Getting out of snow/ice rut in a standard transmission car

During the heavy snowfall in mid-January, I got stuck in a snow/ice rut because of a tempting residential neighborhood parking spot downtown.  Gravel put at the tires didn't help.  The tires simply spinned on the loose snow and ice underneath.  Fortunately there were several passerbys that assisted me to push out the car.  However one of them suggested that because my car is standard transmission, I could have tried to "rock" my way out. 

A couple weeks later, again, enticed by a tempting residential neighborhood parking spot downtown, I was stuck in a snow/ice rut.  This time, I remembered the fellow's advice.  This is what I did to get unstuck:

1. Clutch in, put into 1st gear
2. Slowly ease off clutch so it just engages 
3. Car should strain forward but it won't go anywhere as car is still stuck.  Add gas (optional)
4. Just before it stalls, press in clutch; car should rock back
5. Go back to #2 and repeat
6. Car should begin to rock like a pendulum
7. When car seems like it could break loose with a little help, add gas at step #3, and release clutch completely
8. Watch for traffic as you get unstuck (hopefully)