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Have you ever witnessed a client begin to shake, undulate, or stretch in a way that felt beyond conscious control?
As body-based practitioners, many of us have seen these moments—but few of us have had language for them. Until now.

In our latest podcast episode, Alex sits down with Joel Begin, a physical therapist, somatic educator, and TRE® provider, to explore the often-misunderstood realm of spontaneous movement—the tremors, shakes, stretches, or fluid motions that can arise naturally during therapeutic work, meditation, spiritual practice, or even post-surgery. These movements are not pathological or random; in fact, they may be beneceptive—a term meaning health-promoting and rewarding.

In 2022, Joel co-authored a groundbreaking paper titled “Characterizing a Common Class of Spontaneous Movements,” which brought together stories, science, and cross-disciplinary insight to shine light on this mysterious (but deeply familiar) phenomenon. Whether you’re a massage therapist, movement facilitator, somatic therapist, or simply someone curious about the body’s capacity to heal itself—this conversation offers powerful validation and insight.

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1. Spontaneous Movement Happens Across Modalities

From TRE® to myofascial unwinding, Continuum Movement to somatic experiencing, even spiritual practices like Kundalini yoga or spontaneous Qigong—all these frameworks acknowledge that the body can move itself. These movements arise without conscious intention and often signal a deeper shift in the nervous system.

2. These Movements Are Often Misunderstood

Without a clear framework, spontaneous movement can be mistaken for pathology—or ignored altogether. Joel shares stories of people who thought something was wrong with them, when in reality, their body was simply trying to heal. This gap in understanding highlights the need for more research, language, and practitioner awareness.

3. Context Shapes Experience

The same movement can feel healing or frightening, depending on the environment. Joel and Alex discuss the importance of creating safe containers—spaces where these natural expressions are welcomed, witnessed, and integrated. Practitioners play a crucial role in offering context, attunement, and reassurance.

4. There’s a Neurobiological Layer to This

Joel touches on polyvagal theory and parasympathetic states, aligning with what TRE® and somatic experiencing already teach: these movements often emerge when the nervous system is shifting out of a stress response. They may represent the completion of a fight/flight/freeze cycle or a return to homeostasis.

5. We’re Just at the Beginning of Understanding This

The 2022 paper co-authored by Joel and his international team is one of the few published works to seriously ask: What is spontaneous movement, and what do we know about it? The conclusion? We need more stories, more research, and more collective inquiry to understand this innate healing mechanism that so many of us already see in practice.

This episode is a beautiful invitation to reframe what we think we know about healing. Spontaneous movement isn’t something to correct—it’s something to witness. It’s the body speaking in its own language. And if we slow down, stay curious, and listen, we just might hear the quiet intelligence of the body guiding the way forward.

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