Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE®) is a body-based practice designed to gently release stored tension, stress, and the physical imprint of trauma held within the body. Through a series of simple, controlled exercises, TRE® activates the body’s natural tremor response—a subtle shaking mechanism that releases deeply held tension from muscles, the nervous system, and connective tissues. This process fosters relaxation, emotional balance, and physical well-being, supporting a reconnection with your body and helping regulate your nervous system in a safe and nurturing way.
TRE® draws upon an innate biological response shared across many animal species. After experiencing a threat or intense stress, animals instinctively find a safe place to retreat. Once the danger has passed, they engage in shaking or trembling—sometimes subtle, sometimes more pronounced—as a natural release of the physical tension and energy accumulated during the event. For example, a deer that has escaped a predator often trembles as it settles into safety before moving forward calmly. This tremor response allows the animal’s nervous system to reset, clearing residual fear and stress without needing to consciously process or relive the traumatic event.
Similarly, TRE® invites you to access this natural release process within your own body. By gently triggering the tremor response, TRE® helps your body let go of the emotional and physical residue of stress, supporting nervous system regulation and promoting healing without requiring verbal processing or revisiting difficult memories. It creates space for your body to shift from tension or dysregulation back into calm and balance.
This practice offers a compassionate, body-based way to support overall well-being. It encourages a deeper connection to your body’s wisdom and resilience, promoting inner peace, groundedness, and emotional recovery. TRE® is a gentle yet powerful tool for holistic healing—honoring the body’s natural capacity to heal itself in partnership with clinical and therapeutic approaches when needed.
At Sol Therapy Singapore, we intentionally integrate TRE® as a complementary tool to support our clinical clients. We invite TRE® as a self-empowering practice clients can use beyond therapy sessions to promote ongoing wellness, self-regulation, and resilience. By encouraging individuals to engage with their bodies in this natural, healing way, we foster greater self-agency—helping clients feel more connected, grounded, and equipped to navigate life’s challenges with increased ease and confidence.
How TRE® Works
TRE® guides the body into its natural, involuntary tremor response, where muscles begin to shake and release accumulated stress and tension. This tremoring mimics how animals instinctively shake off stress after a traumatic or stressful event. The exercises activate muscles in a controlled manner, allowing the body to release built-up tension safely and gradually.
Once the tremors begin, they work through the muscles and nervous system to help reset the body’s natural equilibrium. As the body shakes, stored tension is released, offering physical and emotional benefits such as calming the nervous system, relieving pain, improving flexibility, and supporting overall well-being.
TRE® does not require verbal processing or revisiting difficult emotions. The focus remains on the body’s innate ability to release tension through the tremoring response, facilitating healing without intellectual or verbal engagement. It’s a holistic practice that honors the body’s essential role in trauma recovery and emotional regulation.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy supports those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) by enhancing the body’s natural self-regulation. It addresses imbalances, releasing tension and restoring balance, while also reducing stress through deep relaxation to alleviate strain. BCST aims to improve energy utilization over time and facilitate the body’s innate healing processes. Additionally, it enhances the body-mind connection, aiding in symptom reduction for individuals dealing with CFS.
Chronic pain is often connected to persistent muscle tightness and nervous system dysregulation. TRE® supports the body’s natural ability to release this accumulated physical tension by gently encouraging tremors, which can help ease pain and enhance mobility. Through this process, TRE® promotes a greater sense of physical ease and overall well-being.
Stress and anxiety often show up in the body as tension held in various muscle groups. TRE® supports the release of this tension by activating the body’s natural tremor response, which helps discharge both emotional and physical stress. This process promotes a sense of calm and aids emotional regulation. By reducing physical tension and easing nervous system dysregulation, TRE® supports greater emotional balance and resilience.
Chronic stress often impacts the digestive system, leading to discomfort, irregularity, and disrupted function. TRE® can support relaxation of the muscles surrounding the digestive organs, helping to ease tension and improve digestive flow. By encouraging the body’s natural release of stored stress, TRE® promotes a greater sense of physical ease and can contribute to better overall digestive health.
Fibromyalgia is a complex condition characterized by widespread chronic muscle pain, fatigue, and heightened sensitivity to physical and emotional stress. Stress can often intensify symptoms by contributing to muscle tension and nervous system dysregulation. TRE® supports individuals with fibromyalgia by gently encouraging the body to release deeply held tension through its natural tremor response. This process can help reduce muscle tightness, ease discomfort, and promote relaxation. While TRE® is not a cure, it can be a valuable complementary practice to help manage symptoms, enhance physical comfort, and support overall well-being as part of a broader, individualized approach to care.
Grief often results in both emotional and physical exhaustion, leaving the body tense and fatigued. TRE® can help release the tension that builds up during times of grief, supporting emotional recovery and restoring energy.
