The Beach House A Sleepy Sensory Story by Jo Grace, on behalf of Simple Stuff Works

Image by Robin Corps used under licensing. Full references given within.

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Pleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Contents

Sensorystories Page3

PosturalCare Page3

“Togetherwearebetter” Page4

IntroducingTheBeachHouse Page4

Resourcingthestory Page6

FacilitatingtheguidedmeditationforTheBeachHouse Page7

FacilitatingthesensorystimulationforTheBeachHouse Page8

Thestory:TheBeachHouse Page11

A sleepy sensory brought to you by:

http://jo.element42.org

www.simplestuffworks.co.uk

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Sensorystories

Sensorystoriesconveyanarrativeusingamixtureofwordsandsensoryexperiences.

Sensorystimulationsupportscognitivedevelopment,learning,memoryand

communication.

Narrativesareanenrichingpartoflife,weallenjoystories,andwithinthestorytelling

spacewefindourselvesbetterabletounderstandconceptsandtrynewthings.

Sensorystoriescanbeusedtosupportindividualswitharangeofneedsanddisabilities,

theyareparticularlybeneficialtoindividualswithprofoundandmultiplelearning

disabilities.

YoucandownloadafreeguidecalledSharingasensorystoryfrom:

http://jo.element42.org/sensory-stories

Thebestthingaboutsensorystoriesisthattheyarefun.

Posturalcare

Goodposturalcarehelpstopreventpeoplewhofindithardtomovefromdeveloping

damagingbodyshapedistortions.Withtherightinformationandbyusingtheright

equipmentandpositioningtechniquesyoucanprotectandrestoreaperson’sbodyshape.

Bodydistortiondoesnothavetobeaninevitableconsequenceofdisability.

Nighttimepositioningisespeciallyimportantaswespendsomuchtimeinbedoverthe

courseofourlives.Gettingusedtoanewnighttimepositioncantaketime,practiceand

patience.Supportingsomeonetolearntoliecomfortablyontheirbackcanbechallenging

buttherearerecognisedbenefitswhichwillmakeyoureffortsallworthwhile.

Pleaseremembertouseacomprehensivesafetychecklist,ifyouhaveconcernsforthe

person’ssafetywhiletheylieontheirbackensurethatthereissomeonewiththematall

times.Thisstoryhasbeenwrittentoformpartofabedtimeroutinehoweveritcaneasily

beusedduringthedaytohelpthepersonpracticeanewpositionbeforethisisintroduced

atnight.

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“Togetherwearebetter”

We(SarahClaytonfromSimpleStuffWorksandJoannaGracefromTheSensoryStory

Project)haveteameduptobringyouasensorystorydesignedtosupportthedeliveryof

goodposturalcare.Wehopeyouwillbenefitfrom,andenjoy,sharingit.Everythingyou

needtoknowtotellthestoryisinthisbooklet,combinethiswithyourknowledgeandthe

expertadviceyouhavereceivedfromyourtherapistandyouwillbereadytogo.

IntroducingTheBeachHouse

TheBeachHouseisbaseduponamodelofguidedmeditationintendedtohelptheperson

beingguidedtoreachastateofdeeprelaxation.Bymovingthroughdoorways,gateways

anddownstepsthesubconsciousmindisledtoarelaxedstateconducivewithsleep.

Thesensorystimuliaccompanyingthisstoryhaveallbeenchosentosupporttheprocessof

calmingdown,unwinding,relaxingandhopefullydroppingofftosleep.Whenyoudeliver

thestoryyoucanchoosebetweenfocusingontheguidedmeditationaspectofthestoryor

deliveringitinthestructuredwayadvocatedintheSharingasensorystoryguide.Do

whateverisrightforthepersonyouaresharingthestorywith.

Whensharingasensorystoryinastructuredwayyouareencouragedtokeepretellingsof

thestoryassimilartoeachotheraspossible,thebenefitofdoingthisisthatitmakesthe

storyverypredictable,minimisinganxietyforthosewhofindnewthingschallenging,and

developingareassuringfamiliaritywhichpeoplefindsoothing.Ifyouchoosetofocusmore

ontheguidedmeditationaspectofthestorythenyoumaywanttosuggestthingsforthe

persontoimagine,e.g.byspeculatingonwhatflowersgrowinthegarden,orwhatsounds

canbeheard.It’sunlikelythatyou’dsaythesamethingseachtimehere,butbysuggesting

ideasyoucancreatearichcanvasoftheimaginationforthepersonyouareguidingtostep

intoandexplore.Thereisnorightorwrongwayofdoingthings,simplychoosewhatisbest

foryouandyourstoryexperiencer.

