Intro to TRE March 22, 2017 — “…don’t do activism without it”

Hi everyone,

What happens when life is challenging? At some point it becomes stressful. What happens when stress is chronic? For some it shows up as anxiety, insomnia or depression, while others feel frustrated, impatient or just generally pissed off much of the time. Symptoms might also be physical, e.g. GI distress, low back or neck pain, tight shoulders or headaches. For some people, the most noticeable experience is that spinning thoughts make concentration really difficult, or a sense of just feeling chronically overwhelmed.

And — where is the joy? The sense of feeling fully alive to life? Or even just feeling safe enough to really let down? Sometimes the ultimate result is that we stop feeling the deeper feelings as numbness and deadening begin to take over. Then if we can just stay busy enough, the inner sense of heartache, fear, disappointment and quiet desperation can be kept at bay.

Beyond the typical day to day, many in the US who have never been politically active have recently jumped in to get involved. I often worry about them as activism really takes a toll on the nervous system. We invite people to engage – but how often do we teach people to how to stay well when they do? Chronic stress detracts from the ability to empathize and be compassionate — do we really want to ignore it?

Honestly, in a world where it seems like only slogans get taken note of, I want to say, “TRE — don’t do activism without it.” Of course there are other things people do to stay well, but the point is, most people aren’t doing any of them, and TRE offers something quite unique. (What is TRE?)

Given our current societal dilemmas, for 2017, I put three Intro to Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) workshops on the calendar. One was in January, one in February, and now, this week, the third one. I am not sure when a “next time” is going to be, so if you have any interest at all, I would strongly encourage you to not wait, make time for this one, and be there on Wednesday, March 22, 7p-m. If you attended in January or February, please consider attending this one also as the repetition can be extremely helpful.

Details and registration for Wednesday, March 22 7p-9p are here:
Intro to Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE).
***ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT LIVING UBUNTU***
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Contact us if you are experiencing financial hardship.

Upcoming Events – 7 items in March (2017) – come join us!

Hi everyone,

I have seven things to tell you about, all taking place in March. Ready? Here we go! Below please find our Upcoming Events for the remainder of the month. Hope to see you often.

Orange County for Climate Action Meeting
Tuesday, March 7, 6:30p – 8:00p – tonight!

Carl Wilkens at Soka University (Ikeda Reading Room), 1 University Dr, Aliso Viejo CA 92656 (Read More About Carl)
Monday, March 13, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

TRE Group Shake
Thursday, March 16, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Legacy of Learning – Establishing Equity in the Aftermath of Trauma, Part 3: A Screening of “In Utero” plus featured guest, Rebecca Amis, co-founder of MUSE School
Thursday, March 16, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

32nd Annual Great American Write-In (visit the Living Ubuntu & OCCA table)
Saturday, March 18, 9:30am – 1:30pm

Intro to Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE)
Wednesday, March 22, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

A Screening of Before the Flood
Friday, March 24, 7:00pm – 9:30pm

In the spirit of Ubuntu,

Barbara English, LMFT, CBT, TRE® Certification Trainer
Co-founder and Executive Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org | facebook | donate »
living vegan (facebook) | plant powered oc (facebook)
occlimateaction.org | facebook
(949) 891-2005
[Ubuntu] n. We belong to the greater whole.

 

#GivingTuesday for Living Ubuntu — Have you seen our new video?

Hi everyone,

Today is #GivingTuesday for Living Ubuntu – will you support our work in advocating compassion and health for people, animals and the planet?

We have created a new video about Living Ubuntu to help people know what the word “Ubuntu” means, plus where we focus and why. You can view the video above, and also on the #GivingTuesday for Living Ubuntu page.

We need your help in order to keep going. Will you become a monthly supporter of Living Ubuntu?

Many people can afford an ongoing monthly donation of $10, $15, or $20. The Razoo platform makes it easy – just select the ‘monthly’ option when you donate.

We are small, all volunteer and grassroots. Your one-time or monthly gift in any amount would be very greatly appreciated and help us continue the important work we do.

And — did you know that when you shop at Amazon.com can support us through https://smile.amazon.com/ — just select Living Ubuntu as the charity you want to support.

Upcoming events are listed below.

With gratitude,

Barbara English, LMFT, CBT, TRE® Certification Trainer
Co-founder and Executive Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org | facebook | donate »
(949) 891-2005
[Ubuntu] n. We belong to the greater whole.

