Women In Wellness: Caroline Purvey of TRE UK On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
No 1 — has to be learn the Total Release Experience® — although it becomes an intuitive practice, initially it isn’t. We are all animals and like animals have the ability to release tension from the body. Tension that may well have accumulated over a lifetime and gets stored in the Psoas muscle. People who have tried everything to improve their wellbeing over the years often at great expense, have discovered they can do it themselves.
As a part of my series about “5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Caroline Purvey.
Caroline is a Yoga teacher with 25 years’ experience and founder of TRE UK® and the much talked about Total Release Experience®. Recently voted in the top 10 of 100 women to watch in wellbeing, Caroline is passionate about self- care as a tool for stress management to maintain well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally. Caroline truly believes that self-care is the only sure health care in a world that is under pressure to cop with the demand for well-being solutions.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the story about how you first got involved in fitness and wellness?
Strangely when I was 16, I wanted to train as a Physical Education teacher. It didn’t work out and feel glad looking back that it didn’t, as my life has evolved bringing me to deliver my passion today. Growing up I loved netball, tennis and running. When my children were young, I took up Calanetics, not many will remember that but it was very popular back in the 70’s. I could keep up toning and working joints in the comfort of my own home in front of the TV. I kept this practice up for years and still connect with it today.
Twenty-six years ago, when I started teaching in a secondary school, it was quite a stressful environment. My sister invited me to go to a Yoga class. I knew nothing about Yoga, but I feel blessed that my first class was with a South African teacher who was very direct, and instruction was great. It took me a few classes to connect with the fact that yoga is about being present and listening to your body. When I connected with this, I became more and more hooked. After a year I was invited to take up training which I did. This served me well as I began to teach students and staff in the schools where I was teaching.
At the end of my working day I continued to take classes in surrounding villages. I was passionate and wanted to share. When I came out of my teaching post, I opened my own studio which I have been running now for the past 7 years. It was just before the opening of my Yoga Centre, I was told about a practice to release trauma (which was not my focus at the time) a practice I had never heard of. However, circumstances soon found me in South Africa with 99 people from around the world. After the training I vowed to return and make it happen in the UK. That has been my vision and mission ever since.
Over 7 years on from my incredible experiences I have evolved the work. It is accessible to all and has a dramatic impact on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. My journey continues.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
There’s a challenge, I have lots of interesting stories to share, mostly around how amazing the body is in healing itself. I guess one of the most interesting for me with the Releasing Programme takes me back to a time I was working with a lady who was releasing tension from her body in a group session. I supported her at a certain point and held her head. I actually felt her skull bones shaking in my hands. I also felt when it stopped. After resting out she sat up and shared, ‘now I have reconciled with my husband’s death, now I need to work on the woman who killed him’. He was killed in a road accident. It was a profound moment and so interesting to witness not just experiencing the power of the body in healing, but the profound impact after a 15-minute release.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
Well this has to be in a Yoga class. It was at the end of the class and students were following my lead as they sat still, eyes closed. I was going through the sounds of the Chakras, which they repeated after me. We got to the sound Lam and I chanted ‘Vam’ — which was the next one. So I then chanted ‘Lam should not have been Vam’ and all sitting there with their eyes closed full of concentration repeated the Chant ‘Lam should not have been Vam’ I had to keep a straight face to the end. It made us all laugh afterwards when I share. In that moment funny as it was I realised just how much when teaching, when people trust you, they will follow your every word! Teaching carries a huge responsibility.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fitness and wellness field? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
I am an authority in the world of wellness with my work, which I reaslised very early on, was purely experiential. Purely because everyone is different, in their life story and their wellbeing state. The more I worked with bodies the more I learned. I was working alone in the UK, but I was driven by my passion and love in supporting people. I was approached more and more by people suffering PTSD from their past trauma as well as those with day to day stress. They stayed with me and some of them I have been supporting for years and seeing their transformation back to physical, mental and emotional health. I have worked with, amputees, stroke victims, Parkinson’s, SAS, I also work with prisoners, and those in the services including Fire & Rescue and the Police.
My unique contribution is having profound knowledge and experience and can offer an education that is not available so that people can safely reconnect to their body with what nature gave them. Discovering their ability to take control of their health and heal themselves.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
This is an interesting one. No one knew what I was about until they listened, trusted and learned. It is each and everyone of them that helped me get where I am. Because as they healed, they shared their story, the more stories I had I was able to share on the website. People contacted me and said I read every story on your website, it has given me hope.
