It took me 7 years of jaw clenching to get to this realization. Heard it before, but I didn’t believe it. I would never have described myself as an angry person. Anxious, frustrated, sure, but not angry. Just a couple days ago, when I finally spoke out loud to myself the things that made me angry, I felt my jaw come loose! Tingling all over my face. I would encourage others, even if you don’t think you’re repressing anything, just start saying out loud… “I’m angry at (mom, dad, friend, co-worker) because…”, you’ll be surprised what pops out to finish the sentence. And the best thing is that the anger releases instead of growing. You’ll feel so much better after.

@jamiemelissa7762

3 ай бұрын

This helps !!!❤

@Fxqr-mf4jz

Ай бұрын

Gosh, I'm having these ssme urges in my jaw after breathwork. I wanna screaaaaammmmmmmm or move/clench my jaw. It's this weird itch. I need it out

Nightmare for me. After years of clenching while sleeping, after tons of life stress and a relationship with a parent where it was never safe to express, both sides of my jaw were ground down, and do not connect. Of course, going to repeated dentists who wanted to reconstruct my entire mouth (btw, worse thing you can do with TMJ) what a racket...and a pricey one. I didn't do this, but began to work on my own nervous system regulation as well as getting a night guard. (BTW, the first dentist who made one for me charged $5,000 for that piece of plastic). At first, I had severe depression, I worked a high level job, and had a frozen jaw that would not open. Then I began to work with the fact that I was continually in vigilance and adrenal overload, my mouth, face was simply biting off more than I could chew, and pushing through (not listening to the signals of my body). It is and will be a life long journey.

@JasonBarker_YT

6 ай бұрын

How is your jaw now ?

@INNERACADEMIA

5 ай бұрын

"Biting off more than I can chew" 😢 I can relate. .suffering with the same.

@susanpenn4015

5 ай бұрын

Jason, it’s better, for sure, and I still have to manage when speaking. It gets tired, sometimes slurs, leading to more effort.

I had braces for four years. Getting them put on was so painful. Don't remember much of my childhood, but I remember that. Now, as an adult in my 50's, I have TMJ. My jaw cracks and I clench in my sleep. Thank you for explaining the connection.

I've had this at least the last 4 years, except I do it all day, every day, not just at night. Sore teeth, fractured teeth, worn down, my jaws looked and felt like a pit bulls as a Dr told me. Damaging my tongue now. I've been in survival mode for 7 years now.... Hoping me and the kids will be free and safe soon. But I'm working on all of these things now though.

@Mantras-and-Mystics

Жыл бұрын

Sending you and your little ones blessings and love. Have a hug from me! ❤️💚💜

@JasonBarker_YT

5 ай бұрын

Hope you and the family are safe. How is your jaw now ?

@TheIdeabaker

4 ай бұрын

Hope you are improving. I am exploring acupuncture and trigger point release.

I have a throat chakra blockage and tmj and this video made me realize getting my tonsils out at age 3 could be part of it. I never put that together. Thank you

This is really interesting. I really recognize myself in causes like holding back anger or not being able to be myself and holding words back. I used to grit my teeth, luckily it's better now, but i still feel a lot of tension in my jaws when i wake up. Lately my osteopath is working on it because she thinks it can be the cause of my tinnitus where i've been suffering from already for 12 years! I wonder if my tinnitus would go away if I could work on releasing my anger and frustration in this life.

@erinm3567

Жыл бұрын

Have you had good experiences overall with osteopathic medicine? I'm thinking about trying that route but not sure what all they do. Thanks.

@kikki2012

Жыл бұрын

@@erinm3567 I am very pleased with my osteopathic treatment, but I had a special one that was extra good at helping women with trauma. He helped my body to release trauma and to support itself. He never pushed and always worked with what the body asked for. I've experienced practitioners that was much less attuned. It was okay enough at the time, but the other one was excellent.

@taralilarose1

6 ай бұрын

Dr. Mandell has a video on how to cure tinnitus on utube.