Physical symptoms of stress, such as muscle tightness, stiffness, and inflammation, often build up and persist when the body holds onto tension. TRE® activates the body’s natural tremor response, gently encouraging these muscles to release stored tension. This process can help alleviate discomfort and reduce inflammation, allowing the body to experience relief and improved flexibility. Over time, as the body learns to let go of accumulated stress, movement becomes easier and the overall sense of physical ease and comfort is enhanced. By supporting the body’s innate ability to regulate itself, TRE® offers a gentle, empowering approach to managing the physical effects of stress.
For individuals living with PTSD, the body can retain physical tension related to traumatic experiences. TRE® may help support the release of some of this stored tension through gentle tremors, providing a safe way to promote emotional and physical balance without requiring direct revisiting of the trauma. However, it is important to recognize that TRE® is a complementary practice and not a substitute for clinical treatment tailored to trauma recovery.
Stress and tension often create barriers to restful sleep by keeping the nervous system in a heightened state of alertness and the body physically tense. TRE® supports the calming of the nervous system by activating gentle tremors that release built-up muscle tension and nervous energy. This natural release encourages the body to shift into a more relaxed and regulated state, making it easier to both fall asleep and maintain deeper, uninterrupted sleep throughout the night. Over time, regular practice of TRE® can contribute to improved sleep quality, helping you wake feeling more refreshed and better able to manage daily stress.
TRE® activates an innate body reflex found in all mammals. It is safe for most individuals, but it’s important to consult your healthcare provider if you have specific medical conditions or concerns. A certified TRE® provider will tailor the practice to your individual needs.
Some people feel immediate relief after their first session, while others may need to practice regularly to experience deeper benefits. TRE® is most effective when practiced consistently over time.
No, TRE® focuses on body-based release, with no need for verbal dialogue during sessions. The focus is on activating the natural tremor response to release physical and emotional tension.
Yes, once trained by a certified provider, you can practice TRE® safely at home. It is a simple, self-directed practice that can be easily incorporated into your routine.
TRE® complements other therapeutic approaches—including talk therapy, somatic integration therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, and various other interventions—by working directly with the body’s natural healing processes. While many therapies focus on exploring deeper, often complex emotional and cognitive experiences, TRE® provides a gentle, body-based method to support the release of physical tension and nervous system dysregulation. It serves as a valuable adjunct to these interventions, helping clients cultivate greater self-regulation and physical ease alongside emotional and psychological healing. Together, TRE® and clinical therapies offer a more integrated path toward holistic wellness.
TRE® is designed to support the gentle release of physical and emotional tension held in the body following trauma, without the need to verbally process those experiences. While TRE® can be a helpful complementary practice to promote bodily relaxation and nervous system regulation, it is not a standalone treatment for trauma. Complex trauma and trauma processing often require clinical interventions and therapeutic approaches tailored to the individual’s goals and needs.
Benefits can include increased relaxation, reduced pain, fatigue, and inflammation, improved sleep, and a greater sense of emotional balance. With regular practice, many people feel more grounded and resilient.
For beginners, it is common to feel relaxed or a little fatigued after a session, especially for those who have been physically inactive. This happens because TRE® initially activates muscles through fatigue before inducing neurogenic tremors. Fatigue is a sign your body is releasing built-up tension. Drink plenty of water and allow yourself time to rest afterward.
Yes, TRE® can be a helpful tool for managing anxiety by addressing the physical symptoms that often accompany it. Anxiety frequently manifests as muscle tension, nervous system hyperarousal, and elevated stress hormones like cortisol. TRE® activates the body’s natural tremor response, which gently releases this built-up tension and helps calm the nervous system. This physiological release supports a reduction in stress hormone levels and encourages a state of relaxation. While TRE® is not a standalone treatment for anxiety, it can complement other therapeutic approaches by promoting bodily regulation, emotional balance, and a greater sense of calm and resilience.
During a TRE® session, you will be gently guided through a series of simple, controlled exercises that are specifically designed to activate your body’s natural tremor response. As you move through these exercises, you may begin to notice subtle shaking or trembling—this is your body’s instinctive way of releasing deep-seated tension and stress. These tremors are entirely natural and are a sign that your nervous system is beginning to relax and reset.
It’s important to know that this shaking is completely voluntary and within your control; you can pause or stop the tremors at any moment if you feel the need. Your provider will be present with you throughout the session to offer gentle guidance, reassurance, and support, ensuring that you feel safe, comfortable, and grounded at all times. The pace and intensity of the session will be tailored to your needs, allowing you to explore this process in a way that feels manageable and empowering. Ultimately, the goal is to create a nurturing space where your body can naturally unwind, supporting your overall sense of calm, balance, and well-being.
For more information on Tension and Trauma Release Exercise in Singapore, please WhatsApp us at (65) 89422211 or email us at beinghuman@soltherapy.sg
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