Story Massage Programme

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Story Massage Programme

The Story Massage Programme shares simple stories through gentle touch using ten strokes. Always guided by consent, choice and respect. We all love stories.

It supports calm, connection and communication in homes, schools, and communities. When combined with the benefits of simple massage strokes, stories present wonderful opportunities for creative fun and therapeutic interaction. Sharing positive touch offers great scope for imaginative activity and learning for children and adults of all ages and abilities. The Story Massage Programme offers a vari

ety of massage stories, songs and rhymes that can be used creatively in the family home, classroom or wider community. The Story Massage Programme is currently being used worldwide in a variety of settings including homes, schools, special schools, after-school clubs, family centres, hospices and hospitals.

31/08/2026

A new school year can bring so many different feelings.

Excitement for some children. Worry for others. New classrooms, new teachers, new expectations and another change in routine.

And as teachers, we know how important it is to give children time to settle, connect and feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

Story Massage is one simple way to build moments of calm and connection into an already busy school day.

It combines familiar stories, songs or poems with ten simple positive touch strokes, always with consent, choice and respect at the centre.

🌟 It doesn’t need to become another big activity to plan.
🌟It might be a few minutes after lunch.
🌟A familiar story during wellbeing time.
🌟A song before a transition.
🌟Or simply a quiet moment together at the end of a busy day.

For me, that is one of the things I love most about Story Massage. It can become part of what you are already doing rather than something else to fit in.

29/08/2026

The power of positive touch through a hug, holding hands or a Story Massage can really make people feel safe and truly seen ❤️

28/08/2026

One of the things I enjoy most about reading practitioners' feedback is seeing how they make Story Massage their own.

Kathryn shared:

"The ideas around communication tools were particularly valuable as we use PECS in school."

That really reflects what Story Massage is all about.

The programme isn't designed to replace the approaches you're already using. Instead, it helps you build on them. Whether that's PECS, visual supports, social stories, familiar songs or favourite books, Story Massage can sit alongside the strategies that already work in your setting.

Every individual communicates differently, which is why flexibility is such an important part of the programme. Story Massage encourages practitioners to adapt the approach to the person in front of them while always keeping consent, choice and respect at the heart of every interaction.

As we prepare for a new term, it's a good reminder that we don't always need something completely new. Sometimes, adding one simple, adaptable approach to the tools you already use can make a real difference.

Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing your experience.

What approach or resource do you already use that Story Massage could sit alongside?

If you'd like to discover how Story Massage could become part of your own practice, you can explore the programme here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

26/08/2026

Transitions can be exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming.

A new classroom.

A different teacher.

Returning to work after a break.

Starting a new group.

Beginning a new routine.

Whatever the transition looks like, familiar routines can help people feel more settled and secure.

That's one of the reasons Story Massage can be such a valuable part of everyday practice.
Using a familiar story, song or poem alongside the ten Story Massage strokes creates a predictable experience that people can begin to recognise and trust. It doesn't remove the challenges that change can bring, but it can offer a calm, positive moment within the day.

Story Massage is always guided by consent, choice and respect, allowing each person to engage in a way that feels right for them. Over time, those shared moments can help build confidence, strengthen relationships and support smoother transitions.

As many of us prepare for September, it's a good reminder that small, consistent routines can often make the biggest difference.

What helps the people you support feel calm and settled during times of change?

If you'd like to discover how Story Massage could support transitions in your own setting, you can find all the details here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

24/08/2026

As September approaches, many people begin thinking about new routines, new faces and fresh starts.

Whether you're welcoming a new class, supporting people returning after a break, or helping someone settle into a familiar routine again, the way we begin matters.

The first few minutes of any session can help create a sense of safety, belonging and connection. When people feel welcomed and know what to expect, they're often more ready to engage, communicate and take part.

That's one of the reasons Story Massage works so well at the start of a day or session.

Using a familiar story, song or poem alongside the ten Story Massage strokes creates a predictable, shared experience that people can come to recognise and enjoy. Over time, those small moments can help build trust, strengthen relationships and create a calm foundation for whatever comes next.

Every setting is different, but the principle remains the same. Starting with connection often makes everything that follows feel a little easier.

As you look ahead to September, what positive routine could help the people you support feel welcomed from the very beginning?

If you'd like to explore how Story Massage could become part of your everyday practice, you can find all the details here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

21/08/2026

One of the things I love most about reading practitioners' feedback is seeing the different moments that really resonate with them.

For one recently certified practitioner, it was discovering just how adaptable Story Massage can be.

