Why Shaking? Are You Kidding?

Have you ever started to shake in a yoga pose? In real life off the mat, perhaps after a shock or near miss or even a traumatic experience? Have you ever seen a child shake after being scared? Or your companion animal? Or a wild animal after a chase, either on a show or in real life?

How Self-Induced Shaking Works

Release stress, strain, worry and some pain with a simple series of movements that invite shaking, or trembling in the muscles of the low back, pelvis and neck, as well sometimes as arms and legs. Often referred to as "neurogenic tremoring," your body does this automatically after many stressful experiences. However we interrupt it for myriad reasons: we're driving, we have a schedule, we're at work, it's not appropriate for the context, we're scared, the cause was traumatic - the list goes on and on. This may result in elevated tension in postural muscles like the psoas and trapezius. These two muscles are part of the famous "fight, flight or freeze" response that prepare for fight and flight.

What Happens When You Practice This?

The series I demonstrate below I've been practicing and sharing for over a decade and is based on work done by Dr. Berceli, who is currently spearheading scientific research on the mechanism underlying the extremely repeatable results of this series. The results in the near term are shaking sensations or movements in muscles or limbs. The long term results may include better sleep, reduced Perceived Stress Scale score, and reportedly in some unpublished, but hopefully soon to be shared studies, positive changes in HRV (Heart Rate Variability), often used as a biological indicator of "resilience." Resilience is a psychological quality or characteristic that can be learned and cultivated and allows us to "bounce back" or shed stress effectively.

In PwMS (Patients with Multiple Sclerosis), the series was found to enhance sleep quality and decrease stress levels, though spasticity of the ankle flexors was unchanged.

The series has been studied in actors and found to enhance self-awareness, reduce stress (enhanced “skills performance under pressure”) and even help in character creation.

While a single meditation session of 15 minutes has proven effective at stress reduction, many people report an inability or lack of interest to sit for meditation. This series addresses the muscle level tension that can underlie racing thoughts and self-concepts and experiences that exclude stillness or make it seem impossible.

How To Learn More + Practice In Community

Check out badlandsyoga.com and join us for the Thursday, May 26th 4pm MST one hour online and in person (Albuquerque) Mini-Workshop for live guidance, community and guided relaxation in Savasana after the series, including Yoga Nidra. Register for access to that video at badlandsyoga.com under "Small Group Class Schedule" green button.