Sensory Stimulation Kit: Spa Day

Supplies:

Kit Contents:

1. Visual/tactile: Nail polish2. Visual: Relaxing environment pictures and spa images3. Tactile: Nail file4. Tactile: Hand towel5. Tactile: Nukkles back massager6. Tactile/smell: AHAVA Hand lotion7. Smell: Lavender spray8. Smell/tactile: Massage oil9. Smell/visual: Vanilla candle10. Smell: Scentsy pot with ‘just breathe’ scentsy bar or aromatherapy items11. Gustatory: Lemon detox water12. Gustatory: Fruit slices13. Tactile/smell: Coconut oil14. Auditory: Calming music15. Auditory/visual: Mediation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyy0ra2WcQQ16. Auditory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JsaljhtKHA

Optional items: Cucumbers (for eyes or for detox water), facial mask, cut up fruit slices to increase gustatory items, stones/pebbles, shower puff, string lights, robe, slippers to feel.

Additional equipment required: cotton balls, nail polish remover, thin latex gloves, an outlet for scentsy pot, lighter for candle, hot water, cups for detox water, water and dish washing soap (for soaking nails before manicure) An auditory/visual example of a neck or hand massage (be careful with the video that you choose, some of them can lead to other videos that are not appropriate!)

Activities

Auditory: Could play light soothing music in background or a mediation video with someone speaking softly. Ask clients if they like to mediate and how they do so. Talk about the various ways one can mediate and explain the benefits mediation has on our mind, body and souls. Put on soothing music and ask clients to close their eyes. Describe a peaceful, beautiful day and ask clients to imagine they are there. Ask clients to breathe in slowly and deeply while listening. Other sounds that could be provided that could be heard in a spa: running water for showers and sinks, steam room sounds from the sauna room, a yoga instructor running a class.

Visual: Dim the lights to create a peaceful environment, lighting a candle or two so clients can feel relaxed. Clients can watch a mediation video of relaxing environments. Pictures will be posted around the room and on table for client to look at. Ask clients to point at and pick out the pictures that they like most. Do these pictures remind them of anything? What do the pictures make them think of? RT could

ask clients to think of their happy place, the one place they feel most at peace and calm. Clients can share with others. Have a variety of nail polish colors on activity table. Ask clients which color (if they’d like their nails painted) they’d like to choose for manicure. Put candles in middle of table, light them and ask clients to focus only on the candle (meditation technique). This is a good way to let worries and bad thoughts escape our mind and just focus on one object. Share all of the items in kit, and ask questions about their use, if anyone has ever had a massage before, or had their nails done at a salon. Show visual examples of actual spas, a neck or hand massage, a facial mask, etc.

Tactile: Ask client if they have ever been to a spa. What were their favorite spa activities to do? Massages? Manicures? Pedicures? Facials? Soak client’s hands in warm water with a little massage oil.

Give client hand massages. After dry client’s nails, file if necessary and paint them with the color of their choice. Ask how they liked the massage, how they feel once their nails are done. Did they get their nails done often? Use back massager on each client if they’d like. Give opportunity for clients to give each other hand massages with gloves and hand lotion. Heat up hand towels or soak in hot water and spray

lavender spray on towels. Give each client a soothing towel to feel. Do warm fresh towels remind them of anything? (doing laundry, staying in a hotel, a previous spa visit..) Towels could also rest on clients’ eyes while soothing music is played. Let clients put coconut oil on hands. Coconut oil has many healthy benefits.

Smell: Ask client what smells they associate with a day spa. Light candle or put on the scentsy pot (plug in scentsy pot and take out 2 or 3 blocks of the just breathe bar and put on top of scentsy pot and let melt). Also could replace these items with aromatherapy items instead. Ask clients what scents are their favorite, what do they find most relaxing? Pass around lotions so clients can smell and rub on their

hands. Let clients smell massage oil, lavender spray, etc. Lavender can be used because it aids in calming and relaxing our bodies.

Taste: Offer each client lemon detox water and explain how it is beneficial to our health because it helps clean out our bodies. Ask clients if they’ve ever been to a spa and what kind of things they like to be served or have been served at a spa. Offer water without lemon as well. Offer slices of fruit to clients. Ask about their favorite types of fruit.

Print out visuals such as: