Trauma Release Yoga

Trauma Release Yoga - or Neurogenic Yoga™ - is a revolutionary technique in trauma healing and stress reduction.

Whether you are a parent/spouse who would like more patience with your family, a survivor of violence or an accident, someone suffering with PTSD, or simply someone who wants to become more resilient and healthier, you can benefit from Trauma Release Yoga.

Request a private class

Book an online group class

Every time we have a stress response, our body experiences muscle contraction. This contraction begins with the psoas, the only pair of muscles connecting the spine directly to the legs. It is the “first responder” muscle preparing the body for action in the fight/flight/freeze response.

In addition, when the nervous system identifies a stressor or threat, a vibration or shaking is designed to occur automatically. If you have experienced shaking when speaking in front of an audience, been in a car accident, or when angry; then you have experienced this type of vibration or tremor. All mammals have this natural shaking mechanism but humans learn, at an early age, that it is not socially acceptable and we've conditioned ourselves to suppress it. This instinctual shaking response is one of the body’s ways of releasing muscle tension, long-held contraction patterns and trauma; calming the nervous system. Since this shaking mechanism in the muscles is part of our natural behavior as humans, everyone can benefit.

These tremors encourage the body to unwind, release old contraction patterns and return to a state of balance. This increases resiliency of the body by bringing deep relaxation that naturally reduces stress levels and muscle contraction. These vibrations can also release emotions ranging from mild upset to severe anxiety whether it is caused by work stress, excessive worry, conflict in relationships, physical stresses, or traumas from past events or accidents.

Request a private class

Book an online group class

By fatiguing the leg muscles and lengthening the psoas muscles with yoga poses, the shaking mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, encouraging the body to unwind, release old contraction patterns and return to a state of balance. From there, the nervous system takes over and the tremoring continues without effort. Often the shaking or vibration starts in the legs but can travel anywhere in the body. It is a simple, gentle and profound practice that facilitates the release of physical and emotional stress and tension.

In Trauma Release Yoga, one does not need to know “the story” that caused the contraction in the first place and the participant is in control and can stop the shaking at any time. This is a process of gently peeling away the layers of tension as the system is ready to release so that each session can be easily and comfortably integrated.

This method is based on Dr David Berceli’s Trauma Releasing Exercises™ (TRE™).