"Seeing how Story Massage can be adapted to meet the needs of anyone was the most valuable part of the course."

I think that's such an important point.

Story Massage isn't about following a script or delivering the same session every time. It's about understanding the principles behind the approach and adapting them to the individual in front of you.

That might mean using a favourite story, a familiar song or a meaningful poem. It might mean working one-to-one, with a small group or as part of a daily routine. The possibilities are wonderfully varied, but the values remain the same: consent, choice and respect.

When practitioners realise they don't have to fit people into a programme, but can adapt the programme to the people they support, that's often when their confidence really grows.

How do you adapt your own practice to meet the needs of the people you support?

If you'd like to discover how Story Massage can become part of your own setting, you can explore the programme here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

20/08/2026

As we approach a new school term, there can be so much focus on getting ready.

New routines. New classrooms. New teachers. New expectations.

But perhaps one of the most important things we can give our children is something much simpler — connection.

A child who feels safe, seen and connected is better supported to navigate all the changes a new term can bring.

Story Massage gives parents, teachers and other professionals a simple, practical way to create those moments of connection through familiar stories, songs and poems combined with positive touch.

It doesn’t need special equipment or lots of preparation. It can be a nursery rhyme at home, a familiar story in the classroom or a few quiet minutes together when a child needs to reconnect.

And sometimes those small moments are the ones that matter most.

If you would like to bring Story Massage into your home, classroom or setting this Autumn, our Certified Story Massage Programme Practitioner training is available online and completely self-paced, with 12 months’ access.

Learn the ten simple strokes, understand why Story Massage works and gain the confidence to adapt it for the children and people you support.

Find out more through the link in our bio.

19/08/2026

One of the questions I'm often asked is whether you need lots of special resources to use Story Massage.

The answer is no.

In fact, some of the most meaningful Story Massage sessions begin with something that's already familiar.

A favourite picture book.

A nursery rhyme.

A well-loved poem.

A social story that's already part of someone's routine.
The Story Massage Programme™ teaches you how the same ten Story Massage strokes can be adapted to the words of stories, songs and poems, creating a shared experience that feels familiar, engaging and enjoyable.

That means you don't have to start from scratch or learn a completely new way of working. Instead, Story Massage can become another tool alongside the approaches you're already using.

I think that's one of the reasons so many practitioners tell me they feel confident using Story Massage so quickly. It builds on what they already know, while giving them new ways to create moments of calm, connection and communication.

If you were choosing just one story, song or poem to begin with, what would it be?

If you'd like to explore how Story Massage could fit naturally into your own setting, you can find all the details here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

17/08/2026

When people think about wellbeing, it's easy to imagine that it has to involve a big activity or a carefully planned session.

In reality, it's often the small, everyday moments that have the greatest impact.

A familiar song.

A favourite story.

A few quiet minutes together.

A chance to slow down and connect.

These simple moments help us build relationships, create a sense of belonging and bring a little predictability to the day.

That's one of the reasons I value Story Massage so much.

It doesn't need to be saved for special occasions or wellbeing weeks. It can become part of everyday life, whether that's at the beginning of a school day, during a transition, in a therapy session, in a care setting or at home with family.

Over time, these small shared moments become familiar. They create opportunities for calm, connection and communication, while always being guided by consent, choice and respect.

Sometimes it's the simplest moments that leave the biggest impression.

What small moment in your day helps the people you support feel connected?

If you'd like to explore how Story Massage could become part of your everyday practice, you can find all the details here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

14/08/2026

One of the things I hope every practitioner discovers is that Story Massage isn't something you have to fit into a perfect moment.

It can become part of everyday life.

That's exactly why Olivia's feedback stood out to me.

"Module 5 was the most memorable and showed how flexible, fun and creative Story Massage can be."

I love that because flexibility is at the heart of the programme.

The same ten Story Massage strokes can be adapted using favourite stories, songs, poems and social stories. They can become part of a morning routine, a calming transition, a therapy session or a shared moment at home. There isn't one "right" way to use Story Massage because every person and every setting is different.

My aim is to help practitioners feel confident enough to take what they've learned and make it their own, always guided by consent, choice and respect.

Thank you, Olivia, for sharing your experience.

Could Story Massage become part of your everyday routine?

If you'd like to discover more about becoming a Certified Story Massage Programme™ Practitioner, you can explore the programme here:

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

Address

Fairyhouse Cottage
Ratoath
A85A303

Website

https://www.findingyourwings.ie/train-as-a-story-massage-practitioner

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