In early 2010, in a high school in the Phoenix Arizona  suburbs, a teacher trained in Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) taught her Anatomy Class the 7 easy exercises to promote stress and trauma release.   Following are letters from the teacher and then from the students themselves ( ages 14 – 18)  about their experiences.

I started this class not knowing too much about TRE but being very open to the opportunities of growth it could bring.  I am a high school science
teacher and once I attended class with Dr Berceli I realized that I could
easily incorporate this into my anatomy/physiology curriculum as a “nervous system decompression” exercise for my students.

Not only were the TRE excercises extrememly sucessful and popular among my students (I had students who didn’t even have me asking if they could come in and learn them after school) but they had a surprising side effect for my kids that was HUGE – it helped them sleep.  Teenagers have notoriously horrible sleeping patterns, staying up very late and wanting to sleep through the majority of the day.  The problem with this is that they have school at 7am so they stay up late (Because they have trouble falling asleep – part of the development at this age) but have to get up early and expectedly are tired, comatose and basically not incredibly receptive to learning.  When my kids started doing TRE in the evening, they reported falling to asleep immediately and sleeping  soundly throughout the night (even when their phones were going off from
text messages from their friends – seriously a miracle that they would sleep through that considering the importance of their social connections).

My student athletes started taking this a step further and began doing the
exercises before practice in order to “get in the zone” and so hooked were
they that I had the school trainers come and learn how to do them so they
would know what the heck their athletes were doing.
Thank you Dr. Berceli for not only developing these exercises but having
the passion and tenacity to educate so many people, it is a domino effect
that I have no doubt will touch many lives in this world.
Lots of smiles,
JV

“David Berceli’s PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) exercise has changed my life in a tremendous way.  The third time of doing these exercises my body tremors began to intensify and I felt awkward.  I have trouble sleeping at nite, but when I did the exercises sleep came easy to me.  David Berceli’s PTS relief exercises are like the sleeping pill I never had!”  W.N. Age 18

“…I was feeling uneasy about my volleyball practice the following day.  I was nervous as well. …Afterwards I felt like jello.  My muscles were relaxed and I did not want to sit up at all.  I was completely centered. I fell asleep within minutes, which I can never do.  I usually stay up for a long time staring at the ceiling.  I woke up like I had slept for over ten hours, but it was only 5.  I definitely felt relaxed and ready for the day.  I really liked it.  It was very calming.  I would definitely do it again.”  S.S.

“During class, Mrs. V showed us these wonderful exercise methods that created some of the muscles in the body to fatigue.  The fatigue would soon give off tremors through-out the body.  Although many people in my class did have the tremors occur, I sadly did not.  I thought I should have many tremors throughout from all the injuries that occur from cheer, yet failed to have any.  Mrs. V suggested that I had to fatigue the muscles more to let the tremors show.  So after practice the other day, I decided that I fatigued the muscles enough to show tremors.  This theory actually worked.  I got great results and had tremors throughout my legs.  It also left me in a calm and tired state before going to bed which was a very good thing.  I automatically went to sleep once my head touched the pillow.  The next morning, I woke up to a new and fresh me.  I felt new and refreshed from all the injuries that had occurred in the past.  I will now and forever pass on these wonderful methods to those who have ever had injuries and other related pain to their body”.  A. M.

“Because of a disease in my leg, I’ve always had to compensate for weak bones when I walked.  I never realized just how much pain I was in.  When I did these exercises, the pain was suddenly gone.  With relaxed muscles, walking is a lot less painful, and if I sleep with them relaxed then walking is much easier.  Though the tremors freaked me out at first, I’m really grateful that I’ve learned these exercises.”  A.F. Age 16

“…it helps reduce stress after a game and (I) sleep better.  I’ve even taken the time to show my dad who has back problems and he’s said that (the exercises) helps him sleep much more peacefully. …This is a great exercise and my family will continue to use it!  I’m so glad I’ve had an opportunity to learn the exercises!  Thank you!”  B.F. Age 17

“I usually feel really stressed from things like work and school, as well as stress from basketball.  I also usually have a hard time sleeping, and often toss and turn, waking up many times throughout the night.
After finishing (the exercises) I went straight to bed.  I felt like my body was tired and I fell asleep pretty quickly.  I only woke up once throughout the night, but I felt as if I slept a longer, deeper sleep than usual.”  S.A. Age 17

“…I started to shake, it was so cool, and I was so excited it finally worked!  It was definitely really cool to feel shaking going through my legs when I didn’t even try to shake.  To be honest, once I got the shakes the exercise is now addictive to me!  I think if some don’t get the shakes at first they just need to relax and not focus on the vibration, but focus on breathing and relaxing.  All in all this exercise is calming, fun, and very interesting and I thank Mrs. V. for taking the time to teach us, and advise everyone to try it!”  E. F. Age 18

“I did this exercise before bed.  I was feeling very tired and tense.  Normally it takes me up to an hour and a half to fall asleep and I don’t stay asleep through out the night.  I slept still through the night, which never happens.  I woke up less sore and feeling fresh”.  Y.A. Age 18

“…I slept wonderful that night.  The exercise put me in a great mood.  I had a positive mindset all day.  The second time was mostly same results, but I felt shaky all throughout the day.  Overall after the tremor exercise I felt awesome.”  A.S. Age 18

I performed these exercises and the tremors.  I felt (they) made me feel relaxed.  When I ever feel stressed I will definitely do this”.  J. Age 17