Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/44777
feel like massage, they're invited to stay in the room and watch. We know, even just by watching a massage, there are relaxing, hormonal effects. But it's rare that children refuse, because they really like it." Typically, teachers will lead their students through massage routines at the start of the day or after lunch. Once a child masters the basic routine, it takes about seven minutes to complete, Hetu says. Many teachers set aside 15 minutes so each child can both give and receive a massage. The basic routine consists Children using the Massage in Schools Program protocol are not only having fun, but are unknowingly facilitating the good health of their classmates. Images provided courtesy of Massage In Schools Program. of simple movements that evoke images that engage the child's imagination. For instance, there's the "cat grip," which involves making gentle movements with the fingers on one side of the neck and the thumb on the other side. There's the "bear walk," which begins at the base of the spine. The child presses one hand after another, "walking" up the spine and down again. There's also the "baker," " which involves gentle, kneading movements with palms and fingers on the shoulders. A favorite with the children is the "heart," where they move their hands in ever-larger heart-shaped formations over their partner's back. Despite the cute names, what's going on is good, old-fashioned massage. "When you get the children working "When you get the children working together like this, they start interacting in a new way." together like this, they start interacting in a new way," says Jenn Johnson, a British Columbia massage therapist who has completed her MISP training and hopes to get the program introduced into more schools in her area. She says massage creates change in the classroom. "It seems to break up cliques." Hetu says teachers have told her that children who have massaged each other are much more reluctant to bully each other. "Also, with massage, there's no grading, no competition about who's first or last," she says. "The routine is for everyone. They discover that some children, who 8 Body Sense