On a few evenings and mornings each week in Cape Town’s suburbs, a group of people gather in a hall to explore moving their bodies in ways that are at once strange, familiar, exciting, and calming. My belief in these TRE groups stems from the understanding that working with the nervous system can lead to meaningful shifts, both individually and collectively.
Like anything truly profound, it can be difficult to briefly communicate its real value, a challenge I find myself taking on daily.
Why Group TRE?
In my years of working with the nervous system, helping others get comfortable with neurogenic movement and this simple and potent tool for change, I have become increasingly passionate about these group sessions. Groups are different from individual work in both obvious and deeper ways, even though the process itself can look very similar.
So what changes when TRE is done around others, and what is significant about these changes? Here I describe what makes group classes special, because there is definitely something special about them.
Arriving to Class
The largest factor is the most visible one: in a TRE group setting, other people are present. And if we know anything about the nervous system, it is that the presence of other bodies affects it radically. Joining a group with specific intentions around easing anxiety, exploring physiology, and learning a new practice is therefore a very particular signal for the different layers of our consciousness.
Making this journey with others offers a support system and a way of relating to parallel nervous systems that is not often available outside of so-called therapeutic spaces. You are exploring your own ability to expand, while also softly witnessing others’ progress. This dynamic, which we might call a reflection of influence, is an added layer that underlines and strengthens the basic initiation that takes place in the practice of TRE.
A Shared Rhythm
This brings us neatly to the principle of coregulation, which describes how the human nervous system is shaped and stabilised through interaction with others, especially through cues of safety. In a TRE group, this is offered first by the facilitator and then reinforced by the participants.
This network of support grows stronger as it is buoyed by others’ learning, confidence, and experience, allowing access to states that would be more difficult to reach alone. I have seen this emerge in group settings as an evolving synergy, where attendees often report sessions feel noticeably less intense than individual TRE, and can have a more easy and light-hearted quality. Through trust, we are then able to move into places we would not otherwise be able to access.
Feeling Less Alone
Our efforts to make changes in our lives can be lonely work, and even those with strong social and familial support can experience challenges as things they must face largely in isolation. Here again we encounter a central benefit of any group or communal practice: affirmation and normalisation of one’s goals, struggles, and experiences. This alone can have a significant impact on how we view ourselves and others, and in tandem with the coregulatory dimension, the effects can be profound.
In a group, the nervous system often settles more easily. This can look like reduced vigilance, a greater sense of ease in the body and mind, and a clearer pathway toward better sleep. Experience has taught me that the buoyancy offered by the group is built through both personal learning and witnessing others learn in real time; a sense that we are all expanding our capacity in unison.
Practical Considerations
The structure of a TRE group creates a low-pressure, accessible environment for sustained practice, emotional and physical exploration, and cumulative changes in the nervous system. This is supported by a regular schedule, shared focus, and clear facilitation. Again, the role of the TRE provider is central to all of this. With appropriate reassurance and guidance, a sense of empowerment can naturally emerge within the group.
A further structural pillar is accessibility. For scheduling and financial reasons, group work can be a more approachable entry point into TRE. These lower barriers can make it easier to begin engaging with a process that requires time, consistency, and courage.
The Case for One-on-One
There are cases where one-on-one sessions are better suited to specific needs. This can be due to personal preference, particular sensitivities, or simply a sense that this kind of somatic work feels more manageable in a private setting. All of these are valid reasons and should not be overridden.
With increased social and neurogenic complexity in group settings, there is also the possibility of discomfort. Being in the presence of other bodies can bring up wariness, moments of dysregulation, or a sense of discordance. These responses are part of the process and reinforce the importance of appropriate pacing when choosing between individual and group work.
Reflecting Each Other
Joining a TRE group allows for support without removing personal agency and independence: you can be connected to others while still engaging in your own process. In the end, finding safety together offers a direct response to fundamental restlessness in the nervous system, with the presence of others reinforcing calming signals in a way that is both immediate and cumulative.
If you feel ready to take small, comfortable steps into something new, group TRE can be a steady place to begin. The shared nature of the experience shapes it in such important ways, and over time, familiar faces and a consistent space build more trust in the body, the practice, and our place in the world.
About the Author
Luca Stefano is a certified TRE provider working in Cape Town offering group classes and 1-on-1 sessions at Erin Hall in Rondebosch and the Gate House Wellness Centre Constantia.
Visit lucastefanobodywork.com for more info.