Creating your practice
TRE™ can be the foundation or one element of a broader practice that might include:
- Body practices: exercise, massage and bodywork, yoga
- Mind practices: journalling, meditation
- Relationship practices: co-regulation, group activities
- Professional support: bodywork, psychotherapy, medical care when needed
There’s no single right way to combine TRE™ with other practices. The key is finding what supports your unique journey.
Questions to ask
As you explore integration with other modalities, reflect on:
- What practices already support me? Don’t abandon what works. Find ways to integrate TRE™ with your existing practices rather than replacing everything.
- What am I curious about? Let genuine curiosity guide your exploration rather than feeling you ‘should’ do certain things. Interest is a good signal.
- What does my body respond to? Pay attention to how different practices affect you. Your body’s response is the best guide.
- What is sustainable in my life? Choose practices you can maintain realistically given your time, energy, and resources. Better to do less consistently than more sporadically.
Integration principles
- Start simple — Begin with one or two practices and add gradually. Too many practices at once can feel overwhelming. TRE™ alone is enough; additions are optional.
- Listen to your body — Your body will tell you what it needs: more rest, more movement, more stillness, more support. Develop the practice of listening and responding rather than following a rigid schedule.
- Be flexible — What you need changes over time. A practice that serves you now may not be needed later, or vice versa. Stay open to evolution.
- Quality over quantity — Regular, consistent practice (even brief) is more valuable than sporadic intensive work. 15 minutes several times a week often creates more change than an hour occasionally.
- Seek support when needed — While TRE™ and many complementary practices can be self-directed, don’t hesitate to seek professional support when appropriate.
Considerations
- Healing is not linear; there will be periods of regular practice and periods of rest.
- Your practice will evolve as you do; what serves you changes over time.
- The goal is sustainable support, not perfection.
- More is not always better; regular simple practice usually serves better than complex routines.
- Leave space for integration and rest between practices.
- Notice if practice becomes another obligation rather than support.
Perspective
TRE™ is a tool. It works best as part of an integrated approach to well-being that includes body, mind, relationships, and environment. How you build that is entirely personal.