However, my sincere gratitude goes to a lady called Heidi. My Yoga Centre had not been open too long. She first came to me for Yoga classes as she was staying with her father to nurse him with his cancer. After 3 weeks he died, and she was grief stricken. I said she should now do my practice. This she did and could not believe how quickly she overcame the real deep pain from grief and was able to do the tasks she had to get on with. She moved back to her hometown. It was about 9 months later she called me to ask if I would work with a friend suffering from an acrimonious divorce. She said she was very angry, had tried everything and wanted to try my work. After agreeing she said, ‘Oh by the way she is a Journalist with the Daily Mail and has been given permission to write about it’. Well she did and it was all very positive. I did 5 workshops in one week that summer and covered 1400 miles between Somerset and Manchester and anywhere in between. I was on the map. Last year we did 48 workshops. It was that wonderful support and boost that put me on the map. I am ever greatful to Heidi for sharing with Catharine and to her for sharing her positive experience with the nation!
Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, exercise more, and get better sleep etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the 3 main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
In my view there are three main blocks to doing something about wellbeing when we know it could be good for us:
- Lazy — we be inherently lazy and depends on the time of year too we can all feel lethargic seasonally. We therefore would rather not make the effort. There is always an excuse not to do something that challenges us.
- Someone else heal me. Do something to me — any therapy that might work or give me a prescription. Someone else wave the magic wand! Pinning our hopes on someone else making us feel good is false hope. All temporary until the next time.
- Scared — if we have been out of action for years — and many have, then making changes is challenging, and when we make those changes — how are we then going to feel? It can be a scary prospect being fit and well and not knowing what that looks like. Better to stay comfortable in the discomfort.
Can you please share your “5 Non-Intuitive Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”? (Please share a story or an example for each, and feel free to share ideas for mental, emotional and physical health.)
No 1 — has to be learn the Total Release Experience® — although it becomes an intuitive practice, initially it isn’t. We are all animals and like animals have the ability to release tension from the body. Tension that may well have accumulated over a lifetime and gets stored in the Psoas muscle. People who have tried everything to improve their wellbeing over the years often at great expense, have discovered they can do it themselves.
With the practice that heals on every level just one person’s story would highlight that. Mark is an inmate where we work. When we met him last year, he was angry and a heavy drug addict. He is now clean, anger free, physically fit and looking forward to life outside in the new year. In his own words, he owes his life to the practice he learned. He has shared his full story with me for sharing.
No 2. Yoga, maybe not on everyone’s radar. Often seen as a soft option. But Yoga can challenge on every level but is also adaptable to every level. It allows people to connect with their body through the breath which is also a challenge at the start. Sally shared only recently how since she started yoga, her back pain is reduced, she is sleeping better and certainly feels happier.
No 3 — Read. Taking time out to read something positive is something often, when feeling low do not want to do. The mind is not always focused or clear. Finding a positive inspirational read can benefit us as it can lift spirits, raise hope, change our thinking and give a feel-good factor. I bought a book for a client that changed her mindset to a positive forward thinking one. As she worked with me on a physical level the book changed her thinking. She became focused and hopeful. She gave up gambling after years, paid back her debt, built her savings and is soon to be moving into her own home.
No 4 — Consider having a dog. This is not what most who do not have or ever have had a dog, might think of. If taking a dog of course there are costs involved and unless the cost is considered and doable then it’s a no go. Dogs have the amazing ability to connect on a therapeutic level. They can become a best friend. But most importantly dogs need exercise so they get the body moving , walking out with a dog is a great way to meet other people and chat even make new friends, dogs make one feel safe and can put a smile on the face. Perfect for those on their own. I know a man who did this and what a change in him. Every day he goes for two long walks, he has purpose and that works on every level.
No 5 — Have a purpose. Having no purpose in life without even realising it can be the reason one feels down on all levels with that ‘cannot be bothered’ feeling. There never seems to be a reason to get out of bed. There is always something we can do to give to society or the community or the neighborhood or to those in our life. We no longer become the centre of the universe and put others first. It can be transformational. Whether that is volunteering for example with the homeless, in a hospital, Samaritans, or Age concern. Helping or supporting an elderly neighbour or a friend in need maybe with gardening or shopping. Having a purpose to get up in the morning is key in my view and the best example I can use is my own. Sharing my work and transforming lives is what stops me from hanging up my boots and becoming one of those ‘neighbours ‘ that might need help!
As an expert, this might be obvious to you, but I think it would be instructive to articulate this for the public. Aside from weight loss, what are 3 benefits of daily exercise? Can you explain?