TheBeachHousestoryleadsyouthroughagardengate,intoabloominggardeninthepeak

ofsummer;youtreadthegardenpathtothefrontdoorofthehouseandgoinside.Once

insideyoumakeyourwayalongacoolhallwayscentedwithflowersfromthegardentoa

staircase.Thestaircaseleadsyoudowntowherethebackdoorofthehouseopensoutonto

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aprivatebeach.Youstepoutsideandliedownonthewhitesandlisteningtothesoundof

thewaves.

Asyoumovethroughthestorytherearecuesforyoutomovethroughyourposturalcare

routine.Youwillbeadjustingyourstoryexperiencer’slegsandfeetasyouwalkthroughthe

garden,theirtorsoandarmsasyouentertheHouse.OnceinsidetheHousethepostural

carepromptsfallbacktoallowyourstoryexperiencertofocusontherelaxationelementof

thestory.Thefinaldescriptionofbeingentirelysupportedbysand,whichmouldsitselfto

thebody,shouldmirrorthefeelingofbeingfullysupportedthatyourstoryexperiencerhas

whencorrectlypositioned.Thestoryendswiththeexperiencerturningtheirfacetowards

thesunandfallingasleep,anyheadadjustmentsneededcanbemadehere,andthefinal

contactoftouchingtheirfaceisalovelywaytoendyourinteractiononatendernote.

Thisstoryistobeusedinconjunctionwiththeposturaladviceyouhavereceivedfromyour

therapist.Thestorypageshavepromptsindicatingthesensorystimulitobeusedwitheach

sectionofthestoryandmakingsuggestionsfortextyoumightwanttoaddtotheguided

meditation.Makeyourownnotestoremindyouofkeypointsforposturalcare.

Itiswellworthrememberingtherecognisedadvantagesofsupportingpeopletolearntolie

ontheirbackandrememberthereisnorush.Theadvantagespublishedinanarticlecalled

‘TheBiomechanicsofBodyShapeDistortion’include:theperson’sheadcanbesupported

centrally;theirshouldergirdlecanliesymmetricallyinalevel,neutralposition;theirarms

andhandscanbegentlysupportedinafunctionalposition;theweightoftheirspineis

lowermostandonthesupportingsurface,thesoftermoredelicatepartoftheirchestis

uppermostandcanbeprotected;theirpelviscanbegentlyboughtintoalevelposition;the

gapandtheirwaist,betweenpelvisandlowerribs,canbeboughtintoapositiontolie

symmetrically;theirhipscanbesupportedandprotectedinsecureabduction,withthelegs

slightlyapart;gravitycanbeusedtogentlyhelpthekneestostraighten;andfinallytheir

feetcanbesupportedinasecureneutralposition.Foracopyofthearticlepleasecontact

SarahatTraining@simplestuffworks.co.uk

Youmaybethinkingthattellingastory,doingposturalsupport,andguidingameditationis

alottodoallatonce.Don’tworry!Thestoryisverygentle,everythingwillhappenata

relaxedpace,you’llsoongetthehangofit.Sensorystimulationisbeneficialtocognitive

developmentandthemaintenanceofcognitiveabilities;itcanalsohelpdevelop

communicationskills.Goodposturalcareisanessentialpartofahealthylife.Guided

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meditationisausefulcalmingstrategywhichcanhelpindividualstorelaxandde-stress.You

willbegettingallthesethingsatoncethroughusingthissleepysensorystory,soit’sworth

theeffortanditshouldbefun.

Resourcingthestory

Totellthisstoryyouwillneedtogatherafewsimplesensoryresources.Ifyoucanfinda

marvellousboxtokeeptheseresourcesinthatwillhelptomakethestorymorecaptivating

forthepersonwithwhomyouaresharingthestory.

Beawareofanysensorypreferences,needsorallergiesthepersonyouwillbesharingthe

storywithmayhaveandfeelfreetosubstitutemoresuitableresourcesasrequired.

Resourceshoppinglist:

Massagelotion:

Youmaybeabletofindamudcolouredmassagelotionifyouhuntaroundtheshops,but

usingsomethinglikeoliveoilorbabylotionisfine,whatyouarelookingtocreateisthe

feelingofmudoozingbetweenthetoessoanythingslipperywilldo.

