As a massage therapist I love ‘Story Massage‘ and as a language teacher I love ‘Story massage’. I understand and love the theory of it.
But although I know the theory I have still been so surprised to see how my children have taken to the whole idea!
When they are getting on each others’ nerves I can now sometimes say ‘why don’t you give each other a massage’ and not always, but sometimes, they do just stop and sing a song or tell each other a story while they do a massage on each others’ back. And then the mood changes drastically. They are calm, happy and laughing together within a few seconds.
Oxytocin is the hormone that creates that feel good feeling, it just takes less than a minute of massage (it has to be gentle but deep enough that the skin moves a little, not a tickle) for oxytocin to kick in!
It is the same hormone that we produce during breastfeeding, the feel good and bonding hormone. Not only does the person receiving a massage get an oxytocin boost, the one giving it as well and if there is someone else in the room they also get a kick of the feel good hormone!
So what are you waiting for?
Here is a video of a massage you can try at the same time as practising some Spanish with a traditional children’s song.
The words are as follows:
Downward fan and circle
Debajo un botón ton ton
(Under a button)
Walk upwards
Del señor Martín tin tin
(That belongs to Martin)
Sprinkle
Habia un ratón ton ton
(There was a mouse)
Small circles
Ay que chiquitín tin tin
(It was so tiny)
Small circles
Ay que chiquitín tin tin
(It was so tiny)
Sprinkles
Era aquel ratón ton ton
(That mouse)
Walk
Que encontró Martín tin tin
(That Martín found)
Downward fan and circle
Debajo un botón ton ton
(Under a button)
Lola has worked in Education for the last 15 years in many different capacities, from Language Teaching in China, Youth work in London to vast experience with Special Needs. She has grown between Spain and UK and now is bringing her children up in London. She has a passion for teaching, cultures and languages and is always searching for new ways to maintain children’s interest in learning and communication. All this has lead her to start a business teaching Spanish to children in London: Ole kids
