Anna back to University

Our Intern from Sweden Anna is back at university . She gave a presentation about her practice in NZ. There was a lot of interest about our country. Lots of questions and lots of stories making NZ closer to Sweden as our social problems in certain areas are similar. We wish Anna success in her studies and a good use of skills end experiences she received in New Zealand

Children are less and less familiar with touch

It has been 15 years since CMC programme was born. Everything was made possible and went smoothly because I have my sports massage clinic at YMCA Mt Albert. Holiday programme created for us great circumstances to master and improve the idea of familiarising children with positive touch through massage. On 30^th of September, after few years long break I run a CMC session again at Mt Albert.

Sad conclusion came out of this experience. Children are less and less familiar with touch. The biggest problem kids had during this session? Simple head stroking. One of student even innocently asked “Is it legal” ?

We – massage professionals and teachers need to act fast and stop the process of alienation and loss of empathy in society.

„Closing presentation at Social Entrepreneur course"

 8 weeks course - completed! 10 graduates did their presentations today.  Mine was entitled  “the Value of Empathy – CMC delivered nationwide”. I was the first to present. Audience received it enthusiastically.  Children Massaging Children stands for  Hauora from the School Curriculum. It's user friendly and easy to replicate in different countries and languages. The audience has picked up on those points because they are strong exporting features of the CMC.  Next step will be to present CMC as TED talk early next year. 

At the WellFest event

20/21 September - WellFest  was a big and a vibrant event. 

We shared our stand with Dee Pigneguy - an expert at introducing  nutrition and gardening into schools.

 During the event I delivered two presentations and received excellent feedback. 

The time spent there was packed with making new contacts, networking with like-minded people and promoting the idea of peer massages in education system. Very fruitful event for Child Connection.

Sir Ken Robinson talk

I just listened to the talk by Sir Ken Robinson  it’s from 4 years ago. Unfortunately today it’s just as relevant, because not much has changed.

He makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning - creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish. "Unfortunately we have built our education systems on the model of fast food."  
Sir Ken refers to Abraham Lincoln who in 1876 said that "The dogma of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present" . He concludes that  “When evolution isn't working, revolution is needed “It’s a pleasure to listen to him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I

Peer Massage in America

My friend and colleague Thea Blair from the U.S.A. reports that she recently held her first whole-school Peaceful Hands (peer massage) training a a Waldof charter school near Denver, Colorado.

There were 23 teachers  19 were quite enthusiastic, 3 were doubtful and one was outright antagonistic. One of the teachers complained that this kind of touching was not like a game of tag or a clapping game between children - it was "intimate".  Thea agreed with her and started a conversation on the topic of what "intimate" means and how it is that there are certain words are off-limits now because society has placed a sexual connotation upon them. Words like "passion" and "pleasure" and "deep" and "intimate".

After the first two sessions the teachers who clearly did not want to practice Peaceful Hands in their classroom were excused. After that they had a blast! The teachers are eager to begin a pilot program at their own school.

The Hug that saved a life

It can be difficult to explain it in rational way.
Why does such a simple gesture as a hug from stronger premature twin bring back to life a weaker twin sister, regulating and tuning her heart rate and bringing her back to life
Now they are  teenagers.
Maybe even a believer of rational/academic science can take this topic for a short meditation :)    Click here  to watch this beautiful video that shows the power of touch.