Swimming Through Space Session 2: Tension-Release into Sinking

You are unique in how you came to this program and where you are personally at with your development. Therefore, I recommend digesting these Guided Practice Sessions at your own speed. You may want to take several days before progressing to the next session in order to build your familiarity and comfort with the material covered in each session or you may bang through them day after day, its up to you.

Be mindful this is not about learning choreography, we are literally changing how your structure feels from the inside. As we will talk more about later keeping a high quality in our practice is key to maximizing our return on investment. As before please have a read through this article then follow along with the Guided Practice Video, modifying your daily practice as directed.

Surrendering to Gravity

I like to think of our approach as 'Internal Kung Fu for Dummies'. By keeping our shapes simple stupid, we can keep our focus on the internal complexity.

In our first session, we built the architecture of stillness. We established the Natural Stance, aligning your bones to create a structure capable of supporting Whole-Body Tensegrity. However, simply arranging the bones is not enough. Right now, operating beneath your conscious awareness, your muscles are fighting that architecture.

Welcome to Day 2: Tension-Release into Sinking. Today, we begin dismantling the hidden parasite of chronic tension.

The Illusion of Relaxation In conventional fitness, "relaxation" is often synonymous with collapsing—slumping on the couch and letting go of all structural integrity. In the internal martial arts, true relaxation (Song) is an active, energized state. It is the absolute cessation of unnecessary muscular effort while maintaining perfect structural alignment.

When you hold chronic tension in your shoulders, back, or legs, you are subconsciously fighting gravity. You are using exhausted muscles to prop up your mass. This tension creates a rigid wall that absorbs impact, throws off your balance, and deafens your nervous system to the subtle tactile feedback needed for high-level movement.

The Tension-Release Protocol

To access the power of your frame, you must learn to surrender your weight to the earth. We achieve this not by fighting the tension, but by acknowledging it and using the breath to dissolve it.

Follow these steps as you practice along with today's video:

This simple process can help you discover and release layers of habitual and often uncecessary tension.

Arrange the Frame: Begin by establishing your Natural Stance. Feet parallel, knees slightly bent, pelvis tucked, and crown suspended.

The Body Scan: Focus your awareness and slowly scan your body. Pay attention to how each segment feels without judgment. Do not get frustrated by the stiffness; simply observe it.

Breathe into the Blockage: When you find a pocket of tension (like a tight shoulder), breathe into that specific segment as if it had its own set of lungs, allowing the tissue to expand.

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