This is me! Tons of myofacial pain spreading to my teeth and ears also feeling full and heavy , neck , and headaches!! Never had a scary dental visit growing up because my mom never took us to dentist so I have major anxiety to even go. My pain started 16 months ago and after Ent said I had tmj I ended up at tmj specialist and she put me in an orthotic for 22 hrs a day for 4 months and made my pain worse so I weeend off it. So that did scare me but my tmj pain was there prior to the mouth splint . Now feels like my bite is different who can stresses me out. The emotional part matches me for sure. I’ve recently read John Sarno book mind body connection and learned how repressed emotions like you said. Started therapy still new in it. I used to hold back emotions for sure but now I don’t and want to learn to how to release this pain and stored trauma. When this all started I was definitely overwhelmed, stressed, angry and lonely. I also have child hood trauma so I hope therapy helps and I will definitely try to learn how to reset my nervous system. I’ll look for your videos for this!!! Can’t wait !!!

for dental health also try not using toothpaste when brushing every other day...(and avoid fluoride pastes) toothpaste strips the enamel, makes your teeth feel sensitive which makes your mouth react, sometimes exacerbating it

This couldn't be more perfect. I've just started working with my chiropractor as my jaw cracks so loudly every time I open my mouth it's embarrassing. And the neck tension I've been having has reached boiling point. Than you Irene! 🙏

Wow. Finally someone who knows things! I have watched 3 videos so far, and for the first time I see the light. There were several serious traumatic events earlier in my life, that I somehow got through, just sort of dusting myself off and moving on, people would comment on how I always "bounced back", but I believe now, it was more a case of putting them in a box and shoving it to the back of my mind. Then about 10 years ago, there were three different traumatic things happening simultaneously in my family, (parents, sister and child) without end and I was the only person around to deal with those things.Due to that, the "box" I had shoved to the back, opened and let everything out. I finally broke. I hover between freeze and shut down, and can't function. For the first time in my life I decided I needed help to deal with it, and that made things worse. Psychiatrists who, without asking anything or having any idea what I had been through or was going through, decided I needed CBT ( I had already looked into that and knew all about it. I went to the therapist anyway, and ended up giving her a few pointers). Another one said I had ADHD, he could tell right away. I said no, what you are seeing is High Anxiety, not adhd. I gave up. I also am physically a mess, and one of the reasons was the clenching of jaw so hard for years , I lost teeth. It sure would have been nice if any of these *experts* would have taken the time to figure it out, maybe I wouldn't have ended up such a mess.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

The High Priestess, Jen here from Team Lyon. It sounds like you've already been through and learned quite a bit on your journey. Glad you found you're way here. Irene has a free Healing Trauma series, it's pretty comprehensive. I'll link to it case you want to check it out. free Healing Trauma video training - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma

Such helpful information! I had a pallet expander in for 6 months as a teen and then braces on for 4 years. A few years ago I had a tooth extraction and the dental assistant swore there'd be no shifting of the other teeth but sure enough, she was wrong. Now I don't like my smile anymore. These experiences could definitely explain the jaw and neck tension and vagus nerve problems I'm having. Thanks Irene and team 💖

Do you have any neurosensory exercises specifically for the jaw, mouth, throat?

@oaktree2254

Жыл бұрын

Commenting as I'd like to know too ☺️

@linam8508

Жыл бұрын

I want to know as well

@hockey0013

Жыл бұрын

That would be really helpful

@erinm3567

Жыл бұрын

Following

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Be the Change Bath, Jen here from Team Lyon. I'll link to a video Irene has related to orienting. The practices of orienting isn't specific to the jaw, mouth and throat, and it's a foundational practice. The orienting response can be related to tensions held in these areas and in the head and neck more generally. Healthy aggression also often relates to jaw tension, so I'll link to some information on that too. Irene does go into other practices related to working with these areas in different ways in SmartBody SmartMind, her comprehensive trauma healing program. It will likely next run early in 2023. I'll link to some related info in case you'd like to learn more. The Importance of Looking Both Ways - kzread.info/dash/bejne/hqiau62oo5rJftY.html What is Healthy Aggression? - irenelyon.com/2019/08/19/what-is-healthy-aggression/ SmartBody SmartMind - smartbodysmartmind.com

