Part 2: Elevating Your Somatic Intelligence
- Cognitive Psychology
Part 2: Elevating Your Somatic Intelligence
- Somatic Therapy
Additional Resources
More on Trauma & Shaking:
1. Watch “How the body keeps the score on trauma | Bessel van der Kolk for Big Think+” (8 minutes).
Bessel van der Kolk, author of "The Body Keeps the Score" discusses the widespread experience of trauma, which prevents people from being meaningfully involved in the present:
2. Watch Peter Levine on "How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness" (7 minutes).
This is a shorter video where Peter Levine, author of "Waking the Tiger," introduces how he discovered shaking as a form of trauma release.
3. Watch “How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness - Peter Levine | The Embodiment Conference” (55 minutes).
This is a longer video, with video examples of animals trembling. Peter Levine also introduces the concept of wabi sabi (better after being broken), and shares more on the vagus nerve. He also discusses ways to activate the vagus nerve, such as making a vuu sound, relaxing the jaw by yawning etc.
Here are 2 options, both are 5 minute guided practices of shaking:
1. “Somatic Shaking: Shake off the Stress | Emotional and Physical Healing“
2. “Somatic Full BODY SHAKING Get Rid of Negative Emotions, Negative Thoughts | 5 Minute Daily Routine”
More on TRE:
"If trauma can occur to every human being then a healing process must be available to everyone too." (Dr David Berceli)
1. Releasing Trauma (with David Berceli (1 hour 26 minutes)
In this podcast interview, Dr David Berceli shares that he developed TRE as a self-help technique which you can easily do on your own, if your traumas aren't too severe.
The opening offers an introduction to Dr David Berceli. If you just want to get to the meat of the discussion, skip to 22 minutes in. Key points covered:
- Discussion on what trauma is and coping mechanisms
Brief discussion on polyvagal theory (we will cover this in greater detail in the next module)
- The importance of using various modalities to integrate , starting with what you feel most comfortable in.
- The importance of starting from a place of safety and pleasure, before leaning into discomfort
- Tremor mechanism/shaking as a normal and natural human response, which adults have shut off.
- The key is to experience ease and flow (he quotes from Rupert Sheldrake): the interplay of matter and energy
- Advice on doing TRE on your own
Further Reading:
This webpage provides a thorough and concise explanation of TRE:
https://severnclinics.co.nz/tre-trauma-release-exercises/
Watch the following videos to see what TRE looks like. The videos also provide instructional guidance to practice TRE on your own. It is recommended to watch the videos once before following along.
1. TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises): Full Instructions with Dr. David Berceli (OFFICIAL) (7 minutes)
There are 7 primary movements and this video, from the official channel from TRE, provides an introduction to all 7 exercises.
2. TRE Full Practice Trauma and Tension Release Exercise (24 minutes)
The explanations and instructional guidance about the 7 primary movements are clear and easy to follow.
3. Self-applied interventions for the TRE Experience (16 minutes)
This video by Dr David Berceli provides more detailed guidance for doing TRE on your own.
Root Chakra
Here is a Playlist of Root Chakra Meditations from Insight Timer:
https://insighttimer.com/meditation-playlists/JJmJFJ8ofPDsmWPstgw0
Congratulations! You have completed Module 6.
