Alex Greene speaks with Bonnie Pariser, a TRE provider and yoga therapist who runs Yoga Loca studio in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Bonnie shares how she transformed her yoga therapy practice by integrating TRE (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) with traditional yoga approaches. Her unique journey from fashion design to embodiment work led her to discover that tremoring can dramatically improve outcomes for clients with chronic tension, anxiety, and trauma.

Bonnie explains how tremoring prepares the nervous system for yoga practices, especially for clients who are too activated to benefit from conventional stretching or meditation. She uses the Ayurvedic dosha framework to understand different nervous system states: vata (anxiety/bracing), pitta (hypervigilance), and kapha (shutdown). This approach works with the body's natural healing mechanisms rather than against them.

The conversation covers practical applications including emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and spiritual practice preparation. Bonnie shares examples from her classes and one-on-one sessions, showing how clients move from seeking physical relief to developing life management skills. Her integration of ancient wisdom with modern trauma approaches demonstrates how nervous system regulation can transform both therapy outcomes and daily life.

Listen to the full episode to discover how this powerful combination of TRE and yoga can transform your approach to nervous system regulation and embodiment practices.

Key Highlights:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:49 Fashion to Embodiment
• 4:19 TRE Training Discovery
• 6:06 Yoga Sutras Connection
• 7:06 Kumbhaka Breathless State
• 12:09 Integration with Classes
• 17:05 Emotional Regulation Practice
• 18:44 Conflict Resolution Applications
• 26:51 Ayurvedic Dosha Perspective
• 27:20 Vata Derangement Treatment
• 30:53 One-on-One Applications
• 35:52 Personal Practice Evolution
• 37:17 Tandava Dance Connection
• 41:08 Kriya Spontaneous Movements
• 50:58 Myofascial Release Integration
• 52:50 Future Learning Directions

Links and Resources:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaLokaNJ/
• Websites: https://www.yoga-loka.com/ http://www.yoga-therapy-can-help.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoga_loka/
• David Berceli - TRE founder and trainer: https://treglobal.org/about-dr-david-berceli/
• Mukunda Stiles - Structural Yoga Therapy: http://www.innerquestyoga.com/aboutmukunda.html
• Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: https://iep.utm.edu/yoga/
• Swami Muktananda - Kriya yoga teacher: https://www.siddhayoga.org/baba-muktananda/
• John F. Barnes Myofascial Release: https://www.myofascialrelease.com/
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: https://kripalu.org/
• Ayurvedic dosha system (Vata, Pitta, Kapha):https://www.forestessentialsindia.com/blog/doshas-in-ayurveda-vata-pitta-and-kapha.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqHaN6UsWffV_qa9BSsmCI48Nk8fN9i3JTsydWxGncwSx9kh1dr

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Join Alex as he sits down with longtime colleague Anders Totten, a structural integration bodywork therapist specializing in Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains approach. Anders shares his journey from massage school in Madison, Wisconsin to becoming a deep student of fascial work and structural integration. This conversation explores the fascinating world of fascia, from Ida Rolf's pioneering work in the 1940s-50s to cutting-edge research being presented at the upcoming Fascia Congress in New Orleans.

The discussion covers the collaborative nature of structural integration work, the profound experiences Anders had in cadaver labs touching actual anatomy trains, and the emerging connections between fascial work and emotional regulation through the nervous system. Anders reflects on his training with Polish bodywork wizard Jarek Kakowski and shares mystical experiences from working with cadavers, including the profound sensations of holding different organs.

Throughout the conversation, both practitioners emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in somatic work, moving beyond tribal thinking to embrace the convergence of fascial research, polyvagal theory, and embodied trauma healing approaches.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of structural integration and fascial healing? Listen to the complete conversation to hear Anders' full journey and insights into this transformative bodywork approach.

