Sadly, the media has done a good job in desensitising us to the horrors of tragedy. We are exposed to natural disasters, wars, horrific crime and man’s constant inhumanity to man. With a click of the remote we can make it all go away and switch over to something equally as tedious – like Idols, Wipeout or Survivor. We hear about a friend of a friend who was a victim of a hijacking, and suddenly we have this catatonic look in our eyes. But somewhere out there are some damaged souls and we have to wonder, “how do they ever get over this?”
For the past 22 years, David Berceli (Ph.D), from America, has provided trauma relief workshops, designing recovery programmes for international organisations around the world. He is the creator of a revolutionary and unique set of Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) that help release the deep chronic tension created in the body during a traumatic experience.
David is quoted as saying: “The human animal is designed to experience, endure and survive traumatic episodes. If we did not possess this ability then we would have become extinct shortly after we were born.”
TRE is a set of six simple exercises that help release tension in the muscles, which in turn relaxes the anxiety of our minds, by evoking a muscular shaking process in the body.
It seems obvious when you think about it. After a traumatic experience, the body instantly shakes and quivers. Your first reaction is to calm the person down. These deep neurogenic tremors are releasing chronic muscular tension. They come from the centre of gravity of the body, which is protected by the psoas muscle. And this is a good thing! When shaking is evoked at this powerful centre of the body, it reverberates throughout the entire body travelling along the spine, releasing deep chronic tension from the sacrum to the cranium. The brain registers a reduction in pain and produces new hormones of relaxation and comfort.
Hazel Bond, based in Glen Anil, has been trained by Berceli.
“TRE was introduced into South Africa in April 2010. A Cape doctor, Melanie Salmon, brought him out here and we now have more than 100 TRE practitioners in South Africa, and about 60 undergoing training.”
Hazel has taught many people how to recover from tension and trauma, whether crime related, daily stress or Parkinson’s disease. “It is exercise based, and not touch based,” she continued.
When traumatised, some people may reject physical contact and are hesitant to talk about their experiences. Berceli has worked with soldiers returning from Iraq, who, once the physical trauma has been released, they’re able to talk about it.
The joy about this process is that it transcends language and culture. It is compassionate and stimulates spiritual and mental growth, and helps us to rise above the trauma and grow beyond the experience.
Useful info: Contact Hazel Bond on 031 562 0994 or hohumhlanga@telkomsa.net, or visit www.traumaprevention.com.