Omg this video is made for me

I really appreciate what you're sharing here and your dedication to helping others by sharing your work. My whole life I have looked for help like this and I felt lost for 28 years because I couldn't explain myself to anyone, you help me feel sane, you give me hope, and you make me want to understand myself better. I remember getting a filling when I was probably not even 7 or 8, and I just remember being petrified and in so much pain. I needed more Novocain but was too afraid to tell him and I was just silently crying and gripping the chair... I HATED it.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Seth here with Team Lyon. Thanks for being here and learning Lizzy! It sounds like you could benefit from doing this work. Be sure to also check out the free resources on Irene's website, which include practical neurosensory exercises so you can start exploring the work. irenelyon.com/free-resources-2/

@thenorthstargirl

Жыл бұрын

@@IreneLyon Thank you for the response and the link! I will check it out :)

I would love one these smaller videos for ADHD

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Hi Liz, thanks for your feedback. I'll pass along your request to Irene and the Team. - Jen from Team Lyon

Thank you for this.

More on this topic please thank you so much 😘🙏✨💖

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Hey Brookie, Seth here with Team Lyon. You might find this article of mine useful as well. It is all about healthy ways to express aggression, and held aggression is a huge cause of jaw tension. sethlyon.com/healthy-aggression-the-way-to-un-frustrate-frustration/

Yay! This will be great to send to ppl

Can you please make a video about the relationship between dysregulation and being atracted to abusive toxic relationships ?

@frankie555

Жыл бұрын

Hi Aurora, I've read an awesome book that might be worth a try, it's called "Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame" by Patricia A. DeYoung.

@Aurora-rd8lm

Жыл бұрын

@@frankie555 thank you

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Aurora - Shared your request with Irene. -Mara from Team Lyon

Ty Irene!

Absolutely correct, I have this tentions everytime I hold my anger, sadness and emotion as I do not want fight. But then I got all the Sicomatic symptoms for a year now, Went to all the medical test “result all lab are fine, no organic sickness, last went to Psycologist and yest I got depression, and now I am looking forward to heal 😢 will find out the nearest psycomatic practise expertise here in Germany

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

mel liszetzki, Jen here from Team Lyon. What you describe about having symptoms, going to the doctor, and then being told everything is fine is very common for those of us who come to this nervous system work looking for answers. It's great to hear that you're going to be looking for a somatic practitioner there in Germany. I also want to make sure you know that in addition to her free resources, Irene offers a course, program, and classes to teach people to work with their nervous system. I'll link to one of her free resources and also to her paid offerings in case you'd like to check them out. They are often quite complementary to working with a practitioner on a 1-1 basis. 7 Steps to De-Stress - irenelyon.com/7-steps-opt-in-IL Drop In Classes - irenelyon.com/drop-in-class-1 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com SmartBody SmartMind - smartbodysmartmind.com

I was already clenching my jaw just now when I found this. Thank you for this. I can't get my doctor to understand.

Would you please make a video about safety ? I was shocked when i saw your video about safety am not even aware that am not feeling safe Can you do a video about this Being in a toxic environment for a Long time and having fear inside and not being even aware of it?

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

tahini sweet, Jen here from Team Lyon. I'll link to a few videos where Irene talks about safety or related topics including her free Healing Trauma video training. She also has a video bout living in a toxic environment that I'll link to as well. free Healing Trauma video training - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma Safety: A somatic and nervous system perspective - irenelyon.com/2021/12/05/safety-a-nervous-system-somatic-perspective/ Can I heal if I'm living in a toxic environment? - irenelyon.com/2020/06/07/can-i-heal-if-im-living-in-a-toxic-environment/

Clenching or grinding at night is classic symptom of airway collapse. Failing to mention this in any such discussion is an egregious oversight. Underdeveloped jaw structure and compromised airway is epidemic in modern people.

There are mouth guards at dollar tree. They are janky, but I have found them to work as well as the super expensive dentist ones…I chew through them all on the regular. 💕 thank you, Irene Lyon!

@meganjohnson9540

3 ай бұрын

For real, my dog ate the super expensive dentist mouth guard like two weeks in. Damn.

