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Chris Bruels Trager Somatic Education Practitioner

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Courtenay, BC
Chris Bruels Trager Somatic Education Practitioner

Help People Live More Comfortably

Learn Trager Somatic Body Therapy - support yourself and clients

01/22/2026

The Legacy of Dr Milton Trager Lives On

Dr Milton Trager was one of the original pioneers of somatic practice, alongside Frederick Matthias Alexander and Moshe Feldenkrais. Each developed their work through deep personal inquiry, long before the mind body connection was widely understood or accepted.

Dr Trager’s particular genius lay in the subtlety of touch and movement. His work gently integrates awareness and presence, decades before mindfulness became a familiar concept in the West. He understood that the body holds learned movement patterns in the mind, and that lasting change occurs when inefficient or painful patterns are met with movements that feel easier, freer, and more pleasurable.

For over 50 years, this work has been taught internationally. Chris Bruels, Trager Instructor, studied directly with Dr Trager and carries this lineage forward with integrity, clarity, and care.

This training will empower you to:
💫 Facilitate deeply restorative relaxation sessions
💫 Integrate the quality and principles of Trager movement into your existing modalities or private practice
💫 Learn within an environment that honors both student and practitioner
Program Details
• One three day weekend per month
• 96 total training hours
• Limited to six students for a grounded and supportive learning experience
• Level 1 Certification with Trager International
• Recognized by Natural Health Practitioners of Canada for Continuing Education Credits
Training Dates
• February 13–15
• March 13–15
• April 10–12
• May 8–10
Investment
• Early registration, $3000 CAD
• After January 31, 2026, $3500 CAD
• Payment plans available
Location
📍 Esquimalt, BC
✨ Spaces are limited. Early registration is encouraged.
To register or learn more
📞 250 897 6454
📧 info@chrisbruels.ca
🌐 www.chrisbruels.ca
Step into a practice that honors your clients, your body, and your spirit. Join us for this transformative journey. 🌸

01/07/2026

🌿 Discover the Transformative Power of Trager® Somatic Body Therapy 🌿
For over 40 years, Trager Somatic Body Therapy has been my life’s work. What inspires me to share this modality is the deep connection it fosters—honoring the body, mind, and spirit of each person, and supporting profound shifts through gentle, mindful movement. ✨

I’m thrilled to invite you to learn the basic Trager movement repertoire in an intimate, immersive program starting February 2026. This training will empower you to:
💫 Initiate profound relaxation sessions with clients
💫 Integrate the quality of Trager movement into your existing modalities or private practice
💫 Experience a learning environment where both student and practitioner are honored

📅 Program Details:
Runs one three-day weekend per month, totaling 96 training hours
Exclusive to only six students, creating a grounded, supportive experience
Level 1 Certification with Trager International
Recognized by Natural Health Practitioners of Canada for Continuing Education Credits

🗓 Training Dates:
Feb 13–15
Mar 13–15
Apr 10–12
May 8–10

💰 Investment:
Early registration: $3000 CAD
After Jan 31, 2026: $3500 CAD

📍 Location: Esquimalt, BC
✨ Spaces are limited—reserve your spot today!

To register or learn more:
📞 250-897-6454
📧 info@chrisbruels.ca
🌐 www.chrisbruels.ca

Step into a practice that honors your clients, your body, and your spirit. Join me in this life-changing journey. 🌸

12/08/2025

Discover the Power of Transformative Bodywork through Trager® Somatic Training

This is your opportunity to learn how to connect with people in a deeply powerful, transformative way, through the mindful and somatic methodology known as Trager®. Whether you are a bodyworker, healer, coach, or wellness practitioner, this training will expand your skill set and elevate the way you support others.

Beginning February 2026, this immersive program runs one three day weekend per month, a total of 96 training hours.

This intimate program is exclusive to only six students, creating a grounded and supportive learning environment. You will be able to integrate Trager into your current somatic or healing practice with ease.

Upon completion, you will receive a Level 1 certification with Trager International, and you will be eligible to continue to Level 2 as you deepen your mastery. Also recognized by Natural Health Practitioners of Canada as Continuing Education Credits.

Training dates are,
Feb 13 to 15
March 13 to 15
April 10 to 12
May 8 to 10

Early registration fee $3000.00 CAD – After January 31, 2026 - $3500.00 CAD

Location: Esquimalt, BC

To Register, Contact Chris:
250-897-6454
info@chrisbruels.ca

www.chrisbruels.ca

04/28/2024

The Level 1 training in Quesnel was wonderful! The 4 students had various backgrounds from registered massage training, Body-Mind Centering training and completely novice to bodywork training. All were receptive, shared with each other and learned well.
Feedback given:
"organization was clear and well laid out
- good flow to the days
- everything built on previous day"

"She is a great teacher, patient, positive and brought all the learning to a close nicely."

" all things seemed to be discussed clearly and with a great deal of knowledge by Chris, which is greatly appreciated."

On our day off, my host toured me around the Frazer River Valley to the south of Quesnel. Picture is from Chocolate Mountain where we shared some good chocolate!

04/03/2024

I'm packing up to go to Quesnel. The Level 1 training has 4 people registered now.

