It cannot be denied that today’s society favors individuals who are tall rather than short.
This is why many of those who are not blessed vertically are looking for ways to increase their height so that they, too, may feel more confident and superior.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to have one’s height increased. If you are looking for some steps that you may take to grow taller, chances are you have already read or heard about stretching as one of the options.
So, can you increase height by stretching?
Yes, it is very much possible for you to have your height increased by stretching. That’s because it eliminates compression of the spine, which is something that can make you shorter. Stretching also helps to improve your posture, thus making you taller than your normal height.
Regularly stretching is very important if you like to increase your height as well as remain taller.
Needless to say, it is very much possible for you to go back to your usual height if you stop stretching.
Consistency is critical if you want to remain taller than average and enjoy the benefits that it brings with it, such as more success and respect.
In order for you to learn more about stretching to have your height increased, keep on reading this article. Below you will come across some of the most important things you need to know about it.
Everybody Wants to Become Taller
Because we live in a society in which the way we look matters a lot, it’s no wonder why so many people would love to become taller.
There are simply so many perks that come with being taller than everybody else, such as people around you will literally look up to you. Taller men tend to become professional basketball players.
On the other hand, taller women tend to wind up as supermodels. Or, at least, this is a common stereotype.
No one can blame you for wanting to be a few inches taller. Especially if you want to be richer, it’s one of the things that can help you attain that dream.
Based on numerous studies, taller individuals get paid more money than shorter ones.
Due to the fact that being taller is the desire of many, there are all kinds of products on the current market that promise to add inches to one’s height. They come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, extracts, and juices.
There’s also an assortment of contraptions that guarantee to make their users grow taller. In China, there’s bone lengthening surgery that can help to increase the length of the legs, but it comes with risks.
The good news is that there are also various ways to have your height increased naturally. Having a diet that provides the nutrients your bones need for growth is one of your options.
Then there are also stretching exercises that are proven to help encourage your body to become taller.
If you want to know how something as simple and easy as stretching can help you to become a taller person with more opportunities in life, don’t stop reading now!
Compression of the Discs Reduces Height
The reason why stretching is actually capable of making you grow taller is that it helps to relieve compression of the discs in your spine. Your entire spine is made up of 33 bones.
Between each bone is a gel-filled disc whose role is to prevent the bones of your spine from rubbing against one another, which is something that can cause them to get damaged.
Each time you stand up and walk, those discs become compressed. It is perfectly normal and expected, too, because they are just carrying out their tasks. However, this can cause a slight decrease in your height.
Aging is another thing that can cause those gel-filled discs found in between the bones of your spine to become compressed.
This is something that can be expected because, as you age, those discs lose some of their content, and thus they shrink. This is the reason why it is very much possible for you to be shorter when you are already older.
Then there’s also osteoporosis that can contribute to height loss as you age. Simply put, osteoporosis is a disease that can cause your bones to become weak and brittle. It is common in the elderly, especially among menopausal women.
Going back to compression of the discs sandwiched between the bones of your spine, the good news is that they can really be decompressed so that you may gain back your normal height.
One of the things that you may do is to lie in bed for several hours to give those discs plenty of time to go back to their normal size. However, especially if you are a busy individual, this is not a practical option for you to have your height increased.
This is when the benefit of doing some stretching exercises becomes very clear. Read on to know how to use stretching to your full advantage so that you can impress everyone with your height.
Decompressing Those Discs is the Secret
If you want to increase your height without taking supplements or flying to China to undergo bone lengthening surgery, all you have to do is stretch. Yes, that thing you do after hopping out of bed in the morning or before you start to do your thing at the gym!
Stretching encourages every single disc in between the bones of your spine to become decompressed. This results in the lengthening of your spine, which is something that can make you taller.
There are 23 discs found in your spine, and the reason why the number is way less than the number of the bones of the spine is that some of the bones at the lower end of your spine are fused together, and thus there’s no need for some discs to be present there.
By having those 23 discs decompressed through some stretching exercises, it is very much possible for you to become much taller.
Astronauts that spend some time in space often wind up 2 inches taller and it’s a proof that you can increase your height by stretching. That’s because in space there is no gravity, and thus the discs in their spine are kept from being compressed.
The good news is that you don’t really have to become an astronaut and go to space in order for you to grow taller. That’s because there are ways to decompress those discs without leaving this planet.
For instance, just like what’s mentioned earlier, you may lie in bed for a while to deal with disc compression. If you think that sitting can help increase your height, than standing up or walking, think again.
According to health experts, sitting can actually put more strain on your back and apply more pressure on those discs!
Swimming is also an excellent way to reduce compression of the discs between the bones of your spine.
There is less gravity when you are in a swimming pool, and that is why you tend to weigh less. It’s for this reason exactly why individuals who are suffering from back pain are encouraged to spend some of their time swimming.
Stretches to Grow Taller Before Going to Bed
You can choose from a number of stretching exercises that can help to decompress the discs found along your spine.
Some factors have to be considered when deciding which of them is best for you, such as your personal preferences, lifestyle and also the current fitness level.
It’s a good thing that many of the available exercises that provide the stretch your body needs for disc decompression are fairly easy to do.
Toe Touches
One of the simplest and also perhaps the most popular of the bunch is toe touches.
Just like what the name suggests, this form of exercise requires you to touch your toes with the tips of your fingers.