Essentialoils:

Chooseafloralscent.Camomile,Jasmine,Lavender,RoseorVanillaareallsaidtohave

soporificproperties.Placeafewdropsoftheoilonacottonpadandsealitintoaplastic

container.Whenyouremovethelidofthecontainertheairinsidewillbefragrancedbythe

oilmakingthesmellexperienceeasiertofacilitate.

Doorknob:

Alargedoorknob,possiblymountedonapieceofwoodtomakeiteasiertooffertoyour

storyexperiencer.Inthestorythedoorknobisdescribedasbeingbrass,ratherthanhunting

aroundforanantiquebrassdoorknobsimplychangethewordsinthestorytosuitthe

doorknobyoucanfind.Ideallyyouwantonethatwillenableyourstoryexperiencertocurl

alloftheirfingersaroundit,soforsomeonewithlargehandsyoumightbelookingfora

largerounddoorknob,yetforsomeonewithlittlehandsperhapsathindoorhandlethat

theycouldgripwouldbebettersuited.

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Summergardensounds:

Entering‘Summergardensounds’intoYoutubewillbringyouacollectionofresults,someof

themintendedforuseduringmeditation.Chooseonethatsuitsyou.

Sealappingtheshoresounds:

ThesearealsoeasytoresourcefromYoutube.IfyouarenotabletoplayYoutubeclipsother

siteslikeSoundcloudalsohavesuitablerecordings,orofcourseyoucanuseacassettetape

orCD,manymeditationcompilationswillhavethesesortsofsoundsonthem.Forsome

storyexperiencerstheirimaginationwillbeabletoprovidethesounds,andyourguided

descriptionwillbeenoughstimulationwithoutadditionalsound,indeedforsomepeople

recordedsoundscanbeoffputtingastheydonotmatchtheimaginaryworldtheyare

creating.

Optional:

Adimmerswitch:Havingadimmerswitchforthebedroomlightwillallowyoutoadjustthe

lightintheroomasthepersonentersthehouseinthestory.

Onceyouhavecollectedyourresourceskeepthemtogetherandtrytousethesame

stimuluseachtimeyoutellthestory.Thiswillhelpthestorytobecomepredictableand

increasefeelingsofsecurityandcomfort.

FacilitatingtheguidedmeditationforTheBeachHouse

Todeliveraguidedmeditationyouyourselfneedtobecalm,andideallyyouwillbeina

calmenvironmentfreefromdistractions.TrytomakethesharingofTheBeachHousethe

finalactivitybeforesleepsothatthestateofrelaxationreachedthroughsharingthestoryis

notthendisruptedbyothertasks.

Withatypicalstoryyouwouldbelookingtoengagethepersoninthestory,lookingtomake

itexcitingandinteresting;captivating.Withthisstoryitisalittledifferent:thestory

happensinsidethemindofthepersonexperiencingit,muchlikeadream,andyourjobis

justtobeasoftlyspokenguide.Readthewordsinblacktypeinacalmvoice,ifyouwantto

embellishthedescriptionsuggestionshavebeenmadeforhowtodosoinambertype.Take

yourtimeoverthewords;allowtheimaginedworldtimetoforminthemindofyourstory

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experiencer.Followingtheearlysectionsofthestorytherearespokeninstructionstoyour

storyexperiencertorelaxcertainpartsoftheirbodies,theseareindicatedinambertype

andspeechmarksinthestory.Youwillbeusingtwotonesofvoicewhendeliveringthe

story,onefortellingthestory:asteadyguidingvoice,andonefordeliveringthedirect

instructions:awhisperedconfidentialtone.

Aswassaidintheintroductiontothisstory,youhaveachoicetomakebetweensharingthe

storyinaclearandconsistentmanner,sayingthesamethingseachtime,orsharingthe

storyinamorenaturalisticway,beingledbytheresponsesyourstoryexperiencergives,

andtakingtimetoindulgethedescriptioninthemeditationtoleadthemfurtherintotheir

experience.Thisisn’taneither/orchoice,youcanfindabalancebetweenthetwo

approachesthatsuitsyouandyourstoryexperiencer,oryoucanoptforoneortheother.

FacilitatingthesensorystimuliforTheBeachHouse

Geteverythingreadybeforeyoustart.Setoutthesensoryresourcesandthepostural

supportresourcesyouwillneedsomewherewhereyouwillbeabletoreachthemeasilyas

yousharethestory.Propupthestorypagessomewherewhereyoucanseethemasyou

moveabout.

Youenterthegarden,throughthegate,barefoot.Youscrunchyourtoesintothesoft,

warmearth.

