Annmaree Refardt therapist on Natural Therapy Pages
Member since 2013

Annmaree Refardt

Wellbeans Childrens Mobile Massage

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Wellbeans vision is to empower children to positively affect their wellbeing using massage, breathing, relaxation and meditation.

Wellbeans - For Schools

Servicing area

All of Melbourne

Focus areas

Stress Management Circulation Active imagination Fine motor skills Nurturing Love



“Children who had been isolated before were included. Once children begin to touch one another, barriers come down and they find it easier to be friendly”. (Primary School Teacher, MISP brochure)

Wellbeans wellbeing programs for children aged 4 to 12 years consist of peer to peer massage, massage to stories, breathing techniques, guided relaxation and Smiling Mind Meditation. Our programs which are perfectly tailored for schools:
  • Wellbeans Massage & Relaxation Program
  • Smiling Mind Meditation Program





Wellbeans Massage & relaxation Program

Wellbeans massage and relaxation program is a complete program which can be adapted to fit with each school’s requirements. The complete program takes approximately:

8 or 9 x 30 minute sessions for prep to year 2 and
7 or 8 x 30 minute sessions for years 3 to 6.

The program has 3 main components which are peer to peer massage, breathing techniques and guided relaxation.

The main component of the program – The Massage in School’s Program or ‘MISP’ is described as ‘peer to peer massage’ because children learn by massaging each other. Children remain fully clothed and both give and receive massage to each other on the head, shoulders, back, arms and hands. The massage consists of 15 separate strokes and children are taught about seeking consent before touching others, the strokes, stroke pressure, parts of the body, the benefits of massage and how to provide feedback to each other.

The MISP integrates into the school’s curriculum. It provides good hands-on learning for several of the general capabilities taught within the primary school curriculum. It is particularly useful for actioning children’s learning and development of the personal & social capability, ethical understanding, intercultural understanding and critical & creative thinking.


Why is school the best place to learn Wellbeans’ Massage & Relaxation Program?

The program:
  • provides a great opportunity for hands-on social and emotional development
  • enhances children’s learning of themselves due to working with different people
  • is so easy to implement in the classroom
  • provides a way of incorporating all learning styles appropriate for 4-12 year olds
  • is applicable across curricular areas
  • adaptable for students with special needs
  • another tool for teaching and helping teacher’s settle their class
  • FUN!!


And Parents Agree…..

Parents have limited time for out of school activities. Parents have commented to us previously:
  • “I would love my children to learn your program at school”
  • “I believe that all children can benefit from programs such as yours”
  • “I’d be happy to pay extra so my children could undertake your course at school!”


Wellbeans’ Massage & Relaxation program links students, schools and families!”

As a result of working closely with their peers in a nurturing manner children become more understanding of each other and this can lead to developing empathy for one another. Of course, if children know each other better and have a relationship with each other it can assist in their interactions with each other not only in class but in the playground as well.

The MISP in particular provides a wonderful vehicle for children to learn and share nurturing touch with their families. Children confidently use tactile skills to help relax their loved ones. Learning wellbeing programs such as meditation, yoga and relaxation are all extremely valuable for children however learning massage provides an added benefit – it can be shared!


Observations by schools, teaches, and families of those who have used the MISP include:
  • Calmer, happier classrooms and children
  • Increased concentration
  • Less aggression and bullying
  • Children learn the language and actions of self-protection
  • Promotion of healthy self-esteem and emotional development
  • Better relationships between children
  • Better management of anger and emotional upsets
  • Better performance of children with difficulties
  • A noticeable flow-on effect in all areas of life (in and out of school)


Children’s comments about Wellbeans’ Massage & Relaxation classes:

“It helped me”
“I feel good”
“I feel better”
“It made me work better”
“It helped me because it was relaxing”. “It helped me calm down”
“It helped me calm down”


Teacher’s Comments

"I have quite a few big personalities in my class and it has helped them build relationships with other students. Now they are much more settled and I have noticed I have a calmer classroom as a result." Victoria (Year 1/2 teacher)

"It has been great for our children to learn about the power of positive touch. We didn't have a bullying problem or a no-touch policy, but it has helped promote the idea of safe play and safe touching." Tony (Principal)





Smiling Mind Meditation!

