Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), developed by Dr. David Berceli, offer an effective method for managing the physical and psychological effects of trauma and stress. By inducing neurogenic tremors—natural, involuntary shaking triggered by the body’s response to stress—TRE helps release long-held tension and restore balance. In the context of the Excellence Nexus Framework, which emphasizes achieving peak performance across six domains—Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Prosperity, and Impact Peaks—TRE can serve as a powerful tool for optimizing well-being and performance by addressing the root causes of stress and trauma.
Application in Excellence Nexus
The Excellence Nexus framework promotes peak performance by focusing on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, as well as prosperity and impact. TRE aligns with this framework by offering tangible benefits in each domain, helping individuals achieve and maintain their highest potential.
- Physical Peak: TRE is designed to release the physical effects of trauma, which often manifest in chronic tension, pain, and fatigue. By activating neurogenic tremors, TRE helps the body discharge these tensions, allowing for faster recovery and increased physical energy. Research by Berceli et al. (2014) demonstrated that individuals who practiced TRE experienced significant improvements in their physical well-being, including relief from muscle tension and stress-related physical symptoms.
- Mental Peak: Trauma and chronic stress can severely affect cognitive function, leading to issues such as reduced focus, memory problems, and difficulty processing information. TRE’s ability to reset the nervous system helps clear mental clutter, improving clarity, focus, and cognitive performance. As Parker (2024) found in a study of East African refugees, individuals who engaged in TRE reported better cognitive functioning, including improved concentration and reduced cognitive load.
- Emotional Peak: Emotional resilience and stability are critical for achieving peak performance in any domain. TRE directly supports emotional well-being by helping the body release stored emotional tension, which often manifests as anxiety, depression, or emotional volatility. The tremoring process in TRE allows individuals to let go of these emotions, promoting emotional balance and resilience. As demonstrated by Berceli et al. (2014), TRE’s stress-reducing effects improved emotional stability among non-professional caregivers, a population often subjected to chronic emotional stress.
- Spiritual Peak: Spiritual well-being requires a deep connection between body, mind, and spirit. TRE fosters this connection by facilitating the physical release of trauma, allowing individuals to become more grounded and spiritually aligned. As discussed in The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (Ray, 2015), body-based therapies like TRE are essential for integrating trauma recovery with spiritual healing, helping individuals achieve a more profound sense of peace and harmony.
- Prosperity Peak: Achieving prosperity in life—whether in terms of career success, personal growth, or financial stability—requires clear thinking, emotional stability, and physical vitality. By addressing these foundational elements through TRE, individuals are better equipped to perform at their best, make sound decisions, and pursue opportunities with confidence and resilience. TRE’s capacity to reduce the emotional and physical burdens of stress enhances one’s ability to navigate life’s challenges, contributing to greater success and fulfillment.
- Impact Peak: The ability to make a lasting impact on others and the world depends on an individual’s overall health and resilience. TRE’s holistic approach to stress reduction ensures that individuals can perform at their highest level, emotionally and physically, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and careers. As Berceli et al. (2014) show, even non-professional caregivers—often under high stress—experienced enhanced well-being and performance through TRE, illustrating its potential to increase an individual’s capacity to influence others positively.
Benefits within Excellence Nexus
TRE contributes to peak performance in each of the six domains of the Excellence Nexus framework:
- Physical Peak: Enhanced recovery, reduced muscle tension, and increased physical vitality.
- Mental Peak: Improved clarity, focus, and cognitive functioning.
- Emotional Peak: Increased emotional resilience and stability.
- Spiritual Peak: A deeper connection to the self, promoting spiritual alignment and peace.
- Prosperity Peak: The ability to pursue personal and professional goals with clarity and confidence.
- Impact Peak: Increased capacity to contribute meaningfully to others and create lasting change.
How to Integrate TRE into the Excellence Nexus
To maximize the benefits of TRE within the Excellence Nexus framework, individuals should approach the practice with intentionality and consistency. The following steps outline how to integrate TRE into a routine to support peak performance:
- Physical Peak: Incorporate TRE into recovery routines after physically demanding activities, such as exercise or work. Regular practice will help release muscle tension and improve physical energy, supporting enhanced physical performance over time.
- Mental Peak: Use TRE after periods of intense mental focus, such as work projects or studying, to help reset the nervous system and improve cognitive clarity. By clearing the mental fog associated with stress, TRE supports sustained intellectual growth and mental sharpness.
- Emotional Peak: Practice TRE following emotionally stressful experiences or challenging conversations. This practice will promote emotional release, reducing the risk of emotional burnout and ensuring emotional resilience in both personal and professional life.
- Spiritual Peak: Integrate TRE with mindfulness or meditation practices to create a holistic approach to trauma recovery that engages both body and spirit. This combination promotes spiritual growth and a deeper connection with the self, supporting overall well-being.
- Prosperity Peak: By regularly practicing TRE, individuals can maintain the physical and emotional vitality necessary to pursue personal and professional goals. TRE helps to clear obstacles related to stress and trauma, making it easier to stay focused and motivated in pursuit of prosperity.
- Impact Peak: For those in leadership or caregiving roles, TRE can help manage the stress associated with high-impact responsibilities, ensuring that individuals can contribute to others from a place of emotional and physical balance.
Conclusion
Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) provide a unique and scientifically supported approach to achieving peak performance across all six domains of the Excellence Nexus framework. By facilitating the release of stored tension and trauma, TRE enhances physical vitality, mental clarity, emotional resilience, spiritual harmony, prosperity, and the capacity for positive impact. With regular practice, TRE offers individuals a powerful tool for achieving excellence in all areas of life, supporting a balanced and optimized state of well-being.
References
Berceli, D. (2005). The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process: Transcend Your Toughest Times. Namaste Publishing.
Berceli, D. (2013). Shake It Off Naturally: Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Tension with TRE. Trauma Recovery Services.
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. https://doi.org
Parker, J. (2024). The effect of tension and trauma releasing exercises (TRE) on trauma symptoms in East African refugees. Psychology, 15(01), 77-91. https://doi.org
Ray, A. (2015). The body keeps the score: brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. The Permanente Journal, 19(3). https://doi.org
(2016). Preliminary results of several small sample studies in the Ukraine, during TRE trainings on different levels. Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy, (6). https://doi.org
