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.

About Us

Servicing area

All of Melbourne

Focus areas

Stress Management Circulation Active imagination Fine motor skills Nurturing Love



“There are two gifts we should give our children; one is roots, the other is wings!” (Anon)

Today it is rare to find anyone who will tell you they have enough hours in the day. And it’s not only us adults who are busy but our kids who are hurried off to school, before and after school care and many other activities.

Whilst it is great that as adults more of us are undertaking activities to de-stress our minds and bodies it is important that we teach our children how to slow down and relax too!

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




Wellbeans Massage & relaxation Program

Wellbeans massage and relaxation program is a complete program. The full program takes approximately 8 x 30-40 minute classes, however programs can be tailored to fit your requirements whether it is for a school/daycare holiday program or wellbeing day.

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.


Parents of children we’ve taught only have positive feedback about the program.

”Thank you so much, Zoe loves it. We are so grateful for what Zoe is learning with you.” Rebecca

”I think it has taught Sean to relax more. We do it as a family for 10 mins most nights.” Nicole



It’s never too late to start massaging your child!

Touch is the first sense to develop in humans. It is essential to our health and well-being. Children who learn healthy views of touch, and who are provided with positive tactile experience by their caregivers, are more likely to grow up to be adults with healthy self-esteem, a sense of boundaries and long-lasting intimate relationships.

Whilst many people know of infant massage and the great benefits it provides for new mums and babies it is never too late to start massaging your child! Most of us do some type of massage on our children in the form of a back or neck rub however learning this course provides you and/or your child with the confidence to provide a complete, relaxing massage which is age appropriate to your child.

Leading such busy lives it is easy for a day to go by without much contact between us and our children and this is particularly so as they get older. By learning massage with your child whilst they are young you can establish an ongoing tactile and nurturing relationship with them.

In all of our parent/child classes we provide you with some basic theory on correct hand technique, pressure, positioning, and what is happening in the body during and post massage.


Massage isn’t a luxury!

Most of us today know of the benefits massage provides in terms of creating a relaxed and calm state, relieving sore muscles and improving sleep patterns. However do you know that the benefits of massage can also impact our confidence levels, concentration and even our digestion?

During massage the hormone Oxytocin is released activating our parasympathetic nervous system – otherwise known as the calm state. When we are in this state our body can carry out the many important tasks it needs to do such as digesting our food, healing illness or wounds, growing and developing.

When we are constantly rushing, feeling anxious or stressed we access our sympathetic nervous system or the ‘fight or flight state’. In this state our body acts by diverting energy and attention away from its core jobs to prepare for more immediate tasks such as dealing with danger or an emergency.

Therefore training ourselves to access our calm state more often is of great value to our overall health and wellbeing. And this is no different for our children!


The Results speak for themselves!

Observations by schools, teachers, and families of those who have used the ‘Massage in School’s program’ 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)
(Note: whilst the program is named ‘Massage in Schools’ it can be taught anywhere including community centres, playgroups, day care centres and the family home!)


Wellbeans classes extend the relaxation benefits for your child!

In addition to teaching massage we also teach children some extremely valuable life skills!

We teach children breathing techniques and guided relaxations which children find fun yet relaxing! Most importantly however by learning and practising these two skills at such a young age we provide our kids with the opportunity to embed these learnings into their behaviour for them to call on whenever they need them.

Children learn that at times we all may feel tired, anxious, upset or have scary dreams however that we can learn ways to make ourselves feel better and get back to what we need to be doing. In essence children are learning to self-manage their emotions thereby becoming more resilient.

We teach children through discussion, visual aids, music, modelling and demonstration.


Messages we received in cards from children

“I love your massage.” From Daniela.

“Thank you for teaching me massage. I like the music bowl it was great. It was a lot of fun. It was fantastic.” From Dan

“Your massage is nice.” From Leena

“Thank you for sharing your job. You know what? Your job is very relaxing and wicked.” From Andrew



Kids comments from our program surveys

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



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 have 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, daycare centre, playgroup or private home! Or reach us through the 'Make an Enquiry' form below. All enquiries are welcome!

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