Take up space
Get away from the scrunch and the withering
And embrace the notion of expanse
Of reaching into the void, into the atmosphere
Explore the space between your ribs
And the expansiveness of your lungs
Find the sequoia of your spine and
The ability to shine up and out from your heart’s secure home
The sky and its particles are boundless,
And the feel of the air’s embrace is certainly
Longed for by your skin as your cells get
Nourished with the idea of freedom
Gentle movement to take up space:
Heart and chest:
Draw your shoulders down and back, expanding your collar bones open as you bring your scapulas towards a kiss. Lengthen your ribs along the front side of your body as you inhale deeply and feel the enormous presence of your lungs.
Side body:
From a tall spine and with your heart space open, extend the fingers of one hand down the outer edge of your hip and thigh, and reach the other fingers brightly up to the atmosphere and then arc your arm gently over your head. Keep the sits bones or foot of the reaching arm firmly rooted, as if you’re planting yourself into the supportive earth as you bloom from each side.
Upper back:
Gently intertwine your fingers in front of your heart space. As you inhale, flip your palms to press away from you, while simultaneously rounding into your spine and bringing your gaze toward your belly button. As you continue to round and press, using opposing movements, imagine sending your breath right between your shoulder blade and finding space there. Press through you palms and long arm bones, and image spreading your wings out behind you, unfurling them from the space between your spine and your shoulder blades.
Now, continue to press through your palms as you stack the pearls of your spine back up, nice and tall, and reach your interlaced hands toward the sky. Lengthen your arm bones up, but remember to soften your shoulders down and back, away from your ears. Continue to root down through your sits bones or feet, and take your hands in a gentle rock over head, side to side. Release your hands down with an exhale.
Good morning stretch:
On your back, find enough space that you can reach your arms over head onto the floor or bed. Point through your toes and reach through your wrists, lengthening every inch of yourself like a string bean Gumby. Separate your ribs from your hips and breath deeply along the length of your belly, feeling it rise with the inhales and drawn in as you exhale.
We are here to explore the possibilities of the day, of our breath, of our beingness. In what ways can you take up space today - not only physically, but with your thoughts, your words, or your actions? You are invited to rise and bloom in the space you are given; you are no withering violet.
Take Up Space