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In a world where therapeutic approaches are constantly evolving, few practitioners have bridged multiple healing modalities as elegantly as Liza Kimble. With over 32 years of experience in bodywork, Liza's journey from intensive massage therapy to gentle fascial work combined with TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) offers profound insights into how our understanding of trauma release continues to deepen.

1. From "Torture Touch" to Healing Wisdom

Liza's early career was built on what she candidly describes as "torture touch" - the kind of deep, intense massage work that left clients feeling better for a few days before returning to their chronic pain patterns. Her frustration with this cycle led her to explore psoas activation techniques, which became a pivotal moment in her practice evolution.

The discovery of psoas activation work marked Liza's first encounter with the profound emotional releases that occur when we access the body's core stabilizing muscles. Working with athletes, she witnessed immediate and lasting changes that went far beyond simple muscle tension relief. This work taught her that the psoas - often called the "muscle of the soul" - holds deep patterns of stress and trauma that require more than surface-level intervention.

Her approach to psoas work evolved from aggressive manual pressure to understanding that the body responds better to gentle, sustained contact that allows natural release mechanisms to emerge. This shift in philosophy would later prove essential when she discovered TRE and began working with horses, both of whom taught her that less force often produces more profound healing.

2. The Universe Conspires: Discovering TRE

Sometimes the most important discoveries come through seemingly random encounters. For Liza, three separate friends independently recommended she attend a workshop with Dr. David Berceli, despite her having no prior knowledge of tremoring or TRE. This synchronicity led her to what she describes as a life-changing experience that immediately spoke to her heart.

Liza's initial struggle with tremoring reflects many practitioners' experiences - the challenge of releasing mental control and trusting the body's innate wisdom. Her breakthrough came through an emotional release during the workshop that seemed to unlock her natural tremoring capacity. This personal experience of surrendering control became fundamental to how she would later teach others to access their own healing mechanisms.

The integration of TRE with her existing psoas work created a powerful combination that addressed both the mechanical and neurological aspects of trauma storage. Clients began experiencing deeper, more lasting relief as their nervous systems learned to self-regulate through natural tremoring responses. This marked the beginning of Liza's journey toward understanding how different therapeutic approaches could enhance rather than compete with each other.

3. Horses as Master Teachers

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Liza's work emerged when she began applying fascial techniques to horses. Her first major breakthrough came with a traumatized racehorse who had been exhibiting dangerous behaviors. Through gentle fascial work that respected the horse's boundaries, she witnessed a full-body tremor lasting five minutes - a profound discharge that completely transformed the animal's behavior.

This experience taught Liza that horses, unencumbered by mental resistance, could show her what true therapeutic touch looked like. When her touch was too firm, horses would refuse the work. When she found the gentle "in-between world" of fascial layers, they would naturally begin to tremor. This feedback became invaluable in refining her techniques for both human and equine clients.

The fact that this particular horse's behavioral transformation lasted after just three sessions - from dangerous rearing to calm, rideable companion - demonstrates the power of allowing the nervous system to complete its natural healing cycles. Horses became her teachers in understanding that healing often requires less intervention, not more, when we learn to work with rather than against the body's wisdom.

4. The Science Meets Ancient Wisdom

Liza's attendance at fascial research congresses and summer schools in Germany exposed her to cutting-edge research about the sensitivity of fascial tissues and their connection to the nervous system. Learning from renowned researchers like Carlos Deco and Robert Schleip, she began to understand the scientific basis for what she was observing in her practice.

This scientific foundation validated her experiential learning that gentle touch could access the same therapeutic benefits as more aggressive techniques, often with superior results. The research showing how highly sensitive fascial receptors respond to subtle pressure changes explained why her lighter touch was actually more effective at creating lasting change in both humans and animals.

The integration of polyvagal theory into her understanding added another layer of sophistication to her work. Understanding how the nervous system moves between states of safety and protection helped her recognize that therapeutic touch must first establish safety before attempting to facilitate release. This knowledge became crucial in her teaching, helping other practitioners understand why their approach matters as much as their technique.

5. A New Paradigm for Practitioner Self-Care

One of Liza's most important contributions to the field is her insistence that all practitioners - whether working with humans or animals - must maintain their own TRE practice. Having trained thousands of people over the years, she has observed that practitioners who neglect their own nervous system regulation become less effective and more prone to burnout.

Her work with equine therapists highlights a particular challenge in animal therapy fields, where practitioners face pressure from competitive environments that prioritize quick fixes over genuine healing. Many horse therapists experience disillusionment when forced to work within systems that don't allow time for proper healing protocols. Liza addresses this by ensuring all her students develop personal practices that help them maintain their own regulation regardless of external pressures.

This emphasis on practitioner self-care reflects a broader understanding that healing happens through relationship and nervous system co-regulation. When practitioners maintain their own regulation through regular TRE practice and self-care, they become what she calls "better placebos" - creating safer spaces where clients' nervous systems can naturally move toward healing. This approach recognizes that the practitioner's state is as important as their technical skills.

6. Bridging Worlds: The Future of Integrated Therapy

Liza's upcoming presentation at the International Fascia Research Congress represents an important moment in the evolution of trauma therapy. Her work demonstrates how different modalities can be woven together to create more comprehensive and effective treatment approaches. The fact that Dr. Stephen Porges, creator of polyvagal theory, is also a keynote speaker suggests a growing recognition of the connections between fascial health, nervous system regulation, and trauma recovery.

Her vision extends beyond technique to philosophy, particularly her emphasis on reciprocity in animal-assisted therapy. Rather than simply extracting co-regulation benefits from animals, she advocates for approaches that give back to the animals, creating truly mutual healing relationships. This perspective challenges practitioners to consider not just what they can gain from working with animals, but how they can contribute to animal wellbeing.

The development of her online equine course reflects a democratization of these healing approaches, making them accessible to horse owners worldwide who want to develop deeper, more therapeutic relationships with their animals. This represents a shift from expert-dependent models to empowering individuals with tools for ongoing care and connection.

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