The Total Release Experience®
and Our Connection with Animals
What is our connection to animals?
How in touch are you with your animal instincts? The psoas muscle is a key link between humans and animals. While animals naturally activate it, humans often don’t. As Sir David Attenborough once said, “We are all animals in clothing!” There is much we can learn from the animal kingdom, particularly in how they recover from trauma. Animals instinctively allow their bodies to tremor, releasing adrenaline and cortisol in response to stressful events. We, too, have this innate ability to release tension through the psoas muscle, our fight/flight centre, but over time we’ve suppressed and forgotten this vital mechanism for recovery.
Animals Release
Understanding the fundamentals
Whether repel water or let go of tension, animals shake off spontaneously! Wild animals naturally and instinctively release adrenalin and cortisol after the chase. Then they can carry on and do what animals do.
The Psoas Muscle
Your fight/flight centre
See the muscle highlighted in the image? Now, imagine that animal standing on two legs—we are really not so different! The psoas muscle, which connects to the diaphragm and runs along the back of the body, behind the organs, down to the top of the legs, is the same in both humans and animals. It plays a crucial role as our fight/flight centre, storing the tension from stress and trauma. Just like animals, we rely on this muscle for survival, though we often overlook its importance.
Our Domestic Pets
Have You Felt Them Shiver and Shake?
We’ve had dogs for years, and like many others, I used to believe that their shaking was a sign of nervousness. Now, I understand it differently. Dogs experience distress from things like fireworks, vet visits, or travelling, but their natural tremoring is how they release adrenaline and cortisol, helping them stay calm. Tremoring is a natural and healthy response in dogs, and it’s a vital part of how they regulate stress.
We Learn from Animals
The natural somatic response to over-excitement or fear is tremoring. Studies on animal behaviour show that tremoring helps protect them from both psychological and physical harm after a frightening experience. And here’s the thing—we are all animals. We all have this built-in mechanism to tremor by activating the psoas muscle. This release is essential for restoring balance (homeostasis) to the body and mind after experiencing shock or stress. Trauma cannot be prevented, whether in animals or humans, but whatever life throws at us, the body has a natural way to release it.
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by emotions that you couldn’t control them? Perhaps your lips quivered, or your legs and hands shook involuntarily. That tremor sensation is the body’s most organic method of releasing built-up tension. Sadly, this natural response has often been misinterpreted as a sign of weakness or pathology. As a result, many of us suppress it, turning to medication, alcohol, or other means to cope instead.
Research by Feldman (2004) and van der Kolk & van der Hart (1991) supports the idea that psychogenic tremors in humans, much like instinctual tremors in animals, are the nervous system’s way of attempting to restore neuro-physiological balance in the body.
Just like animals, you can empower yourself to return to homeostasis by reconnecting with this natural process. The Total Release Experience® (TRE) Programme allows you to start healing from past stress and trauma and begin building resilience straight away.
You, too, can reconnect with your inner ‘animal’. The TRE UK® is available from London to New York, and from the USA to Australia, empowering individuals worldwide.
About The Total Release Experience®
The Total Release Experience® is a 5-Step programme that empowers you to heal the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of your past stress, overwhelm, and trauma. We learn from animals, and just like animals, you need to release tension from your Psoas muscle which lies deep in your body. It is your ‘fight/flight’ centre.
The Psoas is where you hold your emotions and fears. When you learn to release tension from this muscle, you too can enjoy a new freedom.
Are you ready to take back control of your wellbeing?
The Psoas Muscle
Meet Emily!
Emily is our dog – a lovable cockerpoo. In fairness, she belongs to my husband, Mr T. He is amazing with dogs, and we have had a few in the past. All spaniels – they are rather special. What a treasure she is. She used to belong to Mandy, a dear friend we used to stay with her as we travelled around delivering Workshops.
I always say careful what you wish for. I remember having Emily on my lap and saying, ‘I am not that into dogs, but I could take this one home!’
A few weeks later, Mandy called and said that because of the family’s work life, Emily was not getting her walks and was being left home and alone; she felt she was getting depressed. So we said that on our next visit, we would take her. When we visited, it seemed the promises and pleading of the 14-year-old son to walk the dog were enough for her to change her mind.
It never worked out, and on our visit to a Workshop in Hereford, Mandy bought Emily down to us with all her worldly goods – basket, leads, toys, food, bowls, and anything special to her. So on June 8th 2017, which happened to be Fathers Day, she joined our family. What better gift could Mr T have and Emily with her new master?
They sat together all day in a quiet place. When we packed up and left, Emily slept in the back of the car for the 5-hour drive to her new home. When we arrived, she followed Mr T into the garden. I think she must have felt she had died and gone to heaven to have such a lot of space to run around in. She is a special part of our life and goes everywhere with us. She is a great therapy dog, too, as those who met her at our Workshops would testify. She has recovered from her anxiety and is one happy doggie. Find out more about dogs’ behaviour and signs to look out for to understand their communication when things are going well or not so well.