You have permission.
Take up all the space you want.
Too often in yoga sessions, I see students shrinking—physically and energetically. Shoulders rounded, chin dropped, breath shallow, gaze down. Maybe it’s uncertainty about the practice… or about themselves. And while part of this posture might be anatomical, I believe form follows function.
Our experiences shape us emotionally, and those emotions take residence in our bodies. If we were neglected, bullied, criticized, or made to feel small, we start to believe we deserve it. That belief becomes a story—one we repeat in different forms:
“I probably wasn’t qualified for that job.”
“I didn’t deserve the recognition.”
“I’m single because I’m hard to love.”
Eventually, those stories become who we think we are. We compare, we criticize, we shrink. Every thought influences the cells of our body—and when we say those thoughts out loud, even jokingly, our body listens. There’s no filter for sarcasm or self-deprecation. The body believes it.
So, the body protects itself by withdrawing.
By shrinking.
By dimming the light.
But if that’s true—then isn’t the opposite true too?
Couldn’t you choose a new story?
Start by noticing the lies you tell yourself in quiet moments. Whose words are you repeating? Who made you feel small, and why are you still carrying that? Give it back. Let it go.
Replace it with truth. With kindness.
Instead of “That was dumb,” try “That was a learning moment.”
Instead of “I’m not enough,” say “I’m evolving.”
Stand tall.
Lift your chin.
Roll your shoulders back.
Breathe deeply.
Set your gaze forward.
Take up space.
Take up all the space you want.
You have permission.
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