Trager Sessions

Movement re-education is of growing interest in the field of alternative medicine and the Trager Approach is among the few resources available in this area. The system involves bodywork that focuses on rhythmic touch and exercise. The therapy helps to restructure the way the individual’s body navigates.

Fluid movement may seem to have little to do with alternative medicine and health. However, when the connection between the mind and the body is considered, the benefits of using an approach like Trager becomes readily apparent. There are many benefits to using this strategy to develop a new relationship with your body and its movements.

Benefits of Trager

The Trager approach offers many benefits to consider, including mental and physical improvements. The process is relaxing while helping to build body awareness and mental clarity. Trager helps to build a deeper understanding of the body.

Consider the many ways that people ignore their bodies. Skipping meals, staying up too late and emotional eating are examples of ways people make choices that are not in sync with their bodies. An approach like Trager helps to overcome these problems indirectly. Other benefits include:

• Pleasant experience
• Gentle
• Higher state of relaxation
• Increases mobility
• Improves mental functioning

The effects of the sessions last well beyond the patient’s visit, and each subsequent visit offers a cumulative improvement. Each session builds upon the last, creating a deeper body awareness and mental clarity.

Movement Education

Movement education is a fascinating field that helps people change the way they use their bodies. While this does not have obvious connections to mental clarity, the effect on the brain is quite significant. The goal is to integrate the mind and the body in one fluid dynamic.

The subconscious mind appears to play a significant role in the Trager Approach. Many movements are automatic, such as body positioning and posturing. However, this does not mean that they can’t be changed. Re-education requires restructuring the subconscious mind to work with the body’s natural instincts rather than stress and anxiety.

Trager Sessions

The initial session begins with mental exercises that are quite similar to meditations. Trager professionals refer to this part of the session as “hook up”. Hook up involves movement in touch that systematically improves communication between the mind and the body while in the relaxed state.

Table work helps to improve the body’s range of motion in small steps. The client lies on a comfortably padded table that offers support. The movements are guided by the therapist. Gradually, the patient moves to Mentastics, in which she is able to care for herself through movements.

Health Benefits

The correlation between the mind and the body is extremely important in an individual’s overall health. The Trager Approach can help people who have the following conditions, as well as ones not listed:

• Limited mobility
• Back pain
• Multiple sclerosis
• Headaches
• Muscle soreness and spasms
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Depression

One of the best resources for those interested in the Trager Approach is the United States Trager Association. This resource offers helpful information as well as ways to begin the therapy.