Key Highlights:

• 00:01 - Background introductions
• 05:00 - Ida Rolf origins
• 09:00 - Osteopathic influences
• 12:00 - Gravity field philosophy
• 16:00 - Tom Myers introduction
• 20:00 - Anatomy trains criticism
• 23:00 - Cadaver lab experiences
• 26:00 - Mystical organ touching
• 33:00 - Structural integration approach
• 39:00 - First session process
• 44:00 - Fascia Congress preview
• 49:00 - Emotional fascia research
• 56:00 - Interdisciplinary collaboration
• 60:00 - Future directions

Links & Resources

• Book a call with Anders: https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/team/anders-totten
• Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains
• Rolf Institute
• Laboratories for Anatomical Enlightenment (Boulder)
• Fascia Research Congress (New Orleans)
• Robert Schleip's research
• Stephen Porges and Polyvagal Theory
• John F. Barnes Myofascial Release

Find us Online:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy

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Alex Greene talks with Liza Kimble, a body therapist from South Africa who combines TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) with gentle touch work. Liza has worked with bodies for 32 years and discovered that lighter touch often works better than deep, painful massage. She works with both people and horses, teaching them how to release tension through natural tremoring.

Liza shares how she went from doing very intense massage work to learning gentler approaches that help the nervous system feel safe. Her work with horses taught her important lessons about healing - when horses feel comfortable, they naturally start to shake and release stored stress. She's excited to present her work at a big research conference in New Orleans.

The conversation covers how to combine different healing methods, why therapists need to take care of themselves, and Liza's interest in ancient wisdom about human behavior patterns. This episode helps both therapists and regular people understand how gentle body work can help heal trauma and calm the nervous system.

Key Highlights:

• 00:01 - Background introduction
• 00:03 - Massage therapy beginnings
• 00:05 - Psoas activation discovery
• 00:07 - Meeting David Berceli
• 00:09 - First TRE experience
• 00:12 - Combining TRE fascial
• 00:14 - Fascia Congress attendance
• 00:16 - Horse tremoring discovery
• 00:19 - Touch technique evolution
• 00:22 - Client homework protocols
• 00:25 - Horse therapy training
• 00:29 - Traumatized horse transformation
• 00:34 - Horse tremoring patterns
• 00:37 - Equine therapy philosophy
• 00:42 - Teaching methodology evolution
• 00:44 - Upcoming Congress excitement
• 00:50 - Human algorithm teachings

Links and Resources:

• International Fascia Research Congress: https://www.frscongress.org/
• Liza’s Website: https://lizakimble.com/
• Polyvagal Theory resources by Dr. Stephen Porges: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory
• Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains and fascial meridians: https://www.myersmyofascialmeridians.com/

What if the secret to deep healing wasn't found in a technique---but in the quality of presence you bring to another human being? In this episode, Alex reconnects with Simba Stenqvist, TRE® trainer and somatic innovator based in Thailand, to explore his groundbreaking modality called Internal Alchemy---a fusion of neurogenic tremoring, fascial work, breathwork, and energetic practices.

Simba shares how Internal Alchemy emerged not from intellectual design, but through direct revelation during meditation---symbols, insights, and movements that seemed to arise through him rather than from him. Drawing on 25+ years in martial arts, bodywork, and nervous system practices, Simba reveals how respecting traditional lineages means bringing them forward to meet contemporary needs. From his multicultural background (Swedish-Dominican) to his "old school" teaching philosophy, Simba embodies the art of working with "who's in front of you" rather than rigid protocols.

Together, Alex and Simba dive deep into the mystery of masterful facilitation---how experienced practitioners learn to trust their intuition, follow subtle body cues, and create spaces where profound healing can unfold. This conversation explores presence as medicine, the power of authentic witnessing, and how combining fascial work with tremoring can access layers of stored trauma that pure nervous system approaches might miss. If you've ever wondered what transforms a good practitioner into a masterful one, this episode offers profound insights into the art of somatic healing.

Key Highlights:

• [00:03:00] Internal Alchemy Origins Story
• [05:15:00] Innovation Meets Ancient Wisdom
• [09:52:00] Teaching Who's Present Philosophy
• [14:27:00] Fascial Work Beyond Structure
• [17:34:00] Connecting Somatic Worlds
• [22:27:00] Creating Safe Containers
• [25:43:00] Witnessing & Reframing Trauma
• [28:30:00] Intuitive vs Intellectual Knowing
• [33:00:00] Organism-to-Organism Communication
• [40:15:00] Presence as Transmission
• [46:57:00] Natural vs Supernatural Abilities
• [48:47:00] Beyond Nervous System Labels

Links and Resources:

• Website: https://livingwiththespirit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingwiththespirit/

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Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the power of embodiment:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene

This week, Alex sits down with Daniel Seifert, a journalist whose work has appeared in the BBC, New York Times, and National Geographic. Daniel shares how he stumbled upon neurogenic tremoring through YouTube videos while looking for ways to manage deadline stress. What started as curious exploration quickly became a regular practice that helped him sleep better, release jaw tension, and feel more at ease in his body. His story is a reminder that our bodies already know how to heal—sometimes we just need to rediscover the natural mechanisms that are built right in!

