The Right-Sizing Practice
This body practice, which I refer to as the Right-Sizing Practice, is all about giving our body permission to take up the space it deserves (to right-size), whether that’s more or less than it usually does in the world.
Find yourself about 5-10 minutes during your day when you can dedicate all of your intention and attention to this practice.
Standing with about five feet of space all around you, find an equilibrium stance with your feet comfortably resting on the floor and your arms to your sides.
Slowly begin to reach upward and outward with your arms, letting your upper body become as large as it can be. If it helps, you can also move your feet further apart, expanding the space they are taking up as well.
Lengthen and widen your body to its fullest, most expansive-feeling limit, not pushing yourself too far. This should feel like a comfortable, full-body stretch. Spend some time in this position, simply breathing.
Feel what it feels like to fully expand your body. What does it feel like in your hands, shoulders, chest, hips, and legs? How does it impact your breathing?
Now, slowly shrink your body back down to your equilibrium stance and without stopping, begin to constrict your body even further.
Feel your back bending and your arms caving in and folding into your chest. Let your head and neck turn downward as your knees bend.
Allow your body to become as small as it can, taking up the least amount of space possible. Once again, this should feel like a comfortable, painless, full-body stretch. Again, spend some time in this position as you breathe.
Take some time to feel what it feels like to fully constrict your body. What does it feel like in your hands, shoulders, chest, hips, and legs? How does it impact your breathing?
Now, slowly expand your body back to its equilibrium stance. Take a few breaths, noticing how your body feels.
Repeat this process several times, spending more time in the stance and position that feels the most soul-enriching.
When you finish, make sure to spend a few moments with gentle breathing, allowing your body to simply be.