I’ve been grinding my teeth since childhood and no longer do as an adult. As an adult I do always clench my jaw and now have TMJ pain. When I was a child doing the teeth grinding, I had family members telling me nobody wanted to sleep near me and the only cure is drinking raw eggs. It absolutely scared the shit out me. They made such an issue about it that I thought they’d really make drink that.

00:03:40 Yes, when was a child I went to the dentist even though I didn't want to. I was in the dental chair, and the dental assistant was taking a long time prepping me for the dentist. She was outside side for whatever reason. So long that I figured she was finished. I got out of the chair and started to walk back to the lobby. She caught me and scolded me," Get back in that chair !!! I'm not finished with you !!!". I did what she said, and I apologized, telling her I thought she was finished from the length of time she was gone. She was not friendly at all . Very awkward experience for me at that time. 🙃

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

stanley maestas, Jen here from Team Lyon. It sounds like your experience at the dentist when you were young left a lasting impression on you, and understandably so. If you've been watching Irene's videos, you might know that experiences such as these can have a lasting impact on us, and it's never too late to renegotiate them and heal. If you want to learn more about Irene's work, here's a link to where you can download her "Field Guide to Your Nervous System" - irenelyon.com/field-guide-to-your-nervous-system

I use a vibrating massage machine on my neck and jaw which helps to release tension and tone my vagal nerve, it instantly calms me down.

@marilynkorver746

Жыл бұрын

To Fractal of God, Could you share the name of the vibrating massager you use? Or mor description? Thank you.

@ChristineLivingston21

Жыл бұрын

Oh yes please Fractal of God, please do share which machine you use.

@linam8508

Жыл бұрын

I want to know the name too ✋🏼 also do you use lotion or oil with it ?

@heavaden

Жыл бұрын

I'm just following hoping you share now haha

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can let out growls and screams and other forms of healthy aggression that are wanting to come out now after 42 years of holding it all in if I'm living in the middle of a German city (the German culture is not much better than the British one, plus it's often quite hostile) and my apartment is surrounded by other apartments and no matter where I go to be alone, someone is bound to hear and/or see me and consider me a lunatic if I express my aggression?

@firesidethewater

Жыл бұрын

I play some loud music over the speakers and grab a thick pillow to scream/cry etc into - I can't guarantee no one hears me but I can hope and anyway it feels worth it after! 🤣

@kayana6482

Жыл бұрын

@@firesidethewater Hey, thanks for this suggestion! I might try it.

@Dilo9990

Жыл бұрын

I'd guess to scream in your car 😁

@kayana6482

Жыл бұрын

@@Dilo9990 But what if I don't have a car? I only have a bike.

@Polina-hn7hu

Жыл бұрын

Try throwing ice cubes somewhere outside and watch them crush..theres a certain release in that too..

So insightful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Would tinnitus be related to stored survival stress as well?

Between living with an abusive parent and a brutal detox from an awful medication I’m left with severe TMJD. I have no bite, a twisted palate, and cranium which all affects my vagus nerve. This is a terrible disease which slowly affects the entire body.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Katrina, Jen here from Team Lyon. I'm sorry to hear about the effects of the medication on your jaw. I hope you're finding some helpful info on Irene's channel. Working to grow regulation and ventral vagus access isn't a panacea, and over time it can often helpful in surprising ways.

So i have a question, does mindfulness store the same amount if tension in out bodies, because it is essentially like you being full of your own mind i guess that could be straining of the mind but what could be some affects of straining if your own mind and the exponential results of doing that for such a long period of time without holding back from it???? or resisting at all??? Thank you guys for this video Irene and the management

I have been suffering with teeth and gum pain for 2 years now due to teeth clenching so painful it can be

Thank you for what you do. Your videos are so helpful. 🪷

There is no healing from the damages the dentist did to me, in fact I want them held accountable unto prison sentences like what I am left with daily! I want the dental system to be shut down permanently for their practices of profits at my loss!

Can you discuss stress around the eyes caused by neck stress, and how it all relates to survival stress? I’m slowly starting to uncover this.

@thenorthstargirl

Жыл бұрын

I have this too, it's only behind my right eye which runs through my ear and down the right side of my neck. If you massage/"pinch" the long muscle at the side of your throat, you might feel a strong release

@moniquemichelle7295

Жыл бұрын

@@thenorthstargirl interesting. Thank you. When I use Feldenkrais methods to stress the back of the neck it releases. I want to find a practitioner in my area. Also, would love to know Irene’s take.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Hey Monique! Seth here :) When it comes to trauma, chronic stress and tension in these areas is usually directly related to defensive orienting and hypervigilance, which are manifestations of the fight/flight response. When this unresolved survival energy is circulating underneath the surface there can often be signaling in the nervous system that is saying 'stay alert! watch for threats! danger is immanent!'. So the brainstem becomes very tight, as do the eyes, as everything becomes rigid from these constant messages of threat.

@moniquemichelle7295

Жыл бұрын

@@IreneLyon Hi, Seth! OMG. I had no idea. Makes so much sense. Thank you so much for the informative response!

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

@@moniquemichelle7295 Sure thing!! So cool to see you digging into this info :)

I've been wearing a night guard (dental splint) for the past 10 years because I clench my jaw at night 😮‍💨

I saw this question in the comments but I think it would be useful to repeat it. What is the relationship between this science of the nervous system that you present and toxic relationships? Why trauma survivers keeps on choosing people like their primary abusive environment?

@yanare3381

7 ай бұрын

Most likely because it is a familiar pattern for their psychic so and even that toxic feels safer than something newer, better. It’s like why don’t we change for the better right away because that’s stepping into unknown, unsafe.

I have been quiet, shy, anxious my while life, at 30 I realised I have osteoarthritis in my jaw. I think this is the reason! 😔

I have started and paused the 21 day program several times, because when my bodily sensations awaken, the chaos around me ends up overwhelming my nervous system and I have ended up contracting even more. Many times my reactions to the exercises end in tears, which is liberating, but also tiredness, little adaptation and even danger in my environment, so many times I have held back and perhaps this is the cause of a considerable increase in my bruxism. and tension in the jaw? I recently read in a post about bruxism, that this can be a motor reaction of muscle contraction in the face of adverse situations in the pre-verbal stage, a reaction for survival that has become a pattern that reinforces us without realizing it, for example, when taking the language when we face situations that we feel overwhelmed or consider complex (which is something I do very often). Can these two aspects be related? Hold back my reactions/emotions/tears and stick out my tongue at the challenging? Could you make me a recommendation to restart the 21-day program in a better way? Thanks a lot.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Hi Luis Roberto Martínez Acevedo, Jen here from Team Lyon. Yes, holding back emotions (and more) and sticking the tongue out can be related. You might ask the question about the 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up on the course site were we can answer in more detail and the short answer would be to do a very little bit at a time and pause between practices. For example, instead of listening to a whole practice, you might start by listing to a minute, then wait and notice what happens. Slow and steady can be very helpful when we feel a lot.

Ha! I was slapped by my dentist as a child ! Freezing never took, and the smoke and drilling and him yelling at me to sit still.

I've had jaw clenching for years due to oxycontin use. Got rid of the drug but the jaw clenching remains. Ruined my teeth which uppers we're pulled. A nightmare and severe TMJ etc...

Does this cause issues with balance? Feeling off balanced ?

@Nocturnal_Ke

Жыл бұрын

I have braces & often clench my jaw .

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

HI ke marsh, yes, this can be related to feeling off balance as well as to experiences of dizziness and vertigo too. - Jen from Team Lyon

Is it ok to laugh instead of screaming or growling or fuming when I'm angry or upset? I think it might work for me release my tension in this way.

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Kayana, Jen here from Team Lyon. You can do what works in the moment, and over time you might be curious about what else you feel inside as the laughter comes. Laughing when we're angry can often be a way to avoid expressing the anger itself.

@kayana6482

Жыл бұрын

@@IreneLyon Yeah, that makes sense. I think angry music could help me. Thanks so much, this really helps.

My 6 year old grinds her teeth in her sleep, could this be the case for her? I’ve taken her for some cranial sessions because of hospital trauma she had as a child just wondering was that enough or does she need something else to support her?

@IreneLyon

3 ай бұрын

Hello, Sophia with Team Lyon here. Thank you for sharing about what is going on for you, we appreciate that. However, we are not able to consult or diagnose via email. Irene's work and programs are educational in the means that they provide you with education to learn more about the nervous system and practices to help become your own medicine. As Irene and her team are not doctors or medical professionals, we can't make any guarantees about specific health conditions improving but we can say that many people have had success with Irene's program and have used it to heal numerous things that they were struggling with. There's a multitude of people with these varieties of conditions who are SBSM Alumni, reporting good success and you can read about them here: www.smartbodysmartmind.com/client-stories/ Many folks find this nervous system work at its heart is about becoming who YOU truly are and finally learning what it means to go from living in a state of survival, stress and anxiety to a place of hope, possibility and solid well-being. A good place to start would be Irene's free resources and mini training "Healing Trauma", all of which are housed under this link: irenelyon.com/free-resources/ Please reach out to our support inbox with any further questions

Most dentists I have seen say that grinding is airway related so it's probably advisable to get a sleep study before assuming anything.

Does psoriasis has a relationship with dysregulation ?

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Doc Lamia, Jen here from Team Lyon. Psoriasis often has a relationship to nervous system dysregulation as it can impact all systems in the body. You might be interested in reading about Irene's story where she talks about what she went through with her skin. I'll link to it here in case you want to read about it. Meet Irene - irenelyon.com/meet-irene/

Is the brain dysregulation is the same as nervous system dysregulation ?

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Doc Lamia, Jen here from Team Lyon. They are not the same as the brain is part of the central nervous system and Irene is referring to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Brain dysfunction and inflammation can contribute to nervous system dysregulation (the way Irene is talking about it here) and ANS dysregulation can impact the way the brain functions.

So if we are holding in. How do we get it out?

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

@heidichristine2691, Jen here from Irene's Team. As we learn how to work with the nervous system, we learn to grow nervous system capacity and to work with underlying survival responses. As we do, tension tends to lessen and dissipate over time. Often there's also a connection to jaw tension and healthy aggression, as Irene talked about in this video. I'll share a few links in case you'd like to learn more. A Field Guide to Your Nervous System - irenelyon.com/field-guide-to-your-nervous-system What is Healthy Aggression? - kzread.info/dash/bejne/pqV71cR_mszOeNI.html

I pick off my lip so badly they are scar tissue!

Me.

Thanks for making this! Just curious if anyone reading this has tried Botox to help relax the muscles?! Night guards don’t help me.

@roxanecarbery1759

Жыл бұрын

I've heard from a woman who was a dental assistant and found it through that and she said she wished she had done it 30 years ago. It worked for her.

@lezm3847

Жыл бұрын

You need to be careful iv seen someone that had a nerve hit which can happen with botox injections and one side of her face was droopy for a few months until the botox wore off. If done properly would be awesome but also cost alot as effect only last approx 6 months

@resetwithrenee5162

Жыл бұрын

I tried to get botox after reading about that but MD said my muscles were not sore enough & that botox wouldn't help. I grind even more when I use my night guard....!

@summer-xt1gg

Жыл бұрын

@@resetwithrenee5162 I wonder how sore they have to be! I grind more with a night guard too, so I’m considering trying it. My dentist said they can do it, maybe you’ll have luck trying there instead if you’re interested?

@BoostOfJoy

Жыл бұрын

I’ve been getting Botox for my masseter muscles (jaw muscles) for teeth grinding now for a couple of years. I get them every 6 months as this is how long the Botox lasts. It has been extremely helpful for me. About $450 here in Australia each time. It also has a nice side benefit of slimming my jawline. Only once did the doctor accidentally get a little too close to one side of my smile muscle which froze slightly but not really noticeable. 😊

I literally ground all the enamel off my poor teeth, dentist pointed it out, and I've slept with a mouth guard for the past 10 years.

is swimming good for jaw stress release?

@IreneLyon

Жыл бұрын

Niksatan - Swimming can be wonderful for fitness and wellness in general, but not specifically for jaw stress relief, unless you concentrate on that, and it can be hard to do so. One way to work with this is to get some direct support for jaw tension, and once you learn to release it, integrate that with swimming so you can swim free from that habitual tension. -Mara with Team Lyon