What happens in a shake

If you've never done TRE™ before, the idea of your body shaking on its own can sound strange. Here's what a session actually looks like, step by step.

1. Arriving

We start by settling in. I'll ask how you're feeling in your body today, and you'll notice your breath, your energy and any areas of tension. There's no right answer.

2. The warm-up exercises

We move through a series of simple exercises that gently stretch and tire the body section by section. You might feel parts of you getting a little shaky or warm. That's a good sign. I'll adapt each exercise to your body, so you don't need to be fit or flexible.

3. Lying down and letting the tremor begin

You lie on your back on a mat, and I'll guide you into a few simple positions. Somewhere along the way, a gentle trembling usually begins, often in the legs or hips.

For some people it begins right away. For others it takes a while, and that's completely fine.

4. What the shaking can feel like

Every body is different, and every session can feel different too. You might notice:

• A light flutter or vibration in the thighs
• A rhythmic bouncing through the hips or pelvis
• Tremors travelling upwards into the belly, back, shoulders or neck (mine usually start in my thighs and hips and travel up to my shoulders)
• Warmth, coolness or tingling
• Yawning, sighing, laughing, or tears
• Feeling very little at all

All of these are normal. Emotions can surface because we're working directly with the nervous system. You don't have to make sense of them. Let them move through.

5. You're in control

This is the part I want every first-timer to know: you can pause or stop the tremor whenever you like by going into the stop position, which I'll show you before we begin. I'll check in with you throughout. We're never trying to push you past what feels okay.

6. Settling

After the tremoring, we rest. You'll lie still, notice how your body feels now, and take time to ground before getting up. This integration time is as important as the shaking itself.

7. Afterwards

• Plan a gentle rest of the day and avoid high-energy activities.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Notice what shows up over the next day or two: changes in sleep, mood, tension or energy.

A few days later, I'll check in to see what you've noticed.