Steps to Develop and Organize your Project
Preparation
1. Develop your theme
Take some time to identify the Trager principles which have made your life easier. Write them down. Are there any items on this list that would be helpful for others?
Pick one topic and reflect on how you would like to share it with students.
Decide if you wish to target a specific clientele or offer an « open to all » kind of experience.
Think about what people could learn from your experience and how they would benefit from your sharing.
Choose the length of your class – 1 hour? 3 X 2 hours? 8 hours?
2. Build on your gifts
Think about your natural talents and your unique way of sharing information.
Are you a person rather structured or spontaneously improvising in life? Do you need a detailed plan to feel safe? How much leeway can you build in your class, while making sure the outcome is meaningful and inspiring?
Are you more comfortable communicating on a one-on-one basis? Do you prefer leading small or larger groups? What would be your ideal number of students, considering your teaching experience and efficiency?
Start with what is already easy for you.
Find additional information/ assistance if you want to explore something new. Reach out for support from an experienced leader, a tutor or an instructor if you feel the need to develop an aspect of your project. It will help you enhance self-confidence, comfort and ease.
3. Create your class plan
Clarify the purpose of your presentation and create the needed practice proposals to reach your learning objectives. What skills do you wish your students to learn?
Write your class plan. Include a 10 minute break for every hour.
Alternate movement and touch explorations with periods of discussion and theory, to vary the pace of your presentation.
Determine what materials and/or equipment you will need.
Have the list of the Trager classes coming up in your local community handy, including yours, the next Level I, etc.
Remember that you are teaching the principles of Trager. You may include Mentastics and touch experiences in your class, but you are not allowed to teach a formal Trager training unless you have the related status to do so. Read the document called « Description and Guidelines », it contains interesting suggestions and the Trager for Daily Life classes’ ground rules.
Organization and teaching
Find a location for the class and make arrangements for any materials and/or equipment.
Spread the word about your class.
Send the Trager for Daily Life Class promotional video to all your contacts and potential students, including your class’ specific information.
Title of the class: Trager for Daily Life class
Sub-heading: the theme you have chosen
Date, time and length
Location
Cost and refund policy if there is one (check your local consumer protection laws to make sure your policies are legal)
Registration deadline if there is one
Maximum number of participants
Your name and contact information
3. Respond to inquiries and confirm registrations and payments.
4. Collect participant contact information – name, address, phone numbers, and email address.
5. Be professional and in an attitude of simplicity during the class.
Start and end on time.
Relax and have fun.
Adopt a welcoming, soft and patient state of mind: appreciate your participants, be attentive to their questions, comments and learning steps, be creative to help them understand – they are doing their very best!
Be humble, share your experience with an open heart.
Shine your passion about Trager, it will be contagious!
6. Collect feedback from the participants before they leave.
7. Provide receipts and certificates of attendance.
8. Thank your participants for attending.
A marketing tip: starting with presenting a talk about your class to a specific group of people and following-up with your workshop could be a good strategy to tease potential students’ interest about your class.
Closure
Evaluate
Think about what worked well and what could have worked better. Write these things down and use them in planning your next class.