You can do this whether you are standing up or seated on the floor. No matter the case, one thing remains, and that’s the fact that toe touches stretch your spine, and this gives plenty of room for the discs to become decompressed.
What’s so nice about toe touches is that it also helps to stretch as well as strengthen the back muscles. As a result of such, it allows you to have a proper posture, which is good for increasing your height.
If you think that the height increase that can result from having proper posture is virtual only, think again. Proper posture helps to reduce the amount of strain your back is getting, and this helps to prevent compression of the discs.
Bridge
There is another very common stretching exercise, and it’s called the bridge.
This is done by lying on the floor, bending your knees and lifting your torso off the ground.
As you can see, this is not as easy as toe touches, but it’s just as effective.
One more tricky stretching exercise that you may try is the cobra pose. It involves lying on your stomach on the floor and lifting your upper body using your hands and arms.
Go for a stretching exercise that you find easy to do so that you may be encouraged to perform it on a regular basis. However, it is a good idea to mix and match different ones for best results.
Consistency is Very Important
It’s recommended for you to perform the stretching exercise of your choice for 5 to 10 minutes each time. This is best done before a workout, which is also beneficial for anyone who would like to grow taller.
Stretching may also be done after sitting, standing up, or walking for a long period of time as this can cause compression of the discs found between the bones of your spine.
Besides, stretching every now and then, especially when your day is really busy and exhausting, is a great way to deal with body aches as well as reduce stress levels.
Speaking of stress, there is a form of stretching exercise that is scientifically proven to be extremely beneficial for people who are leading very stressful lives, and it’s none other than yoga.
That’s because it is a combination of exercise and meditation, both of which are very good for reducing stress and eliminating tension.
Needless to say, doing yoga on a regular basis is good not only for individuals who would like to have reduced stress but also for those who would like to grow taller.
You can incorporate yoga into your life on a regular basis by taking yoga classes. However, this does not come free of charge. The good news is that you can simply watch yoga tutorial videos on YouTube that allows you to perform yoga in the comfort of your own home and without shelling out a dime.
Other than yoga, you may also give pilates a try. Sadly, this is something that has to be done at a studio as it requires the use of certain equipment. It goes without saying that pilates requires you to spend some money.
There are also hanging exercises that can help to decompress the discs of your spine and thus encourage you to become taller.
Hanging can be as simple as dangling from a bar or something as tricky as hanging upside down using special boots.
No matter the case, hanging exercises require you to have an impressive upper body and core strength in order for it to be effective and also be performed without harming yourself.
Regular Stretching is Recommended
Naturally, after some time, your decompressed discs will become compressed again. Such is something that happens as you go about your day standing up, sitting, walking, sprinting, and climbing stairs.
All of these everyday activities apply pressure on your back and cause the discs in between the bones of your spine to become compressed.
It goes without saying that the increase in height that you can get from stretching is only temporary. But worry not because doing stretching exercises again is enough to make you taller once more.
Just like with many things in life, nothing comes easy. If you want to remain taller than usual, what you need to do is carry out stretching exercises on a regular basis.
The good news is that there is no such thing as stretching overdose. It only means that you can perform stretching exercises to your heart’s content, although, of course, it’s a different matter if stretching a lot is already getting in the way of your daily duties and responsibilities.
According to fitness experts, stretching has to be done at least three times a week to maintain your flexibility as well as balance.
But if your goal is to add some inches to your height, then it is a good idea for you to do stretching exercises on a daily basis.
Doing it a few times a day is suggested if you want to keep compression of the discs of your spine to a minimum. Of course, it requires a lot of hard work and commitment on your part.
However, compared to taking all kinds of supplements, using an assortment of weird contraptions, or undergoing bone lengthening surgery, stretching is an option that doesn’t come with a lot of risks and complications. As a matter of fact, it’s great for your overall physical and mental wellness!
If you want to be taller and gain the trust and respect of everyone without putting your health in some form of danger, then stretching is the right way to go.
Just remember to perform it carefully in order to avoid unnecessary problems such as overstretching your tendons and ligaments.
Just Before You Go
Everyone dreams of becoming taller as there are so many perks that come with it, ranging from feeling more confident in having more opportunities and successes in life.
Health experts confirm that approximately 80% of our height is determined by the DNA that our parents gave us.
Worry not if you are unhappy with your height because there are certain steps that you may take to have it improved. Forget some of the articles on the web saying that you are no longer able to grow taller when you’re past a certain age.
A lot of people will tell you that it is very much possible to increase your height no matter your age, and one of the things that you may do is to perform stretching exercises on a regular basis.
Stretching helps to decompress the discs that provide a cushion to the bones of the spine.
When this happens, it is very much possible for you to add up to 2 inches to your height. If you are already tall and you wish to become taller, you can expect to gain even more than just a couple of inches with the help of stretching.
Unfortunately, you will need to stretch on a regular basis if you want to be taller and keep it that way, too. The goal is to deal with disc compression as soon as it happens to make sure that you remain taller than usual.
Above, we talked about some of your options such as toe touches, the bridge, cobra pose, hanging, yoga, and pilates. It’s completely up to you decide which of these stretching exercises suits you the most and can make you grow taller.
What can you do besides stretching? Obviously pull-ups or simple hanging would work as well.
Read following article if you wondering if hanging increases your height permanently.
Image by Taco Fleur from Pixabay
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