Anatomy and Physiology of the Trager® Approach Part 1

Relevant Science for the Art of Trager^® and other Somatic Practices Part I
July 24-26, 2026 Ann Arbor, MI

9:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern
Join Eileen Dickinson, PT, for this 3 day class in Ann Arbor, MI.

If you are like me, you realize that the anatomy you may have learned (muscle origins and insertions) doesn’t explain why Trager works. I’ve spent the past 20 years putting together the “whys” of Trager principles and practices from the perspective of current science.

This class is for all students and practitioners curious about why Trager principles and practices are so powerful, who want to be more effective, engage clients more, and who’d like to be able to share micro-doses of science with their clients. I share up-to-date and relevant science with you in a simple and concrete way, and you will discover why Trager presence, touch and movement are so transformative!

This training is for you whether or not you already feel proficient in anatomy, or Trager. Even Trager Instructors have significant “aha’s” in this class. I distill and synthesize complex information into understandable and digestible nuggets for you. The delight I find in presenting information from many sources (including from my career in Physical Therapy) makes the learning experience easy.

Day 1: Presence

• Explore the critical importance of presence in bodywork
• Learn how to cultivate and deepen this essential skill
• Practice presence with different focal points to enhance client outcomes
• Dive into the science of the nervous system, biotensegrity, and the forces of gravity and ground reaction, understanding how weight distribution in your own body impacts your client’s experience

Day 2: Touch

• Delve into the art and science of touch, examining why we touch and who is really touching whom
• Prepare your hands to deliver therapeutic touch
• Become familiar with sensory receptors, mechanotransduction, and the pathways that shape our touch experience, from the somatosensory cortex to the insular cortex
• Differentiate between gnostic and pathic touch and explore the unique qualities of soft matter in bodywork

Day 3: Movement

• Navigate the existing and emerging paradigms of movement science
• Understand joint mechanics, proprioceptors, and the role of mechanotransduction in movement
• Discover the importance of novelty in movement
• Learn about motor unit recruitment, central pattern generators, and the importance of full joint excursion for balanced and effective bodywork

Each day includes practical activities and tablework to anchor your learning. You will leave class with inspiration and motivation for further discovery on your own, and with some new vocabulary for talking about your work. 

If you are ready to elevate your practice by integrating these scientific insights with hands-on experience, and witness your effectiveness as a bodyworker reach new heights, reach out to me to register with a deposit.

I’m excited to hear from you.
Eileen
Lead Learner and Founder, Tragerology.com
734-717-4145 or edickins@umich.edu

24 CEs

Price: $600.00