And how in later life… It saved My Life
Written by: Lynette Brannon, Senior Trager Practitioner - On sabbatical
An Introduction
Greetings… I am Lynette Brannon of Austin, Texas. I am Trager Practitioner since 1981.
In the early 80’s in Austin, we were hot on the trail of natural healing, meditation, fasting…we at least thought we were the Second Coast of Holistic Health….second only to California. I was a Massage Therapist and not especially satisfied with it.
Lifestyle wise I was very fit, ate well, worked out, practiced Transcendental Meditation and did all the things that were on the list of things to do at the time and then some.
Life wise, I was not so satisfied. I had been working for years on some very serious psychological issues with little success. In fact, I was a mess. I was searching for both psychological healing and career direction “Who am I? What do I want to do with my life?” was the story of my life.
One my searches led me to California. I was staying with a friend and so offered to do some massage work with her for my room and board. She said “no you must come with me to this lovely place called Getting in Touch and find out about this work I am getting called Trager. It resonated with me on every level and I said. “Let’s GO!”
I can’t remember who the Trager Practitioner was…I liked her instantly. When she worked on me, it felt different than anything I had ever experienced. Every part of my body, brain and mind was saying YES quietly and from a deep level. At last I felt that, hopefully, I had found what I was searching for to help me with my life …and my career. With some healthy hesitation…I thought “I am HOME.”
I decided that I was going to learn how to do this and become a Trager Practitioner. I did not want to go by myself, so I clumsily did some on my massage therapist friend Barbara. She loved it and we decided to sign up for the next Trager Beginning Training and off we went a few months later.
We went to Esalen Institute, a retreat center in Big Sur California, known throughout the world for its cutting edge human potential programs. Betty Fuller was our Trager Instructor. Being at Esalen was like being in Heaven on Earth. Betty was like being with a Love Cloud. Betty was Dr. Trager’s first and most prominent Instructor. She was a Gestalt Therapist who worked and trained with Fritz Perls himself. She was a world renowned teacher in other modalities.
Throughout the week long residential training, we moved, we talked, we did table work and we laughed and we cried. I cried through all of it whether I was working, being worked on, sharing, moving or just listening to lecture. My beginning class became known as “Lynette’s Water Ballet”.
Back in those days, you could go to a class with Dr. Trager himself right after your beginning class. So off Barbara and I went again…this time to Hawaii. I walked into his apartment in Honolulu and the first thing he said to me was “What took you so long?” I experienced this as another confirmation that I had indeed found my life path.
I said “I got here as fast as I could” and have loved and lived this work with all my heart ever since.
As a Trager Practitioner I continued to develop my skills at the table and in the world. I stayed committed to the personal development that goes with it:
Moving with awareness
Deepening my connection with my unconscious mind
Developing “Hook-up” - Dr. Trager’s word for our connection with the life force
Relaxing
Having the ability to live with ease and how all of it effects our life
Thankfully Trager was indeed what I was searching for way back in 1980 and it worked on all levels! …and it continues to do so.
As life progressed, so did my age and the changes that come with it. Trager helped me change, adapt and improve my body and my choices. So although I do not feel like I did at 40, I am 75, and I have a comfortable body.
Just recently, my life long lifestyle habits and Trager helped turn around some very serious conditions.
And lastly Trager helped saved my life.
I invite you to continue with me on my Trager journey with A True Tale of How Trager….Series.
For now, if you are a Trager Practitioner, please share this information with your clients or potential ones.
If you are new to Trager, please go the USTA website at www.tragerapproach.us
Read more about The Trager Approach, find your local Trager Practitioner and start exploring what this work can do for you.
Thank you and……
Stay tuned for future articles:
#1: How Trager Changed My Life
#2: Trager and Healthy Aging
#3: How Trager Helped Turn around Heart Break Heart Failure
#4: How Trager Helped Bring Me Back to Life…After a cardiac arrest