The exercises activate a shaking mechanism, which causes the muscles to relax. Relaxing tense muscle patterns can often reduce stress in the spine, neck, shoulders and pelvis. When tension is released anywhere in the body, the brain registers a reduction in pain signals, producing new hormones that promotes healing.

These unique, yet simple, exercises activate an involuntary shaking in the muscles. Therefore, an individual does not use the conscious control of their body or brain that most relaxation techniques rely upon. TRE taps the unconscious part of the brain so one can actually watch TV or listen to music and allow the shaking do all the work.

Stress, anxiety and trauma are common events in people’s lives. We often experience stress on a daily level, either at home or at work. The body constantly responds to elevated levels of stress by contracting the muscles to ‘get through’ the problem. However, we seldom recognise these contractions until we experience pain, discomfort or illness. By practicing preventative techniques like TRE, we can prevent stress and tension levels from elevating to a point of chronic illness.

The body intuitively knows how and when to put itself to sleep. Difficulty sleeping is simply a symptom that something is out of balance with the body. Sleeplessness is often the signal that stress, anxiety and tension are causing the “sleep mechanism” to not activate properly.

Deep muscular relaxation, which TRE elicit, induces the body to activate the rest/digest, relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system that allows the body to sleep. Resiliency can be attained when the individual can work, respond to stress, play, and then rest. If deep adequate rest, and the relaxation response, is not a part of the individual’s daily life, resiliency is compromised.

It can be used as a therapeutic tool because these symptoms can be difficult to manage at times. They might seem overwhelming. The process of using this tool in a therapeutic context provides the therapist with the ability to use the body as part of the stress reduction process without needing to have advanced degrees in body psychotherapy.

Conflict is caused by stress and tension whether at work or home. People who are calm and relaxed do not experience much conflict. However, remaining in a place of calmness and relaxation is difficult because daily life challenges our relaxed state. Periodic TRE continually reduces the levels of daily stress and anxiety in the body that give the person access to a more relaxed state of mind. The combination of a relaxed body and relaxed mind can lead to a reduction of conflict in all areas of one’s life.

Exercise, workouts and yoga often reduce tension in the muscles and help increase strength and flexibility. Many tension patterns and contractions are deep inside the body, often without our conscious awareness. TRE uncovers these less conscious but obvious tension patterns. The contractions release tension at this deeper level. When this occurs, the body takes on greater flexibility and resilience. This increased awareness of a ‘deeper sense of self’ often extends itself into the realm of the ‘spiritual’ to which many people aspire. Once there is a deeper felt sense of oneself, there is a natural deeper sense of connection to others and the ‘universe’ or the ‘spiritual’.

Many people can learn TRE by reading books and/or watching the DVD. However, some may benefit better if guided through the exercises by a Certified TRE Practitioner. Cheda is a certified TRE Practitioner with over 25 years experience. One might have an immediate result from the exercises and others might not experience the results until after practicing the exercises a few times. Because the TRE process can be intense and somewhat overwhelming, those who find TRE to be challenging might want to be guided through the exercises by a Certified TRE Practitioner or attend a workshop. Check out the website for scheduled workshops or for practitioners who can work with you via Skype.

TRE, like any other new method might require some time to get used to. Although the exercises are designed to be easy and simple to follow, for some, it can be like riding a bike, jumping rope or learning to ski — it might take a little practice. Once the exercises are learned and the shaking is activated a few times, the process will move much faster. We suggest that 15 minutes of the shaking/tremor release will be enough for one session. Although some have such a positive experience in this release process that they extend this time for much longer. Over time some TRE uses have found that they do not need to do the full exercise process and find they are able to activate the release without the full routine.

Yes, in fact for many people allowing the mind to be distracted by another activity allows the body to release tension without any ego/mind/thought interference in the process. For others the process of focusing on the body can be helpful and healing. This is a personal decision based on individual preference.

Once you have learned the TRE process and you are comfortable with the process you can do TRE everyday if you like. We recommend that you do TRE at least two times per week. However, even occasional use of TRE will be beneficial to reducing deeply held muscular tension.