It may be five years since the first covid lockdowns, but in some ways we’re still navigating very disrupted times culturally and politically. In these challenging times, we can resource ourselves by acknowledging the feeling states inside of us. For me, the body is the story of who we are.
Whenever you feel angry, stuck or fearful, this changes how your physiology works. For example, your heart may beat quicker, your muscles may feel tighter, and your belly may be cramping because long term projects like digestion have been switched off due to the metaphorical tigers you’re running from.
When we listen for what we’re feeling, we can either transcend these states, or generate new choices. The first step is to acknowledge the body’s needs, to value that – even if you are fairly well resourced – there may still be certain aspects of life that feel overwhelming, and to keep developing your skill at paying attention to your body.
An embodied approach which I’ve been working with for the past decade is Trauma and Tension Releasing Exercises, or TRE® for short. I actually developed the way I teach TRE in a big way during the pandemic, when I not only moved to teaching online, but also created a one-year Certified TRE® Provider training, which has been going really well.
How does TRE shaking generate more connection, joy and ease?
Shaking is a gentle process of waking up the body, using a simple set of exercises that trigger a natural tremor reflex in the body. This kind of gentle shaking can release long-held tension patterns and promote new feelings of connection and ease. It creates a novel stimulus to the central nervous system, and new stimuli, approached with safety and curiosity, can support learning and growth.
How can TRE support trauma healing?
The psychology of trauma is complex, but the physiology is relatively simple. In trauma old parts of the brain are fixed in defence cascades of ‘fight-or-flight’ or ‘freeze’. TRE® is a safe, natural process to reboot overprotective reflexes.
For many people, even with a complex trauma history, the practice of simply shaking and coming into their body, rather than talking about the trauma can be life-changing.
There is excellent theory and very good developing evidence about changing primitive reflexes as a powerful intervention for trauma. There are a number of exciting modalities trying to find the best ways of down-regulating over protective reflexes via embodiment (e.g. EMDR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction MBSR, body based psychotherapy approaches and other ‘trauma informed’ embodiment approaches). The goal is changing the body in the first instance; not starting with the mind and focusing on cognitive understanding and tools. Using shaking to prevent getting stuck in protective reflexes is the core of the TRE model.
How can you learn TRE?
Most people can learn the framework and skills in one or two sessions or groups. To develop a strong practice we find it is beneficial to attend a course of six or more sessions or groups. The extra support in facilitated sessions or groups helps to really develop skill and confidence when interacting with the natural tremors.
It’s important to go slowly at the start, and learn how your body responds to the shaking process. Shaking three times a week is a strong practice, probably no more than ten to fifteen minutes shaking after the exercises if you are new to TRE.
You can gradually build up as you feel more confident – longer periods of shaking and more often. Some people shake every day for many weeks, some people find it works fine for them just once a week or after a stressful event.
Would you like to study TRE with me?
If you’d like to experience the process for yourself, I’m offering introductory days in London in April, June, September and November, and you can find out more about them and book here.
If you’re interested in training to be a practitioner, I offer a fast-track, immersive program to learn to safely teach Tension and Trauma Exercises in one year, and the next course is starting on 2nd May 2025.
This programme equips you to safely guide clients and groups through TRE’s innovative series of exercises, to support the body to release deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. The training includes:
- Six days of training, in-person. Organised as two three day modules.
- Six group supervisions, online. This is the minimum number you have to attend, you can attend up to ten over the year.
- Six 1:1 supervisions, online. These are mostly with your assigned TRE Mentor and are essential to deepen your practice.
- Feedback on assessments and one Final Certification Session with your Primary CT at end of course.
You can find out more about the training here, and you can apply here.
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Upcoming Trainings with Steve Haines:
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®)
TRE Intro Days:
London: Jul 21, Sep 22, Nov 3
TRE 1 Year Trainings:
London: starts May 2025
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST)
The Art of Touch Two Year Trainings
London 2025: May 28-Jun 1 (You can still join the 2025 training for seminar two, and we’ll create a plan for you to catch up.)
London 2026: starts March 2026
Galway: starts Oct 2025
Prague: starts Oct 2025
The Art of Touch Intro Events:
Galway (evening): Apr 24, Jun 19
Galway Seminar 1: Oct 1-5
London (evening): May 29, Sep 11