“Peace is the fairest form of happiness” (William Ellery Channing-1780-1842)

Wellbeans deliver the Smiling Mind Meditation program for 7-11 year olds.

Smiling Mind Meditation is modern meditation for young people and adults. It is a not-for-profit initiative based on a process that provides a sense of clarity, calm and contentment. It was developed by a team of psychologists with expertise in youth and adolescent therapy and is provided online and at the app store.

Smiling Mind has approved Wellbeans to deliver its meditation programs in person as part of its wellbeing courses for children. Wellbeans primarily teaches the Smiling Mind Meditation program for 7-11 year olds.

Some of Smiling Mind’s ambassadors are David Smorgan OAM, Faustina (Fuzzy) Agolley, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Harry O’Brien and Clare Bowditch.




Massage in Schools Program: primary kids given massage classes as part of anti-bullying initiative

Published on www.perthnow.com.au, July 29th 2013

SCHOOLchildren are being taught to give each other massages as part of a national radical program to help combat bullying and violence in the playground.

The 15 minute sessions see primary school kids share head, neck, back and shoulder massages several times a week, with teachers reporting significant improvements in behaviour as a result.

Based on a successful model used in more than 26 countries, Massage in Schools is currently in 60 classrooms across Australia.

Anne Elston, who has been a teacher for 37 years, became an instructor when she lived in the UK, and introduced the program when she emigrated eight years ago.

"A lot of Australian schools have a no-touch policy, so this can be quite challenging for some principals when they first hear about it," Ms Elston said.

The classes begin with students being matched with a partner, asking permission to give them a massage and then starting with a series of strokes to the head and moving down to the back.

"We have the consent and participation of the teachers and parents for the classes, and we make it very clear that at no time will any adults be actually touching any children," she said.

"After they learn what it's about you end up with a completely quiet room, and the children are very relaxed."

Year One teacher Victoria Cox said the massage sessions had replaced quiet time with a book to settle her class of 24 after playlunch.

"This has proved a really worthwhile way of settling them down, and they relate well," said Ms Cox, from Corpus Christi school in Melbourne.

"I have quite a few big personalities in my class and it has helped them build relationships with other students. Now they are much more settled and I have noticed I have a calmer classroom as a result."

Swedish researchers found children who took part in the classes showed reduced levels of aggression, stress and anxiety, while surveys of the country's 8000 trained teachers found their students better able to concentrate and learned how to say "no" to unwelcome contact.

Corpus Christi principal Tony Dean said the program had expanded at his school over the past two years, after being introduced by parent Annmaree Refardt.

He said he his initial concerns over the idea were put aside after he did some research.

"We have meditation classes as well at school so it wasn't too big a leap for us," he said.

"It has been great for our children to learn about the power of positive touch. We didn't have a bullying problem here or a no-touch policy, but it has helped promote the idea of safe play and safe touching."

Annmaree's son Carl, seven, said the massage classes were the best of his school day.

"It relaxes your muscles and makes everyone nice and quiet," he said.

Schools wanting to take part in the Massage in Schools Program need an instructor, usually a teacher or parent, who has taken part in a two day training course.

There are currently classes in all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory and South Australia and in public, private and Catholic schools.

The Massage In Schools program is being rolled out across several test sites. The program will see 4 to 12-year-old pupils give their fully-clothed classroom peers 10 to 15 minute daily back, head, arm and hand massages.

The only fully qualified Australian trainer of the massage program, Anne Elston, said there was growing interest from schools and teachers around the state to try the program, with one Queenstown school considering rolling it out across all its primary classes from next term.

Ms Elston says the program can be very beneficial, claiming "it calms them [students] down and also helps with their concentration... there's research in the UK that shows that it improves learning and has also helped to reduce bullying.''

Beside the social and emotional benefits, students are allegedly taught to be respectful of others, as well as empathy by doing something for someone else. With several schools imposing strict "no-touching" policies, Ms Elston says it is important for kids to learn to interact, "a no touching policy doesn't work... it's not right to teach kids not to touch people,'' she said.



Call us today on M: 0408 856 111 to book a class at your school or private home! Or reach us through the 'Make an Enquiry' form below. All enquiries are welcome!


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