The Trager Institute provides training and certifies Trager practitioners. It takes an
average of two years to complete the program’s 269 hours of training and field work.
Students learn the relationship between various groups of muscles and organs that
produce patterns of posture and movement. The focus is on the mechanics of move-
ment, the kinesthetic interaction, and principles of neuropatterning underlying
movement.
The Trager Approach is a process of using motion in muscles and joints to produce
particular sensory feelings. These feelings are relayed to the central nervous system
and then, through the process of feedback loops, they trigger changes in the tissues.
A Trager session takes 60–90 minutes with the client wearing a swimming suit and
lying on a well-padded table. The practitioner touches in such a gentle rhythmic
way that the person actually experiences the possibility of being able to move each
part of the body freely and effortlessly. Because active participation of the client is
discouraged, the passive body can freely learn new movements. Trager practitioners
work in a meditative state they call “hook-up.” This state allows the practitioner to
connect deeply with the client in an unforced way, to remain continually aware of
the slightest responses, and to work efficiently without fatigue.
Following this session, the student is given instruction in the use of mentastics, a sys-
tem of simple, effortless movement sequences designed to maintain and even
enhance the sense of lightness, freedom, and flexibility that was instilled during the
treatment session. Mentastics, Dr. Trager’s coined term for “mental gymnastics” is a
powerful means of reinforcing positive changes. The Trager Approach is said to
decrease various types of chronic pain, headaches, temporomandibular joint pain,
improve muscle spasms, and aid in recovery from stroke and spinal cord injuries.
How Do I Begin Using Movement-Oriented Therapies?
Like most moderate physical activities practiced on a daily basis, T’ai Chi and
Qigong can improve stability, agility, flexibility, stamina, and muscle tone. They are
good exercise for people who are already in shape. But they can also be adapted for
older adults, children, or people with injury or illness. The movements are gentle
and put less stress on the body than do other exercises. The breathing exercises are a
form of meditation that quiets the mind and reduces the negative effects of stress.
If you or others you know are healthy and wish to maintain your health, learning
T’ai Chi or Qigong is highly recommended. Experienced practitioners spend at least
20 and up to 60 minutes in daily practice. To increase health, it is important to
build up stamina over a period of time. If you are seriously ill, you may only be able
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