I contacted the students from the Level 1 training in Comox. It has been one year since we completed that training.

I asked them what they thought was an important element of what they learned, that has stayed with them. And that I should emphasize in this new training.

One stressed that the state of mind held while doing Trager was critical, the quality of presence and acceptance, of respect and wonder. As a student, "especially noticing when it's faded and to pause and gently return again, and again, and.."

One shared, "For me, the core of it was (re)learning to trust the very subtle."

Another commented, " importance of my body ...what's my body doing?" and "the touch can be light and still have depth!"

I appreciate having these perspectives to hold as I share this special work with new students.

02/23/2024

I have just received approval by the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada to have my Level 1 training approved for their Continued Competency Program! Within their rating system, my 6 day training will be given 15 hours credit.

This credit is in addition to the Trager International Practitioner Certification credit of 48 hours.

I am delighted to be recognized for these credits and that more people can benefit in a new way from participating in my trainings.🍎

01/21/2024

I'm invited to teach Trager Level 1 by former student in Quesnel.

Christine was one of 4 students in the first Level 1 training that I taught in Vancouver in 2018. She became a dedicated student of Trager, travelling as far as the Netherlands, Quebec City and Portland to complete her practitioner requirements. Throughout this time, I supported her with sessions and feedback on her work as well as conversations about her progress. Now, she is incorporating Trager into her regular massage therapy sessions.

And she is organizing a class for me to teach!

This class will be in the condensed format of 6 days of training over one week, giving a day to integrate the material in the middle. April 7-9 and 11-13, 2024

If you are interested, please contact me. If someone you know might be interested, please share this with them.

06/16/2023

Achievement!

Some of you will remember my sojourns to Europe using my intention to become a Trager Instructor as part of the rationale. That was originally 2012! Well, I finally have been approved as a Solo Instructor!!

The final step involved the willingness of my students in my Level 1 training that I taught in Comox during February and March. With support of a more technologically suave student, my teaching sessions were recorded and uploaded to the internet. This allowed the senior Instructors to view my teaching remotely. After this review, they unanimously agreed that I had completed the Solo Instructor requirements and gave their blessings for my teaching career.

I am happy! I am happy that my style of teaching supported my students to learn and I am happy that I now will have the approval to teach the Level 1 training anywhere.

I have not yet determined when or where I will teach again. If you know of anyone who would be interested, please ask them to contact me.

I am thrilled to be able to pass this amazing modality on to another generations of people.

04/21/2023

The Comox Level 1 training is completed. I feel immensely satisfied. One of my priorities was to create a learning environment that was safe for the students. On the final feedback form, two of the students wrote:
"Chris held the space for me to feel safe to make mistakes, ask (stupid) questions & not be sure while being able to speak openly"
"What worked for me – every question was treated seriously – no dumb questions"
Already we have planned a 'reunion' to gather for another day of trading and deepening the learning.
I am inspired by their enthusiasm!

03/19/2023

The Level 1 training in Comox has completed their 6th day of training. From the student's feedback, they have learned the movements and the quality of touch that is the Trager signature.
On our last day, Saturday April 1, 4 guests will be invited to experience what these students have learned. We are looking for people who do not have major body injury or pathology issues.
There is no charge for this session but you would be asked to give written feedback to your student about what you felt and learned. In this setting, the students will be supervised by myself as they are giving the session.
If you are interested in participating, please contact me.

Thank you to all who have responded to the invitation to participate in the final day of my training. I now have more volunteers than I need.

03/04/2023

The Comox Level 1 training is already half way through! My four students are picking up the essence and the structure of a Trager session very well.
One wrote this feedback: The exercises that Chris presents to demonstrate working with slack / elasticity / stretch and also recently, weight, were brilliant.

01/04/2023

Are you Comfortable?

I frequently use this ‘comfort’ question with my clients. I consider this question to be an expression of a core principle of Trager® Somatic Body Therapy.

What I am asking my client is to become engaged with the session.

This begins with their self- awareness: to answer the question about comfort, the client needs to consider their current experience.

Unfortunately, there can be life experiences that may interfere with a client expressing their self-awareness and needs. Part of my intention is to welcome any feedback that my client gives and do my best to incorporate the feedback into the session. This helps to develop trust that the client’s experience will be honoured and integrated. For many, this is in itself a healing process.

Trager is intended to be a collaboration between the client and myself. Yes, I have training and experience. This does not make me the expert of the client’s experience. Only the client really knows how my attitude, touch and movement is fitting for them. Collaboration starts with the client’s moment by moment self-awareness and decisions about giving me feedback.

A session is less effective without this feedback. I have developed sensitivity to a client’s responses but in order for me to know what will fit the best, the client’s feedback is critical.

An emphasis of the Trager training is to modify the touch and movement experience for each client. Dr. Milton Trager has said, “If I am doing the exact same session more than once, I am not doing Trager!”

I trust that you find my encouragement and responsiveness to your self-awareness and feedback meets my intention of creating trust and safety during our sessions together.

Address

2342A Rosewall Crescent
Courtenay, BC
V9N8R9

Opening Hours

Monday	10:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	10:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 5pm

Website

http://www.chrisbruels.ca/

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