The Trager® Approach
The Trager® Approach utilizes gentle touch and rhythmic movements to cultivate a state of deep relaxation to release muscle holding patterns residing in the unconscious mind that often manifest as functional limitation, or pain. The rhythmic movements inherent in a session also introduce a new feeling state from which the patient can recall and experience the associated muscular changes. The effects of this work are cumulative and, through a series of sessions over time, can lead to increased self reliance to relieve discomfort which may reduce the frequency of visits and free up valuable resources at rehabilitation centers in lesser developed countries often inundated because of the lack of skilled therapists and extensive demands of demands of their communities.To visit the United States Trager® Association website please click here
Articles on The Trager® Approach. Click on the title to read or download
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Beyond Relaxation - The Work of Dr. Milton Trager by Carol Cavanaugh, former editor of Yoga Journal
The Trager® Approach to Somatic Education, Therapy and Personal Development - by Deane Juhan
The Trager ® Approach and Multiple Sclerosis - by Deane Juhan
The Trager ® Approach and Parkinson's Disease - Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University
Recommended Books:
Movement As A Way To Agelessness - Dr. Milton Trager
Job's Body - Deane Juhan
Moving Medicine - Jack Liskin
The Trager Approach to Self Healing - Audrey Mauri
Practitioner Michael Lear:
For over 19 years Michael Lear has explored, therapeutic bodywork, yoga and meditation. He has been certified in The Trager® Approach since 1991 and serves the Trager® Institute’s teaching staff internationally as a tutor and Introductory workshop leader. In 2000 Michael was a Medical Team Volunteer, providing therapeutic bodywork for USA Networks Eco-Challenge in Borneo Malaysia. Recently Michael was one of three senior practitioners worldwide selected to enter Trager® International’s Instructor training program. He began his advanced training in early 2006 in Austria.
Having healed his own hypertension, low back pain, arthritis, whiplash and high cholesterol with diet, yoga and Trager®, he committed himself to sharing his journey with his clients. Over the years his practice, SOMA Health Potentials has involved the treatment of stress related disorders such as chronic low back and neck pain, headaches and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia, and TMJ pain. He has also treated more severe conditions such as Scoliosis, Cerebral Palsy, Post Stroke Paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and has used Trager® to address body-based, psychological issues associated with rape and sexual abuse trauma. In addition to his private practice, he help introduced The Trager® Approach into Japan in 1998-99, where he teaches often, and Sri Lanka. He maintains a strong interest in applying Trager® to aid in the treatment of land mine victims suffering from acute psychophysical trauma and associated phantom limb pain.
He currently holds a Yoga Alliance 500 hour advanced yoga teacher certification and over the past fourteen years, Michael has studied with some of Ashtanga yoga's foremost teachers, including Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Tim Miller, Anthony Carlisi, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty. Some of Michael’s more notable clients have been Jane’s Addiction during the 2003 Lollapalooza Tour and Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.
At the core of his personal daily practice is Vipassana Meditation, as taught by S.N.Goenka. He has completed over 900 hours of supervised Vipassana Meditation instruction in Cambodia, Japan and the US and has conducted meditation classes for the Northampton County Prison’s Alcohol and Drug rehabilitation program. He’s also served the Mid Atlantic Vipassana Trust as a non-center course coordinator for the New York and Philadelphia areas and as children’s course counselor.
In 2001 Michael founded Easton Yoga, Easton, PA where he taught regularly for five years. Today he teaches privately to allow time to volunteer in Sri Lanka and for the development of his new project Bodyworkers Without Borders. Michael, also an accomplished professional drummer, holds a B.S. in Finance and worked in the international manufacturing and product quality field for 13 years.
Michael’s teaching integrates his extensive and varied background in mind body medicine, progressive movement therapies, meditation, business and music with his deep respect for the body’s natural wisdom. In his spare time Michael indulges in travel, playing drums, scuba diving, gardening and photography.
For more information on workshops, PT enhancemetn trainings, private sessions or private yoga instruction, please contact Michael at 484.542.0249 or email at michael@bodyworkerswithoutborders.org. Visit www.artofdhamma.com for information on his fund raising for Sri Lanka through his art sales.