1. Keep joints moving. If they don’t move, they become stiff, that includes the spine. Joints get stiff and muscles get tight, posture changes and so does wellbeing.
2. Keep the body systems functioning, including circulatory, allowing the blood to flow, heart rate increases. The respiratory system improves as lungs work a little harder. Digestive system gets stimulated to improve bowel movement too. Muscles strengthen, lengthen and become more flexible. The body becomes stronger.
3. Focus the mind. When the mind is chatting away and full of negative thoughts, they impact the muscular body. When focused on exercise the mind starts to clear of negativity and becomes more open. The thoughts then become more positive and optimistic as the chemicals including dopamine that gives us all a feel-good factor when it kicks in.
For someone who is looking to add exercise to their daily routine, which 3 exercises would you recommend that are absolutely critical?
From nothing at all I recommend:
1. Breath awareness exercises to focus the mind — such as abdominal breathing or alternate nostril breathing.
2. Simple stretches, to give a range of movement. Stretch up, sideways, backwards, twist and forward fold. All can be simple but effective to get moving.
3. Walk, jog or swim.
In my experience, many people begin an exercise regimen but stop because they get too sore afterwards. What ideas would you recommend to someone who plays sports or does heavy exercise to shorten the recovery time, and to prevent short term or long term injury?
In yoga there is a simple philosophy — all things in moderation. Many people become almost addictive to exercise as they mask an underlying problem. Whatever the reason, pace yourself in what you do, then you give your body time to process and benefit.
Know your limits and don’t push. Build up adding a little more in time or repeats to whatever exercise is undertaken.
Apply common sense — if it hurts it is not good, don’t let the ego be the driver. Take advice from the expert in the field of exercise being undertaken. Plenty of that online if no teacher/trainer involved.
There are so many different diets today. Can you share what kind of diet you follow? Which diet do you recommend to most of your clients?
The only diet I follow is a balanced one. I am busy with my work, so my husband does the cooking. I am lucky he chooses well. I rarely eat red meat rather more fish and chicken. We all know we can have too much of a good thing. Again, all things in moderation. I do enjoy treats like anybody else, but don’t overindulge. Diets can be fads and so crash, rapid weight loss then all back on again. I guess my diet works alongside exercise as I do not have a weight problem. I know if I became more sedentary began eating late at night I could well have a problem as neither are good.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story?
Yes, a book called The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. When I started to read it and follow through it bought some incredible changes to my life and I still follow through with the concept today. The Secret to me is all about careful what you wish for! If you keep putting out negative thoughts like I can’t, or I don’t want then you will find you keep getting more of what you don’t want. Change your thoughts, put out to the universe what you do want. You don’t have to keep asking either. I have lots of fascinating stories about this and I guess standing up in front of 99 people from around the world and saying, ‘I am going back to make this happen in the UK’. The universe was listening and that’s why I am where I am today with my work which no one here had ever heard of. See it, ask for it, believe you will get it. If it is meant for you it will happen as it has for me on many occasions.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I am currently focused on my mission to build a global movement to empower 1 million people to empty their stress bucket and shine their Diamond. I want to educate people to know that their body can heal from the past and build resilience, which we all need in this world. When adults heal, they do not pass their ‘baggage’ on to their children. They break the chains and allow their children to set themselves free. So, our world can become happier and healthier as more and more become balanced on all levels, physically, mentally and emotionally.
On an expedition/challenge to Malawi last October, I connected with 9 adults and now 19 of them under my guidance are sharing the practice with the children of their community and fellow adults. It is having a great impact on their mental health, where poverty, abandonment and abuse are among the big problems for them. I truly believe with the right communications getting out there we can make changes and improve wellbeing anywhere.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
‘If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got’. I like this quote; it is a reminder for me that if not happy with things the way they are then we all have choice and can change things. I have made many changes in my life so that I don’t get ‘stuck’ as many do.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
One person that keeps coming to mind for me is Kirsty Young. I knew I wanted to connect with her as soon as the story broke how she had to take time out of work because of panic and anxiety attacks. I tried to communicate with her through her manager. Clearly it fell on deaf ears! I see she has now had to resign to the fact she will not return to work. She has Fibromyalgia, a condition they say there is no cure for. But there is a reason why the body suffers and there is a way to heal. I would love to share that knowledge with her over breakfast or lunch and give her hope.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Mea culpa — I have all social media connections, but time dictates I am not putting out as much as I could do.
But I can be found on
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/treuk/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter — https://twitter.com/TREUK
Linkdin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-purvey-64235526/
Instagram — tre.uk
Women In Wellness: Caroline Purvey of TRE UK On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.