RELEASING TENSION AND STRESS
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercise (TRE®) is a self-help technique designed to safely activate our body’s natural shaking reflex. This shaking reflex releases muscle and fascia tension and brings the body’s nervous system back into balance supporting recovery and resilience.
A safe
shaking reflex
supporting
recovery &
resilience
​When we experience stress, tension or trauma our muscles contract to protect us. Our nervous system pumps stress hormones ready for “fight or flight”. If “fight or flight” feels too dangerous the nervous system will activate our “freeze” response. (The sense of “danger” can include everyday situations – arguments at home or work, worry about the future, finances or perhaps giving a speech or performance etc).
These are important survival instincts; however, many of us have forgotten our natural ability to release these responses and return to our “safe and social” baseline when the danger or perceived danger is over.
When the muscle tension and the stress hormones remain in our bodies, we can become stuck on high, more easily triggered into our stress response and less able to “switch off” and relax. Over time repeated contractions and stress hormones leads to inflammation, tighter muscles and fascia creating chronic aches and pains and fatigue.
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Learning TRE can help you release these patterns. Working at the right pace for your body, releasing the tension and stress hormones gradually, balancing with time for the body to rest and integrate TRE shaking can support the body’s nervous system to come back into balance.
Process of Learning TRE®
You can learn TRE technique with a TRE provider one to one (60mins) or in a small group (90mins). Before a TRE session we ask that you fill out a health questionnaire and we discuss any adaptions or considerations. A session includes the following:
Reconnect
Reconnect with your body through grounding and a series of simple stretching exercises to gently fatigue specific muscles
Release
Release tension and stress gently and safely through shaking reflex - learning to switch it on and off, activate and de-activate (self-regulate)
Rest
Rest and integrate this new released information into your body’s nervous system.