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Evening Advertiser
Health Matters |
Mental Gymnastics promotes good health Singers Neil Sedaka
and Linda Ronstadt have more than finely tuned voices in common. Their bodies
also sing from the same song sheet thanks to a little know relaxation
technique. The Trager Approach aims to relieve pain by correcting he cause of
problems, rather than treating the symptoms.
Therapist Julie Nicholls, who practises the technique at The Bentley Centre,
in Stratton Road,
Swindon, helps her clients regain physical,
mental and
emotional harmony.
Neil Sedaka says in a testimonial on the Trager website:
“I am most enthusiastic about Mentastics , I am always left with a feeling of lightness and freedom of movement."
While Linda Ronstadt says:
“Trager works is an invaluable aid for all
singers. It relaxes the throat muscles and positions the larynx for extended range and better breath support. I rely on it.”
Whether you are trying to improve your karaoke skills or to alleviate aches and
pains
the unusual technique is worth experiencing. There are two aspects of Trager-
one where the client is passive and the other in which they are active. The
passive aspect is usually referred to as the tablework, and the active aspect
is called Mentastics.
The technique was the brainchild of Milton Trager, who, in spite of being born
with a
congenital spinal deformity in Chicago
1908, achieved the athletic, graceful body of a
dancer and gymnast.
He discovered the approach while he was training to be a
boxer in his late teens and began practising on thousands of people. It sounds
strange that a
soft touch, almost like a stroking action, can ease back pain just as well as a
good,
deep massage. But as Julie explained, the client has more to do in her sessions
than
just lying back on the massage couch.
Julie, who trained as a nurse but became a Trager therapist nine years ago,
said: “Mentastics is like mental gymnastics and is an important part.
I ask the client to think of their pain, for example in their back, and
recognise
the way it feels when there is no pain". It sounds simple but it really
helps.
If the client can explain how it feels they are on the right track to
finding out the cause and correcting it.” After the Mentastics segment of the
treatment, the client relaxes on the massage couch where Julie starts to
work her
magic. It feels as though she is literally stroking away the pain, coaxing the
body to
relax completely.
“Forget about no pain, no gain.” Julie said. “Trager is more about no pain,
more gain.
We have to learn to take pauses in life. You can lose track of the goals
if you don’t take a step back every now and then. ” After one side of the body
has
been worked on, Julie holds up a mirror asking the client to see how they look.
It may seem odd, but when you know what she is talking about you realise that
the relaxed side is visibly lengthened, as though the bones and muscles are
able to
breathe again. After the session, which costs £20 per half an hour, you are
left with
an almost floating feeling- and seemingly about three inches taller.
