Listen to Your Body When You Tremble

Tremors help me feel less reactive to my family, less stress, less anxious, more relaxed in public speaking and easier movements during swim.


This is the third in a series of blog posts that explain how I came to create my Mission and Vision. 

Many of us use our head a lot to think, to analyze, to strategize, to plan, to organize and more. We place a lot of value and attention on our mind. Sometimes our mind can get so preoccupied with thoughts that we are disconnected from our body.


We often forget that there is so much wisdom in the body, which is not directly available to our conscious mind. 

We know that exercises can reduce depressive symptoms. Body language gives us the nonverbal cues of what people are thinking and feeling. If you have been mugged before, next time you walk past someone who might vaguely resemble the look of your robber, your body flinches before you have time to check closely whether it is the same person who stole your bag.

As parents, we have all experienced the times when we lose our temper to a screaming child. Our mind knows the right thing to do, yet our body reacts the opposite way.

This is what makes working with the body so important because the body can give us clues about the parts of us that we are not aware of.

I love using the bottom-up approach (working with the body) and interchanges that with the top-down method (working with the mind/head), whenever I see fit with the person I work with during a session.

Surviving War Zones

While I use gentle stretches (yoga or not), your own voice, self-touch and breathing practices, I also use a self-care, body-based tool called TRE, or Tension & Trauma Releasing (Recovery) Exercises. It was created by David Berceli, who developed TRE to heal his own trauma responses during his 20-year work as a trauma therapist in the war zones. 

With those who suffer from stress, anxiety and trauma, our bodies respond in a certain, particular way. The good news is that the body has a genetically-encoded response that’s designed to protect us. One of the ways is through shaking.

If you have to evacuate from your home because of wildfires, or if you have to find safety during earthquakes or hurricanes or whenever you are scared or nervous, it’s likely that you have experienced your body gets shaky.

Body’s Innate Ability

You should let yourself shake because it is a natural reflex mechanism that is built into your body that helps discharge stressed-out energy and calm your nervous system, allowing your body return to a state of balance.

While TRE helps connect with the kind of shake or tremble to relieve stress and anxiety in your daily lives or from your past traumas, there are other benefits.

  • I am less reactive to my son’s tantrum, my husband, other people and incidents that can potentially cause frustrations.I am able to let go more.

  • When I use TRE before giving my public speeches, I feel significantly calmer, my mind is clearer and I am able to enhance my ability to stay in the present moment longer.

  • Tremors create more ease in movements when I swim. I feel more spaciousness in my body and experience even more relaxation than I usually do after I swim laps.

  • Athletes have reported easier movements, and runners have improved their run time. 

  • I have developed more awareness on my mind’s attempt to restrict and control my body. I also notice self-judgement. (Why is that important? I will explain in my next post).

What does it all mean? TRE can help open up the body and our nervous system, creating more freedom, ease and spaciousness in the body. That in turn helps create more freedom, softness, clarity and quietness in the mind.

That means:

  • More relaxation in the body

  • Calmer and peaceful being

  • Deeper sleep

  • Lighter body

  • Happier mood

  • More courageous actions

Easier Body creates Easier Mind.

Easier Mind creates Easier Body.

I love TRE because it is simple to learn and easy to use. You can do it in your own home, office or anywhere you want. TRE is beneficial to stressed-out parents who juggle multiple responsibilities. It is helpful to people who work in high-pressure work environment.

Want to learn more? I will be rolling out regular workshops that will help you learn more about TRE and your body so you can utilize it to access more calm, patience and relaxation in your daily lives. Sign up for my newsletter to get information and offers.

If you are curious about it now and have questions? Contact me or click the button below book a call and explore. 


With love and gratitude, ❤️

 
 
Stephanie Hoi-Nga Wongbatch2