Sae Kani (Part 1): Releasing Tension and Trauma — Reconnecting With Our Bodies, Past, and Each Other | Episode 29

This is an interview with Sae Kani, a TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercise) trainer in Japan and around Asia. She's also a life coach, meditator, and has had a long career as a humanitarian worker, helping traumatized communities recover after natural disasters around the world. Today we get hear her story, transporting us around Asia and beyond, witnessing the pain and healing along the way. Some of the topics we discuss include:

- Why doesn't traditional humanitarian aid help heal communities' trauma?
- What does it mean to be human?
- What are the similarities and differences between humans and other animals?
- How can body-based exercises (such as TRE) change our thinking, emotions, and the   stories we tell ourselves? How can healing the body simultaneously heal the mind?
  - Why did humans develop a nervous system that requires us to communicate and connect with one another?
- How can we use our body language to make others feel safe (or threatened)?
- Why does our neocortex (mind) sometimes override the gut-reaction signals from our body?
- How does one's socioeconomic situation influence their resilience towards trauma?
- How do child-rearing practices affect one's susceptibility to trauma and stress?
  - How can we develop a strong nervous system?
- How is the Western ideal of individualism stressing us out and hurting our health?
- Are some countries more traumatized than other countries?
- Why do some cultures (e.g. Japan) express less emotion than others (e.g. Vietnam)?
- How do capitalism, consumerism, and the hyper-focus on money lead to more disconnection, stress, and trauma?
- Why is it important to physically release our stress and emotions, and what are the health and psychological risks of not doing so?
- What are the first steps towards releasing yourself from stress and trauma?
- Can culture traumatize us? How do we shield ourselves from that?
- How, by listening to our body, can we protect ourselves from dangerous people and situations?
- What role does physical movement play in integrating and healing our trauma?
- Why is trauma? What causes it?
- How do we ignore danger by numbing and distracting ourselves from our pain?
- What are some things we can do to calm down and release our stress?
- How does connection (with anything!) help us feel safe and calm?
- What is TRE and how do people respond to it?
- When is the best time of day to do TRE?
- How does physical release of energy help our brain integrate and deactivate memories of past events?
- How does the physiological history of ourselves (and our society) influence the creation of moral codes, norms, and taboos?
- How can we reconnect with our body and discharge excess energy?


RESOURCES

CONCEPTS
 - fight-or-flight response
- freezing behavior
- Polyvagal theory
- Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercise (TRE)
- vagus nerve

PEOPLE
- David Berceli
- Stephen Porges

Connect with Sae: www.saekani.com
Learn more about TRE: www.traumaprevention.com
TRE on YouTube: @treforall312

Part 2 coming soon!