I am Gemma Brown, I am the owner of Me & My Baby Massage and Me & My Wellbeing. I am an Award Winning, Experienced Massage Instructor, with over 12 years experience. I have trained with the International Association of Infant Massage, The Massage in Schools Programme and Story Massage, all of which give me the opportunity to share the benefits of positive touch activities.

 

The IAIM Baby Massage course draws from both Indian and Swedish massage traditions, as well as incorporating principles from yoga and reflexology.

 

Some of the benefits of Infant Massage can include:

 

• Strengthening the bond between parent/caregiver and baby

• Enhancing parent/caregiver and baby communication

• Relaxing parent/caregiver and baby

• Promoting deeper sleep

• Aiding baby’s digestion and helping to relieve wind/colic

• Developing baby’s muscle tone and co-ordination

 

Story Massage combines the benefits of positive, nurturing touch with the fun and creativity of words – whether it be story, rhyme or song.  Story Massage sessions can be shared as a child to child or parent to child activity or with adults. It is popular in a variety of settings including schools, special schools, care homes, after-school clubs, family centres, hospices and of course, the family home.

 

The benefits of positive touch are backed by extensive research with findings including:

 

• Improved calmness and concentration

• Increased self-confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem

• Improved social skills

• Increased engagement in activities

• Better communication

• Building respect and positive relationships

 

There is also an educational element as the Story Massage Programme can be used to fit in with the national curriculum. Many children have learnt their numbers and letters, plus history, geography and nature through massage stories.

 

The Massage in Schools Programme (MISP) is a peer massage programme for children aged between 4-12 (with adaptations for 2-3 year olds) that’s helping people all over the world. MISP is not intended as a therapy, rather it aims to promote the wellbeing of children in the knowledge that nurturing touch is a basic need and a powerful tool to help children develop into healthy, well-balanced human beings.

 

It has been unequivocally proven through research studies that regular nurturing touch is a developmental need in children. In targeting this need, proven effects of the Massage in Schools Programme include:

 

• Improved concentration levels

• Calmer classrooms

• Increase in children’s self-esteem and confidence

• Increase in creativity

• Reduction in bullying and aggression

• Overall increase in emotional health and wellbeing

• Greater social awareness

 

Through the training that I have completed I am able to offer the following:

 

• Baby Massage – small group courses or one to one courses, I can also accommodate NCT groups.

• Story Massage – courses to follow on from Baby Massage or as an introduction to massage through story telling, on a termly basis as well as sharing in a variety of settings including nurseries, pre schools, schools, after school clubs, care homes, family centres, hospices, the comfort of your own home, the list is endless.

• Massage in Schools Programme – Parent and child courses, Introduction of the MISP in to schools and other childcare settings.

 

If you would like any further information then please get in touch or follow me on Facebook at ‘Me and My Baby Massage’ for Baby Massage or ‘Me and My Wellbeing’ for the latest events or courses on offer. You can also find me on Instagram @meandmywellbeing,