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Trager® Essential Principles and Clinical Applications Course Description: 


Since it’s inception, Dr. Milton Trager’s work in psycho-physical integration, has incorporated components of Mindfulness, Trauma-informed practices, Non-Violent Communication, a deep understanding of Neuroplasticity, Epigenetics, Heart-Brain Coherence and even quantum physic’s Observer Effect outcomes. Recent findings in modern science highlight how his work has always intersected these emergent concepts in mind-body integration and explain why there is such lasting neuro-muscular change as a result of it. 

Explore the essential principles of Dr. Milton Trager’s Psychophysical Integration and their applications to some of the most common clinical, musculoskeletal pathologies. Through this unique self-care approach founded on a mindful presence and specific body mechanics, you’ll learn to transform touch into a language to dialogue with the nervous system to facilitate lasting neuro-muscular change. And you’ll feel great doing it! This system of dynamic mindful movement, Dr. Trager termed Mentastics® forms the basis for your self- care at the table, the foundation of the hands-on table work and informs the very exercises you can teach to your clients to elicit similar muscular responses on their own.  Applications of Dr. Trager’s work to address Trauma (PTSD) related conditions, sciatica, low back and neck pain, fibromyalgia and conditions like frozen shoulder, upper cross syndrome (text neck) or anterior scalene syndrome will be discussed. 



Objectives: 
In this workshop will explore:  


Learn potent, proven methods for dissolving some of the deepest deletory effects of held trauma, those impacting the vagus nerve system.

Proper balance of vagus nerve response is essential for optimum health and well-being. The longest nerve in the human body, the vagus originates in the brain stem and extends into the chest and abdomen. Carrying both motor and sensory information, it supplies innervation to the heart, major blood vessels, airways, lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

In addition, the vagus nerve stimulates the secretion of acetylcholine within the central nervous system. Acetylcholine plays a role in motivation, arousal, attention, learning, memory-including muscle memory, and REM sleep. Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter as well as a neuromodulator, also aids in reducing inflammation in all organs. It modulates the release of other neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, impacting the mood and the energy level.

In this workshop, you’ll learn to balance the vasovagal response by accessing the central nervous system from the vagus nerve branches above and below. We’ll treat the proximal branches of the vagus nerve gently at the cervical level. Then we’ll move to respiratory and diaphragmatic levels throughs he thoracic spine and ribs before moving to the pelvis, accessing deep structures of the pelvic bowl including the, psoas, and small intestines.

Through a combination of compassionate, mindful attention and oscillatory mobilizations (Trager® Approach), deep holds, and positional release, we’ll bring clients to a rare point of systemic release and relaxation. Clients receiving this protocol have reported profound results from these procedures.

Michael Lear works with veterans and others managing effects of trauma and has been published on the subject. A Trager® Instructor, Michael has been practicing Trager® and other forms of bodywork for almost forty years. A dedicated Mindfulness Adherent (S.N. Goenka, Vipassana) and Ashtanga Yoga Instructor, Michael’s lifelong commitment is to assist folks to be happy in their bodies and connected to those around them.


When you finish this course, you will be able to: 



Work with Trager® principle awareness with specific applications on the cervical spine, thoracic spine, Rib cage diaphragm, abdomen, as well as psoas and hip rotator releases, perform self-care exercises to relieve, neck, shoulder, low back and hip pain within your own body and to avoid your own pain and burnout utilizing body mechanics at the table.

Perform this specialized table work protocol utilizing new body mechanics based on these principles.

Who is this class for:

Licensed Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, Yoga Teachers, Nurses, Somatic Practitioners and those just starting out who wish to leverage their skill to work more efficaciously while maintaining a high degree of personal comfort to ensure their career longevity. 

Michael has been featured in: