Trager emphasized to his students the physical effects of motion as apprehended by the client’s mind. He guided his clients toward actively recreating off the table, as ‘mental gymnastics (Mentastics), new movements they had passively experienced on the table, Mentastics are the playful side of Trager.

Milton Trager’s work at the table changed over the years, from more vigorous and less specific, to less vigorous and more specific. The work of Trager practitioners vary, depending upon when and how they were influenced by his work.

The fact that Milton Trager put such emphasis upon hook-up makes it a worthy, if difficult, subject for exploration in these pages. Hookup, or presence, is challenging to describe since it is by definition an internal state of awareness.

The following article is an overview of the Trager Approach from the perspective of an experienced practitioner.