MAY 2019 OPRAH MAG ISSUE
Martha Beck, Oprah & the Healing Power of TRE®
In one of her wise and compassionate columns, Martha Beck, beloved author and Oprah’s go-to life coach, shared a powerful truth with a client navigating the effects of trauma:
To prevent the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, it’s essential to let the body shake.
She explained that shaking and trembling are natural biological responses, not just in humans, but in animals too. After a frightening event, animals instinctively release stress through movement, through trembling, twitching, shaking it off. This brings their systems back in balance.
Humans, on the other hand, often get stuck in the freeze response. We tighten. We shut down. We resist feeling. We try to stay “in control.” Martha calls this pattern armoring—the unconscious way we block ourselves from healing.
But healing wants to happen. The body knows how to. So how can we get out of its way and let that happen?
Beck encouraged her client to explore Trauma & Tension Releasing Exercises (TRE®) either by working with a practitioner, joining a group, or gently trying the practice at home.
She closed the exchange with a simple, joyful reminder:
"Shake, shake, shake. It’s the key to the kingdom, as you will see."
This natural ability to release stress through shaking, trembling, and vibration is a powerful tool we all possess. It can help us recover from trauma, move through stress, and keep our body’s energy pathways open and flowing.
