TRE® stands for Tension and Trauma Release Exercises and is a powerful stress-reduction tool to effectively assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension, and trauma.
Created by Dr. David Berceli, TRE® safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking or vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance.
TRE® is based on the fundamental idea, backed by research, that stress, tension and trauma is both psychological and physical. TRE®’s reflexive muscle vibrations generally feel pleasant and soothing. After doing TRE®, many people report feelings of peace and well-being. TRE® has helped many thousands of people globally.
TRE® is designed to be a self-help tool that, once learned, can be used independently as needed throughout one’s life, thereby continuously supporting and promoting personal health and wellness.
All mammals, especially animals in the wild all shake to release the stress of threat. Have you seen a dog shake when very excited or fearful? We are designed to release stress so it doesn’t accumulate in our body which can cause disease and “burnout.”
However, as humans, we deliberately try NOT to shake due to social acceptance, embarrassment, or other reasons. We’ve learned how to stop this natural mechanism rather than allow this natural mechanism to calm us down and release the stress. As a result, we have in effect “turned off” this natural mechanism so the tension and stress remain trapped in our body.
To re-activate the tremor mechanism, Dr. Berceli designed a series of seven simple exercises to challenge and stretch the muscles that are involved in the fight or flight response. Through neurogenic tremoring, the body can discharge the stress and tension that was not completely dissipated at the time of the traumatic event. After the shaking, the body can then return to a state of rest, deep relaxation, and, restore resiliency.
Once you have learned how to activate the neurogenic tremoring, you no longer need to repeat the 7 exercises to tire your muscles to begin shaking. The shaking begins to feel more natural and it can be used as needed throughout one’s life, thereby continuously supporting and promoting personal health and wholeness.
The psoas muscles are some of the most significant muscles in your body which deal with, store, and release your stress. The psoas is known as “the fight or flight muscle” because when the body or mind becomes stressed, the psoas tightens and contracts in a primal response designed to protect us from harm.
The psoas muscle spans laterally from the 12th thoracic vertebrae (T12) to each of the 5 lumbar vertebrae. The psoas is the only muscle connecting the spine to the legs, it flows down through the pelvis to the top of the thigh bone. It serves as the sole link between the upper and lower extremities. It creates movement and flows throughout the body, constantly contracting and releasing.
The psoas muscles are connected to the diaphragm through connective tissue or fascia which affects both our breath and fear reflex. It affects our structural balance, muscular integrity, flexibility, strength, range of motion, joint mobility, organ functioning, holds us upright, and allows us to lift our legs. Tightness in the psoas muscle is often what creates pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders.
TRE® activates and tires these muscles just enough to reactivate your natural shaking mechanism. This achieved by doing seven simple exercises. TRE help to release the stored up tension and stress from the psoas and thus creates more flexibility and aliveness.
For the individual session, the first session is about 60 – 75 minutes. I will give you a brief introduction to TRE and guide you through the process step by step. Throughout the session, I will hold the safe space for you and let you tremor for 5 to 15 minutes to release whatever tension and stress is ready to be expelled in the session. You will learn some self-regulation exercises to help you stay grounded so that you will be able to practice at home in between our sessions.