:::UPCOMING EVENTS:::

A Screening of “Before the Flood” – (GWC)
Tuesday, November 29, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Golden West College — Student Center, Huntington Beach

Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®) – Group Shake – note change of location for this session
Thursday, December 1, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Newport Beach

Orange County for Climate Action (OCCA) Meeting  – note date change for December
Tuesday, December 6, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Newport Beach

Re-Examining our Belief Systems: Growing Beyond the Known (a 3-part TRE® workshop series)
Saturdays: January 21, February 25, March 18, 9:00am – 4:30pm each day
Newport Beach

Break Free, Catching the Sun, and Living Vegan “Social”

You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer.
– Thich Nhat Hahn

Hi everyone,

Have you been following the extremely tragic wildfires in Canada? A CNN opinion piece is titled, The fire in Canada looks a lot like climate change — and that should scare you. The reality is that climate change is advancing rapidly and by no means are we doing all we could to slow it or adapt to that which is inevitable. As the 350.org campaign this week makes the case to Break Free from fossil fuels, actions are taking place all over the world in support of fast, dramatic, effective change.

(Also see: May 14 – 350.org L.A. March. I will be in Los Angeles that weekend, and I recognize the irony that I will be unable to attend the event as I am taking the Somatic Experiencing – Foundations of Disaster Response that weekend, to learn more about how to increase trauma recovery in these critical situations.)

For those of you who live near to Orange County, please come join us Tuesday, May 10, 7:30p, for the one night only screening of Catching the Sun at the Frida Cinema, scheduled to take place during the 350.org Break Free campaign. (Advance tickets.)

If Canadian wildfires aren’t a vivid enough reminder of what is at stake, last month Newsweek published, We’re Running Out of Water, and Consequences Could be Dire. Changing what we eat is the additional essential part of the equation to reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions. For anyone interested in having a great vegan meal today, come join us today at 5:30p in Laguna Beach. Here are the details of the Living Vegan “Social”. We will walk to the beach, so come prepared for that.

Let’s do all we can to pull together on this. Too much is at stake not to. Here is one example of what can be done: San Diego Republican mayor pushes plan to run on 100% renewable energy.

In a Gentle Way You Can Shake Your World – early registration thru Feb 3 (Forks Over Knives tonight!)

Hi everyone,

This coming Wednesday, February 3, is the last day of early registration for In a Gentle Way You Can Shake Your World, a 5-session group series to learn and refine the practice of the method created by Dr David Berceli, Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises. (What is TRE?)

We are a highly traumatized culture, in denial about it, and it is dangerous. We desperately need a better understanding of trauma to enter the mainstream so we as a society might make better choices as to what we think of as solutions.

While the current race for US President stands out as an exceptionally good example of our culture’s trauma, it is by no means the only one worthy of recognition. It is the new norm in our society to live feeling chronically overwhelmed by the day-to-day routine, with most people not recognizing that as trauma. A human nervous system might beg to differ. Beyond overwhelm, we have come to applaud narcissistic grandiosity, disconnection and hyper-independence. Humiliation and bullying have become sources of entertainment, as if sports. It is easy to place blame externally and say if only so and so would do it differently, we could live in a better, healthier, happier existence.

In a gentle way you can shake your world (2016) — Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) 5-session group series

In a gentle way, you can shake the world. – Gandhi

In a Gentle Way You Can Shake Your World (2016)

Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE)

A five-session group series

Flowering Seed Studio
4001 Birch St, Unit A
Newport Beach, California 92660

 Saturdays, 9:30a – 11:30a

• February 6
• February 13
• February 20

***NO SESSION ON FEBRUARY 27 ***

• March 5
• March 12

Early Registration by Wednesday February 3: $100.00 for 5 session series

After February 3 (contact us for space availability): $125 for 5 session series

If you wish to attend, but are experiencing financial hardship,  please contact us.

Questions? Email: info@livingubuntu.org, or call: (949)891.2005.

*Please note: Attendance at the first session is required for participation in this series. Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged in order to receive maximum benefit.

***

Description: There is no prerequisite for participation in this series. It is intended for both first-timers and those already experienced with TRE.

Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) is an easy to learn body-centered method created by Dr. David Berceli. Successfully used in many different countries and conflict zones, it is a simple technique that helps release stress or tension from the body that accumulates from every day circumstances of life, difficult situations, immediate or prolonged stressful situations, or traumatic life experiences (e.g., natural disasters, social or domestic violence, PTSD). Symptoms of unresolved trauma or chronic stress may include difficulties such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, body pain or trouble concentrating.

TRE consists of six simple exercises that help individuals release tension from the muscles, which in turn relaxes the anxiety of our minds, by evoking a muscular shaking process in the body. The exercises elicit this shaking in a controlled and sustained manner. When evoked in this way, this shaking, also called “self-induced therapeutic tremors” or “neurogenic tremors”, begins to release deep chronic muscular tension held within the body.

See also:

• What is TRE?
• David Berceli interview in South Africa about TRE
• What are Neurogenic Tremors?
• Dr. Robert Scaer thoughts on Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises

***

• Please wear soft, flexible clothing that does not restrict breathing or movement.

