Welcome to The Trager Approach!
On this page, you will find information about how you can benefit from
the Trager Approach, locate a Certified Trager Practitioner near you,
and learn more about the history of its founder, and how it has
developed. Information is also available regarding how and where you can
be trained as a Certified Trager Practitioner.
For public introductions to the Trager Approach and other classes that
are open to the public, please visit the specific national association
website or contact their office.
Please contact the national association of your country of residence or
a national association of the same language.
Milton Trager, M.D. And His Work.
A Short history
"The Trager Approach" as it is more generally known, is the discovery of
Milton Trager M.D. who first encountered its principles somewhat
serendipitously, at the age of 18. He then spent the next 50 years, as a
lay practitioner and later, medical doctor, refining and expanding his
discovery. With a long and successful career as a therapist behind him,
Milton Trager embarked on the new venture of teaching his work at an age
when most others are thinking of retirement. There are now thousands of
Certified Practitioners throughout the globe; in the United States,
Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan. At the age of 88, he passed away
in January 1997 - after teaching for over 20 years.
Born in Chicago, in 1908, with a congenital spinal deformity, Milton
Trager overcame a weak and rather sickly childhood through practice and
patience, until he achieved the athletic, graceful body of a dancer and
gymnast. In his late teens his family had moved to Miami Beach and he
was training to be a boxer. It was at this time that he had his first
experience of having intuitively accessed a bodywork technique which
produced lasting results. His trainer, Mickey Martin, used to give him a
rub down after each boxing session. One day, when Mickey was looking
particularly tired, young Milton offered to do it on him. The trainer
was astonished at what he felt from the young man's hands. Milton,
surprised and encouraged at the result achieved, went home and applied
it to his father who had been suffering from sciatica, a chronic
complaint that cleared up after two sessions from Milton.
So began the exploration that lasted a lifetime. Milton would apply his
approach with everyone who was open to experiencing it. People with
emphysema, asthma, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, polio and
thousands of painful backs--all responded to his touch with degrees of
benefit ranging from greater ease to the miraculous. Early on in his
development, Milton applied his approach to a friend of his who was 19
at the time, with polio, and confined to a wheelchair. Milton's approach
helped him walk again after four years of paralysis.
And yet Milton always denied that he was a healer. His favourite comment
was " I have this thing and it works...". He would always add, "We're
all healers".
Dr. Trager was no stranger to challenge and determination, having
surmounted obstacles both physically and educationally, that would have
seemed daunting to many of us. Years of working with people with all
kinds of neuro-muscular complaints convinced him that he had something
to offer the medical profession, and when the war was over he applied to
seventy medical schools in the United States, but was refused by all of
them because of his age (42). Dr. Trager says of this time, "My big aim
was to teach registered physical therapists my work, because of the
results I was getting in comparison with the results they were getting."
He persevered and was accepted into the Universidad Autonoma de
Guadalajara in Mexico, not knowing a word of Spanish at that time! They
set up a clinic for him to continue his work in psychophysical
integration, and six years later in 1955, he received his M.D.
Milton continued to work with clients within his practice for the next
20 years. He was frustrated that it had never been possible for him to
teach his work, until he was invited to Esalen Institute in Big Sur,
California, to give a demonstration. Betty Fuller (who was also
instrumental in bringing Moshe Feldenkrais to the States) was teaching
at Esalen at the time and having tremendous problems with her neck.
Milton offered to see what he could do for her neck, and after a few
minutes her neck was no longer in pain. Betty was instantly "hooked",
and went on to co-found--with Dr. Trager--The Trager Institute in 1980.
Shortly thereafter a certification program was established to train and
certify people in his approach.
Forty years after Milton's determined efforts to reach the medical
profession, he was gratified by the interest of an increasing number of
holistically-minded doctors, nurses and physical therapists who make use
of The Trager Approach in their practices.
The Trager Approach is valuable for anyone who wants to encourage
growing awareness and autonomy in themselves and their clients!
There is an excellent biography of Dr. Trager and his life, entitled
"Moving Medicine", by Jack Liskin, which includes a much more
comprehensive history of Dr. Trager and his life. The book is available
from the United States Trager Association.
What is The Trager Approach?
The Trager Approach is the innovative approach to movement education,
created and developed over a period of 65 years by Milton Trager, M.D.
There are two aspects of The Trager Approach; one in which you, the
client, are passive and the other in which you are active. The passive
aspect is usually referred to as the table work, and the active aspect
is called Mentastics.
Utilizing gentle, non-intrusive, natural movements, The Trager Approach
helps release deep-seated physical and mental patterns and facilitates
deep relaxation, increased physical mobility, and mental clarity. These
patterns may have developed in response to accidents, illnesses, or any
kind of physical or emotional trauma, including the stress of everyday
life.
A session usually lasts from 60 to 90 minutes. No oils or lotions are
used and the client is dressed for their comfort, with a minimum of
swimwear or briefs, and are additionally draped appropriately.
During the table work session the client is passive and lying on a
comfortably padded table. The practitioner moves the client in ways they
naturally move, and with a quality of touch and movement such that the
recipient experiences the feeling of moving that effortlessly and freely
on his/her own.
The movements are never forced so that there is no induced pain or
discomfort to the client.
This quality of effortless movement is maintained and reinforced by
Mentastics. These are simple, active, self induced movements which you,
the client, can do on your own, during your daily activities. They have
the same intent as the table work in terms of releasing deep-seated
patterns.
For many people, Mentastics becomes a part of their life in taking care
of themselves, and relieving themselves of stress and tension.
Because many of the effects of The Trager Approach are cumulative,
clients most often appreciate and will benefit most from a series of
sessions.
One of the most potent aspects of The Trager Approach is the ability to
recall the feeling of deep relaxation, and how it feels to move freely
and easily.
Who does it?
Certified Practitioners of The Trager Approach have successfully
completed the certification program provided by Trager International,
and have maintained continuing education, and other requirements of
Trager International. Trager International maintains a database of
Certified Practitioners worldwide. If you have any question about
someone's credentials, you are advised to contact Trager International
for verification. |