TRE^™ (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), is a body-based practice that uses a series of simple movements to invite the body’s natural neurogenic tremor response. These gentle, involuntary movements may support relaxation and help release patterns of muscular tension and stress. Founded by Dr. David Berceli, TRE is practiced in 60+ countries. TRE is not therapy — it is a self-regulation tool that many people use alongside their existing health and wellness practices.

TRE® sessions are offered virtually in a small-group Zoom room, with cameras on so Angie can provide guidance and support throughout the practice.

You’ll be guided through a series of simple movements and exercises designed to gently engage and fatigue specific muscle groups, helping invite the body’s natural tremoring response. Once the tremors begin, you’ll have time to explore the experience at your own pace while learning how to regulate, slow, or pause the process.

We’ll finish with time for rest, integration, and noticing what has shifted in your body.

TRE® can be adapted for many bodies and abilities, but it may not be appropriate for everyone at every time. Please consult your healthcare provider and contact Angie before participating if you:

• Are pregnant

• Have recently had surgery or a significant injury

• Have an unstable or serious medical condition

• Have a physical or neurological condition that could be affected by movement or involuntary tremoring, including seizure disorders

• Are experiencing acute psychiatric distress or significant difficulty staying grounded or regulated

A central skill in TRE® is self-regulation. You are always encouraged to slow down, modify, pause, or stop. TRE® should not cause pain or require you to push through physical or emotional overwhelm.

TRE® is for people navigating the very human experiences of stress, tension, overwhelm, and the effects of difficult or traumatic experiences. People often explore TRE® as a body-based way to ease muscular tension, reconnect with their bodies, and develop greater awareness of how they respond to stress, activation, rest, and relaxation.

TRE® may be especially supportive for people whose work or lives ask them to care for, protect, teach, treat, or respond to others, particularly those who experience high levels of responsibility, physical demand, or repeated exposure to stress and trauma. This includes:

• Veterans and active-duty military

• First responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and EMS professionals

• Healthcare professionals and caregivers

• Therapists, trauma professionals, and social workers

• Teachers, educators, and school professionals

• Others working in helping, caregiving, and service professions

TRE® can also offer a complementary, body-based approach for people who have spent time exploring their experiences through talk therapy yet continue to notice residual stress, tension, or patterns of holding in the body. Rather than requiring you to retell or analyze your experiences, TRE® offers another way to explore what you notice through sensation, movement, and the body’s natural tremoring response.

TRE® is not only for people who have experienced trauma. You do not need a diagnosis, a particular history, or even a specific reason to begin. Some people come to TRE® carrying significant stress or tension; others are simply curious about a body-based practice that can support relaxation, self-awareness, and a greater sense of connection with their bodies.

All are welcome.

No. TRE® does not require you to share or retell traumatic experiences. The practice is body-based, with attention placed on present-moment sensations, movement, and the body’s tremoring response rather than on revisiting your personal history.

Emotions, memories, or sensations may sometimes arise during the practice, but you are never required to explain, analyze, or share them with the group. You choose what, if anything, you would like to share.

Yes. TRE® can be practiced alongside other forms of care, including psychotherapy, breathwork, EMDR, physical therapy, massage, somatic practices, yoga therapy, and medical treatment.

Because different approaches can affect the body and nervous system in different ways, more is not always better. Give yourself time to notice how you respond, allow space for integration, and avoid layering too many intensive practices at once. If you are currently receiving medical or mental health treatment, you can talk with your healthcare provider about whether TRE® is appropriate for you, and also reach out to me to discuss.

You don’t need any special equipment to practice TRE®. Before class, choose a quiet, comfortable space where you have room to move and lie down.

You may want to have:

• A yoga mat or comfortable surface to lie on

• A blanket and pillow for comfort

• Water nearby

• Access to a wall with enough space for a supported wall sit

• Enough floor space to comfortably lie down and move your arms and legs

Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. It’s also best to avoid eating a large meal immediately before class.

Yes. One of the goals of learning TRE® is to develop the awareness and self-regulation skills needed to practice independently. Working with a Certified TRE® Provider is recommended when you are first learning, so you can become familiar with the tremoring process, recognize your body’s cues, and learn when to slow down, pause, or stop.

As you become more comfortable with the practice and your own responses, TRE® can definitely become a practice you use on your own.

A Korean pilot study examining whether TRE practice reduces anxiety — part of a growing body of international research on TRE for everyday stress and anxiety outside of trauma-specific populations.

CLICK HERE to read the article. 

This Department of Defense report examines mind-body practices that support regulation of the autonomic nervous system following stress and trauma. It highlights body-based approaches, including TRE, as potential tools for reducing physiological arousal and supporting resilience.

CLICK HERE to read this article. 

A peer-reviewed case report documenting a former soldier's use of TRE as a self-care practice for post-traumatic stress symptoms.

CLICK HERE to read the article. 

Heath explores TRE as a body-based resilience practice for first responders and volunteers exposed to occupational stress and trauma. The paper proposes TRE as a practical self-regulation tool to support stress recovery and health-related quality of life.

CLICK HERE to read the article. 

A peer-reviewed study examining the effect of TRE on trauma symptoms among East African refugees — one of the first published investigations of TRE in resettled refugee communities, a population where accessible, non-verbal, body-based approaches are especially relevant.

CLICK HERE to read this article. 

The global case study found that TRE practice was associated with reduced perceived stress, increased flourishing, and improved self-efficacy for managing chronic pain among participants.

CLICK HERE to read the study.

CLICK HERE to access the master database of research relative to TRE on the TRE Prevention website.