Our trainers

Pauline Carpenter
BSocSc. RGN. CIMI. MGICM. MIPTI MIEPT

Pauline had a career in nursing from 1982 until the formation of 'Touch-Needs' in 2000 - a mail order company that supplies Infant Massage Teachers with the resources they need to take trainings and run classes. After having three children during the late 1980s, Pauline returned to education and completed a Social Sciences degree at the University of Manchester and a Massage Therapist course, before having her fourth child in 1996 and moving to undertake an MA in Cultural Studies at the University of Nottingham.

Her interest in Infant Massage was borne from her pleasure in massaging her new baby. So, in 1997 Pauline qualified as an Infant Massage Teacher and worked in the community teaching parents how to massage their babies; having the opportunity to use the skill again with her fifth child in 2000. After taking the Infant Massage Teacher training course, Pauline's continued professional development includes a 'Positive Touch for Premature Babies' two day workshop, a Massage in Education Programme, a Baby Yoga Foundation course and attendance at many relevant study days and conferences.

In 1997 Pauline became involved with an infant massage association, taking the post of treasurer and membership secretary; and she and her husband, Stéphane run the UK office for three years. She remained on the committee for almost five years before moving on to be a part of the founding committee of the Guild of Infant and Child Massage (GICM) which is the regulatory body for positive touch teaching in the UK. Pauline originally held the post of treasurer and is currently the Chair.

Pauline believes that it is important to ensure that all Infant Massage Teachers are adequately trained and supported in their work in the UK. This philosophy was the driving force behind the formation of Touch-Learn Ltd in 2001 and the subsequent design and production of the Infant Massage Teacher training programme. The Touch-Learn ethos is to maintain a training programme of a high standard that is dynamic and pertinent for today's society.

Articles

Carpenter, P. (2002) The Importance of Touch & its Potential Influence on the Development of the Brain Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 2

Carpenter, P. (2003) The Law, Complementary Therapies & Infant Massage Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 4

Carpenter, P. (2004) Massage in Education Programme Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 6

Carpenter, P. (2004) Using Nursery Rhymes, Singing & Music in Connection with Communication & Brain Development Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 7

Carpenter, P. (2004) Marketing Suggestions for Infant Massage Teachers Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 8

Carpenter, P. (2005) Consideration about the Age of a Baby and the Introduction of a Massage Routine Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 10

Carpenter, P. (2005) Vaccinations and Massage Connections Vol. 1, Iss. 10

Carpenter, P. (2005) Planning and Writing Essays Touch-Learn Ltd. Staffordshire

Carpenter, P. (2006) Teenage Pregnancy - A Cry for Positive Touch? Connections Vol. 2, Iss. 2

Carpenter, P. (2006) Teaching Aids for Midwifes: Using a Realistic Demonstration Doll for a Realistic Approach Scottish Nurse Vol. 10, Iss. 5

Carpenter, P. (2007) A Child's Need For Music, Singing and Rhyme Connections Vol. 2, Iss. 5

Carpenter, P. (2007) Essential Oils: New Evidence to indicate Usage for Children is Unsafe Connections Vol. 2, Iss. 6

Carpenter, P. (2007) GICM Standard Setting and Offering Support Connections Vol. 2, Iss. 6

Carpenter, P. (2007) Music, Movement and Rhyme: The Essentials for the Developing Child Today's Therapist Sept/Oct

Carpenter, P. (2007) 'Henley's Essential Oil Research: Analysing The Arguments Against The Research Findings' Connections Vol 2, Iss 7

Books

Carpenter, P. & Tolley, L. (2003) The Little Book of Baby Massage Ditto International Ltd. Nottingham

Carpenter, P. (ed) (2005) Infant Massage: A Handbook for Teachers Touch-Learn Ltd. Nottingham

Carpenter, P. & Epple, A. (2007) Rhythm Kids: Fun-Time Exercises for Babies Ditto International Ltd, Nottingham

Epple, A. & Carpenter, P. (2007) Teach Yourself Baby Massage and Yoga Hodder and Stoughton

Carpenter, P. (2007) Music, Movement and Rhyme: Essentials for the Developing Child Touch-Learn Ltd. Nottingham

Carpenter, P. & Epple, A. (2008) Infant Massage: The Definitive Guide For Teachers Ditto International Ltd, Nottingham

Anita Epple
QIMT, MGICM, MIPTI, MIEPT

Anita had a career in Information Technology from 1994 and studied IT at Wolverhampton University.