• Some of the exercises are done lying on the floor. The workshop room is not carpeted, please bring a mat or blanket to lie on to increase your comfort.

• Participation in somatic exercises, while safe and effective, could lead to physical or emotional upset. Each participant needs to stay within their own physical and emotional ability.

***

Barbara English is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Certified Bioenergetic Therapist, Certified TRE Provider, and TRE Certification Trainer with over 25 years of experience in psychotherapy. Her training included a strong focus on Early Development and Infant Mental Health. Working from a mind-body perspective, she utilizes relational somatic methods as part of the healing process for those seeking recovery after abuse or trauma. Recognizing that current Western models of recovery are grossly inadequate for addressing the pervasiveness of traumatized societies, locally and globally, she founded Living Ubuntu in 2005 and serves as its volunteer Executive Director. She is a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellow.

[Ubuntu] n. Every human being truly becomes a human by means of relationships with other human beings. 

Tomorrow: Neurogenic Yoga in the Park-OC, we still have room for you!

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow, Saturday October 24 10:00am – 12:00pm, will be the very first time for Neurogenic Yoga in the Park has come to Orange County. Knowing what a great time we had with this FREE community event in Balboa Park, San Diego a couple of months ago, I sincerely hope you are planning to join us tomorrow. It’s a really big park (with lots of trees!), so even if you haven’t registered yet, we still have room for you. Register here. (Arrive early — check in is at 9:45am.)

What is Neurogenic Yoga?

For upcoming events, scroll down.

See you tomorrow!

Thank you for staying engaged,

Barbara English, LMFT, CBT, TRE Trainer
Founder and Executive Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org
(949) 891-2005

[Ubuntu] n. Every human being truly becomes a human by means of relationships with other human beings

:::UPCOMING EVENTS:::

Neurogenic Yoga in the Park – OC – time to register!
Saturday October 24, 10a-noon
Costa Mesa

Farm Sanctuary Los Angeles Walk for Farm Animals – join the OCCA team!
Sunday, November 8, 2-4:30p
Pasadena

TRE for Women in the East African Community
Saturday November 14, 10a-noon
San Diego

Pre-Climate Summit Rally
Sunday, November 29, 2p
Irvine

…widening our circle of compassion… (Neurogenic Yoga in the Park, Oct 24)

A human being is a part of a whole… [but] he experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest…. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

 – Albert Einstein

Hi everyone,

Last week was great! We had 50 people show up for the Climate Rally in the Orange Circle (photos, video) and 200 for the Gene Baur event at Chapman University (photos). Thanks again to all that made it happen and who showed up at these events.

So what’s next? Lot of things :)

Living Ubuntu has partnered with Neurogenic Yoga, TRE San Diego, Southern California Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis, Brilliance Oneness Collective, and TRE Los Angeles for a FREE community event, Neurogenic Yoga in the Park – OC (Saturday, October 24 10a-noon). What could be better than being outside in a park that is entirely circled by big trees? And having Jennica Mills as an instructor is definitely another really big plus for this event. We have room for lots of people there, so tell your friends, family, colleagues and friendly-looking strangers. Even though it is a free event, please register to attend.  (What is Neurogenic Yoga?)

Also — come join us this Wednesday, October 21, for the next Orange County for Climate Action meeting. Scroll down for details and other upcoming events.

So much is happening!

Hi everyone,

Thanks again to everyone that showed up at the Living Ubuntu Veggie Grill Fundraiser. It was a lot of fun, great to see all of you, and your support really means a lot.

We also had a really good turnout for our very first “Continuing in the Community” event for the women in City Heights who are part of the East African refugee community. It was so good to see so many coming together in the pursuit of their own personal healing as well as supporting wellness throughout the community. Beginning in September there will be both a women’s group and a men’s group. We continue to need donations to support this project, so any amount you can contribute, one-time or monthly, we would be very grateful for. Donate here.

Intro to TRE – Fundraiser: Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees (September 26, 2015)

Update 9/25: We are now full for this mini workshop.
Please send us an email at info@livingubuntu.org
if you want to be on a first-to-be-notified list for the next one.

Intro to TRE – Fundraiser:
Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees

Saturday, September 26, 2015
10:00am – 12:00pm
4001 Birch St. Unit A
Newport Beach CA 92660

Minimum suggested donation: $20.00
Pay at the door, or donate here.
RSVP: info@livingubuntu.org

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT:
Phase 4: Continuing in the Community
(Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees in San Diego)
RSVP: info@livingubuntu.org

Come learn Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) and help the East African refugee community in San Diego all at the same time!

We have successfully completed the first three phases of this project, and now need contributions to support continuing the healing in this often over-looked local community.

Can’t attend, but want to donate? Great!
DONATE HERE: