Why Yin Yoga and TRE® Work So Well Together

Most people arrive at a TRE® session already tense. They've come from work, from the commute, from their phone, from their head. Asking the body to start shaking straight away isn't always the kindest place to begin.

That's why, in my Nervous System Reset workshops, we start with Yin Yoga.

What Yin Yoga is

Yin is a slow, quiet style of yoga. Poses are held for several minutes, usually on the floor, with the muscles as relaxed as possible. There's nothing to achieve and nothing to push through.

You settle into a shape, you breathe, and you notice what comes up. Tightness. Restlessness. Sometimes relief. Yin is as much about stillness, patience and breath awareness as it is about stretching.

What TRE® is

TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) was developed by Dr David Berceli. It's a short series of simple exercises that tire the muscles of the legs and hips. This can bring on a gentle, involuntary shaking in the body, known as a neurogenic tremor.

The tremor is self-limiting, and you stay in charge of how much you do. You can slow down, pause or stop whenever you need to.

Why I put them together

Yin teaches you to stay with sensation. Holding a pose for a few minutes means noticing discomfort without immediately reacting to it. That's a useful skill to bring into TRE®, where you're also learning to notice what your body is doing instead of trying to control it.

Yin helps you arrive. In my experience, people come into the TRE® part of the session more settled after the Yin sequence. The mind has slowed down a little, and the body is easier to listen to.

Both are about allowing, not forcing. Neither practice asks you to work harder or get it right. You create the conditions, and you see what your body does.

What to expect in the room

The workshop is two hours. We start with a grounding Yin sequence, then move into guided TRE®, and finish with time to rest and settle.

You don't need any yoga experience. You don't need to be flexible. You don't need to believe in anything. Wear something comfortable and come as you are.

A complement, not a replacement

TRE® isn't a substitute for medical care or talking therapy. The research is still young — early studies, such as a 2014 pilot with non-professional caregivers, are small and promising rather than conclusive. It's best thought of as one tool alongside other forms of support.

If you have a medical condition, or a history of trauma you're unsure about, it's a good idea to speak to a health professional before trying TRE®.

I'm running Nervous System Reset with Yin & TRE® at MoreYoga on Saturday 31 October (Clerkenwell) and Saturday 21 November (Canary Wharf). I also integrate TRE® into my one-to-one sessions and retreats. Find out more at whoislikemike.com.

Sources

• Berceli, D., Salmon, M., Bonifas, R., & Ndefo, N. (2014). Effects of self-induced unclassified therapeutic tremors on quality of life among non-professional caregivers: a pilot study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(5), 45–48.

• TRE research overview: treglobal.org/research