Her interest in Infant Massage was borne after the birth of her daughter and her subsequent enrolment on to a baby massage course when her daughter was five months old and suffering from constipation. They enjoyed the course so much that the baby massage teacher invited Anita and her daughter to join her on Gloria Hunniford's Open House television programme to promote the benefits! Her daughter is now 9 and still enjoys massage today.

After the birth of her daughter and a short career break of 2 years Anita became the membership secretary and administrator for the Guild of Infant and Child Massage (GICM) in 2001 and has been an active member since then, sharing the philosophies of the other committee members ensuring that Infant Massage Teachers are adequately trained and supported in their work in the UK. Until 2006 she held the posts of Editor of Connections (the quarterly newsletter) and Conference Manager, organising the well attended annual conference. She is now the membership secretary.

Due to her work with the GICM and her beliefs Anita was employed by Touch-Learn Ltd and is now a Director and Trainer. Anita's continuing professional development includes Massage in Education Programme training, attending the BrainChild Programme and attendance at many relevant study days and conferences. She has co-written three books: Teach Yourself Baby Massage and Yoga, Rhythm Kids: Rhymes and Fun-Time Exercises For Babies and Infant Massage: The Definitive Guide For Teachers. Other books due for publication in 2009 The Parents Guide to Baby Massage, The Parents Guide to Baby Yoga, and The Parents Guide to massage and the growing child.

In 2007/08 Anita and Pauline (Touch-Learn directors) collaborated with the University of Dundee (Psychology Dept) in carrying out research into maternal benefits arising from infant massage. They are delighted to contribute to the academic underpinning of the benefits arising from their trainings.

Anita Epple and Pauline Carpenter delivered a training in Bucharest, Romania in October 2008. There, she and Pauline trained 25 parent/child support workers who are working with vulnerable mothers, foster parents and childcare workers to become Qualified Infant Massage Teachers.

Anita maintains an active involvement with regard to teaching infant massage and has worked in the recent past with the charity PNiUK, teaching mothers suffering from post-natal illness.

She enjoys swimming, cycling and cryptic crosswords! For relaxation she enjoys Yoga and receives regular massage and reflexology treatments.

Articles

Epple, A. (2006) The Benefits of Infant Massage Today's Therapist Issue 38, Jan Feb 2006

Epple, A. (2006) The Benefits of Infant Massage Vitality (Magazine for BABTAC Therapists) Mar/April 2006

Epple, A. (2006) The Benefits of Infant Massage, The Therapist, Issue 13 Spring 2006

Epple, A. (2006) The Use of Emollients in Infant Massage Connections Vol. 2, Issue 3

Epple, A. (2006) Allowing Babies to Play on Their Front Connections Vol. 2, Issue 3

Epple, A. (2006) Best For Baby Embody Professional Summer 2006

Epple, A. (2007) The Benefits of Infant Massage MIDIRS Midwifery Digest Volume 17, Number 1 March 2007

Epple, A. (2007) Healing Power of Touch The Green Parent December/January 2008

Epple, A. (2008) Writing For Publication Connections Vol. 2, Issue 8

Books

Epple, A (2002) How Infant Massage Can Help The Guild of Infant and Child Massage, Staffordshire.

Carpenter, P. & Epple, A. (2007) Rhythm Kids: Fun-Time Exercises for Babies Ditto International Ltd, Nottingham

Epple, A. & Carpenter, P. (2007) Teach Yourself Baby Massage and Yoga Hodder and Stoughton

Carpenter, P. & Epple, A. (2008) Infant Massage: The Definitive Guide For Teachers Ditto International Ltd, Nottingham