Massageyourstoryexperiencer’sfeet.Youcanbeginbysquelchingthemassagelotion

betweentheirtoeswithyourfingers.Useyourthumbstopressintothearchesoftheirfeet

withafirmstrokingpressure.Cuptheirfeetbetweenyourhandsandapplyagentlesqueeze

startingattheankleandmovingdowntothetoes.Endbyindividuallyrunningyour

forefingerandthumbinapinchfromthetopofeachoftheirtoestothetip.Allowthema

wriggleiftheyneedit.Attheendofthissectionyouarelookingforthemtohavefully

relaxedtheirankles,feetandtoes,andfortheirfeettobeinthepositionrecommendedin

theirposturalcareguidance.

Thegardenisinfullbloom,vinesgrowoverhead,treebowscreakwiththeweightofripe

fruit,thereareflowerseverywhere...walkalongthepathtowardstheHouse,listentothe

soundsoflifearoundyou:thebirdssinging,cricketsbuzzing,beeshumming.

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Simplypressplayonthesoundrecordingyouareusing,andallowittoplayforaslongas

youfeelisappropriate.Itmaybethatyouchoosenottohavearecording,andallowthe

soundstobepurelyintheimaginationofyourstoryexperiencer,inwhichcaseremember

toallowtimeforthemtospendlisteningtotheseimaginarysounds.Pacethelistofsounds

theyhearsothattheyhavetimetolistentoeachonebeforeyoumentionthenext(it’sa

goodideatodothesamewiththethingstheyseeearlyoninthissectionofthestory).

Yourstoryexperiencer’swalkingalongthepathisyourchancetocorrectlypositiontheir

legsandhipsaccordingtoyourposturalcareguidance.Youmaychoosetospendmoretime

describingsteppingalongthepathtoaccommodateforthispositioning.Attheendofthis

sectionyouarelookingforyourstoryexperiencertobeinpositionandrelaxedfromthe

hipsdown.

Atthefrontdooryoustraightenup,shrugyourshouldersafewtimeslooseningthe

muscles.Youreachoutandgrasptheheavybrassdoorknob.Turnitandletthedoor

swingopen.

Letyourstoryexperiencergraspthedoorhandlewitheachhandinturn.Wedon’tusually

openadoorusingfirstonehandandthentheother,butdoingthiswillallowthemto

tightenandthenrelaxthemusclesintheirhands,armsandshoulders.

Thestraighteningup,andshouldershruggingareyourtimetopositiontheirtorsocorrectly.

Theshouldershrugsarealsogoodforthemtodoastheywilldevelopanawarenessofany

tensionheldintheirshoulders,andalsopresentanopportunitytorelaxthatareaofthe

body.Itiseasiertorelaxamuscleonceyouknowwhereitis,andusingitfirstisaneasyway

oflocatingit.Throughthestorysofaryourstoryexperiencerhastensedandthenrelaxed

their:toes,feet,ankles,legs,torso,fingers,armsandshoulders.

Insidethehousetheairiscool;youreyesadjusttothegentlerlight.Thisisthetimeto

adjustthelightingintheroomreadyforsleep.Youmaywanttokeepalowlightonsothat

youcanseetocheckyourstoryexperiencer’sfinalbodyposition.Scentfromfreshlypicked

flowerswaftsdownthehalltoyouandyoumovetowardsthem.Openthecontainerwith

thefloralscentinsideandallowthefragrancetowaftoveryourstoryexperiencer.Havinga

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lowlevelofarelaxingscentinaroomcanhelppeopletosleep,soonceyouhavefacilitated

thisexperienceyoumayopttoleavethecontaineropensothatthescentstaysintheroom.

Youcometoastaircase:tenstairsofdarkwoodwithlittleparticlesofsandglintingon

eachone.

Movingdownthestaircaseisthepartofthemeditationwhichwillguideyourstory

experiencer’smindintoastatereadyforsleep.Controlyourbreathing,sothatitisasteady

inthroughthenoseandgentleoutthroughthemouth.Thiswillinspireyourstory

experiencertodothesame.Youcanaddverbalguidancetosupportthisifyoufeelitis

necessary,youcanalsomakesuggestionsastohowthedeepeningstateofrelaxednesswill

feel,e.g.“yourwholebodyfeelsheavy”,“Allyourlimbsfeelrelaxed,”“youfeelsafeand

happy.”Takeyourtimeoverthissection.Oncetheyaredownthestaircaseallowafew

breathingcyclesbeforeyoumoveontothenextsection.Forsomeoneexperiencingthe

storyinapurelysensorywaythesoundofyourbreathingandthelullofyourwordswillbe

theexperienceforthissectionofthestory,soitisstillasvaluabletodothesteady

breathingwithsomeonewhocannotjoininwithitasitiswithsomeonewhocan

understandandparticipate.

