Trauma Release Exercises You Can Do From Home

 

Whether or not you’re already seeing a therapist, there are certain trauma release exercises you can do from the comfort of your home. It can be a great addition to your therapy, or you can use it whenever you want to release tension or unwind from a stressful day.

Although we’re all mostly used to busy, dynamic lifestyles, our bodies need time to relax and release all the tension they have accumulated throughout time. Giving yourself some time to do so can help you become more present in your life, understand better what you care about, and how to ensure you protect yourself from stressful situations.

 

What are Trauma Release Exercises?

Trauma-release movements aim to relieve deep muscle patterns of chronic stress, muscle tension, and trauma-related physical discomfort. These exercises can be quite beneficial in helping to release any stored stress and trauma, as they activate the body’s natural tremoring mechanism. Trauma-release exercises can be a wonderful way for your body to let go of tension that has been held for a long time, helping you to find a sense of balance again. 

Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, or witnessed discomfort while alone and without support can consider trauma-release exercises. It benefits those who have tightness, discomfort, or inflammation in their bodies. Trauma-release exercises can benefit those with family, housing, financial, or health issues. Such exercises can help anyone whose health and well-being are being jeopardized by stress, overload, worry, or pain.

 

Examples of Trauma Release Exercises

There are several different types of TREs that can help people let go of unresolved trauma. As you experiment with them, you may discover that some have a greater influence on you than others. You may consult a mental health practitioner to decide which trauma release exercises would benefit you best if you’re uncertain or you feel like they can maybe trigger you into reliving your trauma again. 

 

Stretching 

Stretching is one of the most popular TREs since it helps release tense muscles. The modified TRE, or standing forward fold with shaking, promotes relaxation and helps the release of tension held in the muscles. Keep in mind to pay attention to your body and modify the level of intensity as necessary.

The way to do it is to stand with your feet hip-width apart while also relaxing your knees. When you feel comfortable, start slowly bending forward at the hips and feel your upper body becoming more relaxed as you go. After you’ve done a few movements, start gently shaking your body. You can do a sway from one side to another or from the lower part of your body to your head. 

Yet if you can, while you’re gently shaking your body, don’t force or jerk any movements and allow your body to release tension. During shaking, think of an animal after a bath, and focus on taking slow, deep breaths, as it also helps release tension or stress stored in the body. 

Once you feel like you’re done, slowly stop with the shaking. Bring attention to the rest of your body and notice how your body feels after this exercise. You may feel warmer, sillier, or back to a primal state like a dog. 

 

The Spiral Technique

This is one of the trauma-release exercises you can do on your own or with your therapist. It requires you to close your eyes, see your body, and recall the unpleasant experience or trauma. During this process, monitor your body’s response, particularly your heartbeat and stomach.

Think of that part of your body as a spiral, and observe how quickly or slowly it turns. Push the spiral in the other direction with your thoughts. This may be a difficult task if you’re practicing it for the first time, yet it will become more natural with time. 

As you do the spiral technique, be mindful of your breathing. When you’re ready, return your focus to your surroundings and pay attention to your physical sensations. Keep your eyes open, pay attention to your breathing, and hold onto any safety or calm you have experienced during the exercise.

 

Wall Sitting Stretch for Upper Legs

If you are noticing some tension in your upper legs, it could be helpful to explore this technique. Lie flat on your back. Bend your knees, making sure your feet are right underneath you, and bring them together. Bring your heels as close as you can to your body and spread your knees. During this exercise, it’s important to keep your foot soles together. 

Once you feel ready, raise your hips off the ground and keep them in the air for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on what feels comfortable to you. Then, lower the hips to the ground and press the body against your heels. Use this time to recover and breathe. When you feel ready to repeat this exercise, bring your knees a bit closer and lift your hips. Repeat this as many times as necessary, until the knees are joined together. 

You don’t have to do the entire exercise at once; you can take as many pauses as you need or slowly extend the exercise by one movement each time you perform it. 

 

Benefits of Trauma Release Exercises 

The majority of people report both physical and mental benefits from trauma-release exercises, which can assist with PTSD, anxiety, and other chronic problems. Additionally, even those with physical restrictions or impairments can safely do TRE stretches at home. To prevent hurting oneself or making preexisting issues worse, make sure you modify stretches to suit your requirements. Each body is different, so it’s best to listen to it for instructions instead of forcing something that might not work for you. 

Trauma work means taking care of your bodily, mental, and emotional needs. To help with your healing process, take good care of yourself before, during, and after trauma release activities. Keep yourself active, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep to meet your other fundamental needs.

 

Conclusion

Trauma-release exercises are a recommended method for removing stress from your body at home. However, don’t hurry it and start slow! When exercising, pay attention to how your body feels instead of pushing yourself to the point of great discomfort. 

Keep in mind to breathe deeply and to let your body move freely. If you have trouble practicing independently or have mobility limitations, think about locating a certified TRE practitioner or talk to your therapist about it. 

 

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