Daniel's experience goes beyond just physical relief—he noticed how tremoring seemed to "dissolve the hyphen between mind and body," making him more receptive to music and even improving his posture. He compares the tremoring response to laughter: both are natural, sometimes uncontrollable movements that bring deep release and relief. Alex adds fascinating context about how Dr. David Berceli developed this approach after observing natural tremoring responses in war zones, recognizing that what many see as just "shaking with fear" might actually be the body's innate wisdom trying to complete the stress cycle.

The conversation flows into how tremoring complements other wellness practices that Daniel enjoys, from Tai Chi to breathwork to sauna and cold plunging. Alex shares stories of how this simple practice is spreading through fire departments, religious communities, and meditation centers—creating powerful results when paired with other modalities. Whether you're new to body-based practices or a seasoned wellness enthusiast, this warm conversation offers a friendly introduction to how inviting your body's natural tremors might become a game-changer in your healing toolkit.

Key Highlights:

• 0:00 - Introduction to Daniel's story
• 4:12 - Discovering tremoring on YouTube
• 8:30 - "What happened during my first tremoring session"
• 13:45 - When tremoring leads to spontaneous laughter
• 18:23 - How Tai Chi complements neurogenic tremoring
• 22:50 - Enhanced music appreciation after tremoring
• 27:15 - The posture benefits Daniel experienced
• 33:40 - "Your body knows how to heal"
• 39:10 - Invitation vs resistance in the body
• 42:30 - Tips for tremoring beginners
• 48:15 - Breathwork and tremoring: perfect partners
• 52:40 - The Feldenkrais connection
• 56:20 - Surprising insights about athletic bodies and tremoring
• 59:45 - How firefighters are using tremoring
• 1:03:12 - Meditation becomes deeper after tremoring

Links & Resources

• Shaking Medicine: https://www.amazon.com/Shaking-Medicine-Healing-Ecstatic-Movement/dp/1594771499
• Wilhelm Reich: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wilhelm-Reich
• Alexander Lowen: https://www.lowenfoundation.org/about-alexander-lowen
• Institute for Zen Leadership: https://zenleader.global/

Find us Online:

Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the power of embodiment:

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Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbeardsomatictherapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene

In this episode, Alex talks with Charna Cassell, a Trauma-Trained Psychotherapist and Sexuality Coach from Oakland who combines somatic coaching, bodywork, and energy medicine in her practice. Charna explains why talk therapy often fails to create change in trauma recovery, and how physical practices can transform the nervous system in ways cognitive understanding cannot.

Charna shares her journey through "boundary bootcamp" at Good Vibrations and her training at the Strozzi Institute. "I really needed physical practice," she says about why ten years of talk therapy created awareness but didn't change her nervous system responses.

Throughout the conversation, Charna demonstrates somatic exercises that reveal embodied habits. She explains how our bodies show our patterns under minimal stress and introduces the concept that "until you have an embodied No, you can't have a genuine Yes." The episode covers how repetition creates new neural pathways—like a deer path that becomes visible after being walked repeatedly—and how practice transforms boundaries from rigid or absent to compassionate.

Key Highlights:

• 00:00 Introduction to Charna
• 04:06 Boundary bootcamp experience
• 10:15 Strozzi Institute training
• 14:47 Current practice overview
• 18:36 Contact exercise demonstration
• 24:02 Freeze response explained
• 27:45 Boundary progression stages
• 31:42 Healing relationship boundaries
• 33:16 Bodywork benefits described
• 37:54 Kundalini yoga journey
• 40:31 Managing collective fear
• 42:27 Breath of fire technique
• 44:04 Ways to work with Charna

Links & Resources

• Website: https://charnacassell.com/
• Website:https://passionatelife.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laidopenpodcast
• FacebookL: https://www.facebook.com/LaidOpenPodcast/
• Podcast: https://charnacassell.com/laidopen/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbeardsomatictherapy

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In this episode of the Red Beard Embodiment podcast, host Alex welcomes Simona Irwin and Layah Jane Singer-Wilson for a genuine conversation about Five Rhythms dance as a pathway to befriending fear and healing trauma.