Infrontofyouisanopendoor,beyondthedoorthereliesawhitesandybeach.Stepout

ontothesand...liedown...thesandmouldstotheshapeofyourlimbsandsupportsyour

wholebody.Youturnyourfaceupwardstowardsthesunandcloseyoureyes.Thesun

warmsyourskin.Youdriftofftosleeplisteningtothesoundoftheoceankissingthe

shore.

Thefinalstimulusisthesoundofthewaveslappingonshore,thisisassimpletofacilitateas

pressingplayonwhateverdeviceyouareusing.Thementionofturningonesfacetothesun

isyouropportunitytomoveyourstoryexperiencer’sheadintoamoresuitableposition.

Similarlythementionofthesandmouldingtothebodyisyourchancetochecktheirfull

bodypositionandmakesuretheyaresupportedeverywhere.Bythispointinthe

meditationtheyshouldbeinafullyrelaxedstate,theseareyourfinalwordstothemand

yourfinaltouch,trytojustslipawayandleavethemonthebeachinthesunshine.(Don’t

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end,pause,andthensay“Right!Nightnightthen,sleepwell,we’veauntyCarol’stolook

forwardtointhemorning”andsoon.)

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The Beach House.

You enter the garden, through the gate, bare foot. You scrunch your toes into the

soft, warm earth. See the gate...your feet....the rich brown soil. Have your feet massaged.

“Nowrelaxyourtoes....yourfeet....yourankles.”

The garden is in full bloom, vines grow overhead, tree bows creak with the

weight of ripe fruit, there are flowers everywhere...walk along the path towards

the House, listen to the sounds of life around you: the birds singing, crickets

buzzing, bees humming. Ifyouaregoingtoaddtothemeditationguidanceforthis

sectionyoumaychoosetodosowithinthetext,e.g.byaddingdescriptionsofthethings

listed.

Hear garden sounds.

“Nowrelaxyourknees....yourthighs....letyourlegsgofloppy.”

At the front door you straighten up, shrug your shoulders a few times loosening

the muscles. See the wood of the door... the lines in it... the grain... the

knots...flecks of paint from where it was once painted. You reach out and grasp

the heavy brass doorknob. Turn it and let the door swing open. Touch the doorknob.

“Nowrelaxyourchest....yourshoulders....yourneck.”

Inside the house the air is cool; your eyes adjust to the gentler light. Dimorturn

offthelighthere. Scent from freshly picked flowers wafts down the hall to you

and you move towards them. The floor is made of slate, it’s cool against your

feet, the flowers are standing in a crystal vase on a little table, you run your

fingers along the wall as you move further into the house. Smell f loral

scent.

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“Relaxyourwholebody.”

You come to a staircase: ten stairs of dark wood with little particles of sand

glinting on each one.

You breathe in deeply. Breatheindeeplythroughyournose. Slowly letting the air out of your lungs you step onto the tenth step. Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth.

You breathe in again and step down onto the ninth step. Breatheindeeplythroughyournose. Breathing out you step down onto the eighth step. Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth.

Breathe in and step onto the seventh step. Breatheindeeplythroughyournose. Breathe out and step onto the sixth step. Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth.

In and onto the fifth step. Breatheindeeplythroughyournose. Out and onto the fourth step. Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth.

Breatheindeeplythroughyournose.And down onto the third step.

Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth. And down onto the second step. Breatheindeeplythroughyournose. The final step. Breatheoutslowlythroughyourmouth.Continuetobreatheslowlyinandoutforafewmoretimesbeforemovingontothe

nextsentence. In front of you is an open door, beyond the door there lies a white sandy beach.

Step out onto the sand...lie down...the sand moulds to the shape of your limbs

and supports your whole body. You turn your face upwards towards the sun

and close your eyes. The sun warms your skin. You drift off to sleep listening to

the sound of the ocean kissing the shore. Youcanadddescriptionthroughoutthisparagraphtoenrichtheimaginativecanvas,youcandescribehowheatradiatesfromthe

sand,orwhatthewarmsandfeelslikebetweenthetoes,youcandescribehowyoumove

toliedown,bendingslowly,easingyourselfback,andsoon.

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Hear the lapping of the ocean on the sea shore .