It may seem backwards—but often, the first step in healing is to help the body feel like healing is possible. Before tissue regenerates, hormones rebalance, or prolapse improves, we need to shift the internal state that’s governing those systems. And that begins with perception.

Your nervous system isn’t just reacting to the world around you—it’s constantly scanning for cues of safety or threat. When it perceives threat (even subtly: a sense of being broken, overwhelmed by symptoms, or stuck in fear), it stays in survival mode. Blood flow is redirected away from healing, breath becomes shallow, fascia tightens, and energy is spent on defence, not repair.

But when we create moments where the body feels safe—even briefly—something changes. The vagus nerve responds. Breath deepens. Fascia softens. The system downshifts from protection to possibility. It’s in this state that healing can truly begin.

Why do we instinctively shake after a shock? Why does rocking soothe a crying baby or calm a distressed adult? Shaking, trembling, and vibrating aren’t symptoms to suppress—they're innate mechanisms of healing. This post explores the roots and relevance of shaking therapy, from ancient rituals to contemporary trauma practices like TRE. We’ll dive into how shaking affects the brain, fascia, and vagus nerve, and even how our organs respond to vibration and sound.