The guests share their personal stories – Simona recounting her first Five Rhythms experience that brought unexpected tears after years of emotional blockage during her health struggles, and Layah describing how movement became her medicine during a pivotal health crisis in her twenties. Together, they discuss their collaborative course "BEFRIENDING EMBODIED MOVEMENT: AN INTRODUCTION TO 5RHYTHMS™" created to bring this transformative practice to everyone, including those who might be homebound or facing physical limitations.

Through gentle explanations and personal examples, they reveal how the five rhythms – flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness – create a container for our emotional lives, allowing fear and other difficult feelings to move through the body naturally. Their approach honors both the cathartic potential of movement and the importance of regulation, creating a trauma-sensitive framework that meets practitioners exactly where they are.

Whether you're curious about embodied practices or seeking new ways to process old wounds, this conversation offers compassionate insight into how our bodies naturally know the way through fear when given the chance to move with awareness.

Key Highlights:

• [00:00:] Welcome and introduction to our guests
• [01:12] Five Rhythms as embodied healing practice
• [02:39] Simona and Layah's backgrounds and expertise
• [05:46] Simona's moving first dance experience
• [10:20] Understanding the five rhythms wave
• [13:16] How Layah found her calling through movement
• [17:34] Alex shares his dance journey beginnings
• [20:19] The origins with Gabrielle Roth at Esalen
• [27:33] Creating trauma-sensitive movement spaces
• [31:12] Inside their accessible online course
• [33:35] Movement and nervous system regulation
• [37:27] Mindfulness principles in movement practice
• [41:16] Adaptations for all bodies and abilities
• [46:31] A personal healing story through dance
• [51:11] How to join the movement community

Links & Resources

Layah Jane

• Website: layahjane.com
• Instagram: @layahjane.movement

Simona

• Website: turningtowards.me
• Instagram: @turningtowards

Find us Online:

Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the power of embodiment:

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Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbeardsomatictherapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene

What if your client’s tremor, stretch, or undulation wasn’t a symptom—but a sign of healing? In this episode, Alex sits down with physical therapist, somatic educator and TRE Provider, Joel Begin to explore the natural, spontaneous movements that often arise in bodywork, movement therapy, and somatic healing—but are still largely misunderstood.

Joel shares the story behind his 2022 paper, “Characterizing a Common Class of Spontaneous Movements,” a collaborative work that brings together perspectives from across the globe to map out how tremors, shakes, and fluid movements emerge across therapeutic, spiritual, and cultural contexts. From TRE® and myofascial unwinding to Qigong and authentic movement, Joel helps us reframe these expressions not as random or pathological—but as beneceptive and healing.

Together, we explore the potential of spontaneous movement as a doorway into nervous system regulation, trauma resolution, and embodied intelligence. This episode invites you to see what might already be happening in your sessions with new eyes—and perhaps, to trust the body just a little more.

Key Highlights:

• [00:02:00] The Paper That Sparked It All: Characterizing a Common Class of Spontaneous Movements
• [00:08:00] What Is Myofascial Unwinding?
• [00:14:30] Modalities That Evoke Spontaneous Movement
• [00:17:45] Spiritual Practices & Movement States
• [00:24:00] Case Study: Spontaneous Movement After Surgery
• [00:27:00] When Movement Feels Uncomfortable
• [00:33:00] TRE®, Trauma, and the Polyvagal Lens
• [00:38:45] Understanding Freeze Through Biotensegrity
• [00:41:00] What Makes These Movements Arise?
• [00:43:30] Creating a Container for Curiosity

Links & Resources

• Joel Begin’s 2022 Paper:
  “Characterizing a Common Class of Spontaneous Movements”
  Read the full paper in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
• Joel Begin’s Practice – Creative Pathways PT
• Continuum Movement: https://continuummovement.com/
• Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine: https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/about-peter
• Polyvagal Theory by Dr. Stephen Porges: https://www.stephenporges.com/
• Myofascial Release John F. Barnes

Find us Online:

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene