Staggered Sapling With Arm Extension (Patreon)

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Begin in the deep sapling stance, your hands resting at your hips. Instead of a stationary pivot, actively take up space by stepping into the turn and shifting into a staggered sapling stance. Take a long step backward, root your feet firmly, lift through the crown of your head, and extend your rear hand. Return to the deep sapling stance, then smoothly turn to the other side.

The deep sapling stance offers symmetry, while the staggered sapling stance introduces asymmetry. First, you assume an asymmetrical right-foot-forward staggered stance, move through the symmetrical deep sapling stance, and transition into an asymmetrical left-foot-forward stance.

Just as you stay flat-footed in the symmetrical sapling stance, maintain this grounding in the staggered stance. This process isn't rigid or mechanical—it's about feeling your way through the shifting stances and exploring balance in both symmetry and asymmetry.

Symmetry often feels more stable, but in practice, asymmetry offers more stability in an asymmetrical world. The staggered sapling stance is an introduction to asymmetrical balance and to finding that balance intuitively. By staying long while moving your arms, you encourage adaptive balance, which is not a fixed state but a constantly evolving process.

Rather than striving for perfect mechanical execution, the focus is on sensing your body's orientation, exploring balance, and staying rooted to the ground.

Pretend you're moving on ice rather than a stable surface. Balance isn't about composure during predictable and stable conditions but about composure despite instability and unpredictability.

– Sam