults in your care – at home or at work.
We teach you how to share the ten Story Massage strokes and work with you to adapt familiar stories and even create some sensory stories of your own. Ideal for all teachers, SEN staff, support staff, therapists, Early Years practitioners, those working with people with additional needs, Baby Massage Instructors, Relax Kids Coaches… everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities with children and adults of all ages and abilities.
