Do you want to increase height? You need not try supplements and try certain natural tricks to be taller than your original height.
Height is largely determined by genetics, but several natural methods can help maximize growth potential, especially during adolescence. Even after growth plates close, good posture, stretching, and a healthy lifestyle can improve height appearance.
Here are a few things you can do to stay healthy and also increase height.
Do not neglect your posture
Poor posture can make you appear shorter than you actually are. Standing and sitting properly can add a few inches to your visible height.
Here a few tips that can help you improve the posture:
- Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
- Align your head with your spine.
- Avoid slouching while sitting.
- Use an ergonomic chair and desk setup.
- Strengthen core and back muscles to support posture.
Regularly practicing yoga and stretching exercises can also improve spinal alignment and flexibility, making you look taller.
There are a few good exercises to increase height
Regular physical activity stimulates growth hormones and strengthens bones and muscles. Certain exercises and stretches can help improve posture and optimize height growth.
- Hanging exercises – Hanging from a bar stretches the spine and improves posture. Try hanging for 20-30 seconds, 3-5 times a day.
- Swimming – Encourages full-body stretching and improves flexibility. The breaststroke and freestyle strokes are particularly effective.
- Skipping rope – Helps improve posture and strengthens leg muscles.
- Cobra stretch – A yoga pose that stretches the spine and promotes flexibility.
- Pilates roll-over – Stretches the back and lengthens the spine.
- Forward spine stretch – Encourages spinal elongation and flexibility.
- Cycling – Strengthens leg muscles and enhances lower body growth.
- Jogging and sprinting – Stimulates growth hormone production and improves bone density.
Practicing these exercises consistently can make a significant difference in posture, flexibility, and spinal alignment.
Strengthen your bones and skeletal structure with resistance training
Strong bones are essential for a taller, healthier body. While lifting heavy weights doesn’t directly increase height, resistance training strengthens bones and improves posture, making you appear taller. Squats, deadlifts, push-ups, leg presses, lunges and weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging, and playing sports also improve bone density, reducing the risk of height loss later in life.
Improve spinal flexibility with yoga
Yoga helps improve posture, spinal flexibility, and overall body alignment. Certain poses stretch the spine and create space between vertebrae, promoting a taller appearance.
Mountain pose (Tadasana), cobra stretch (Bhujangasana), child’s pose (Balasana), cat-cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana), and triangle pose (Trikonasana) are known to have an effect on the height. Practicing yoga regularly not only enhances flexibility but also reduces stress, which can negatively impact growth.
Other factors
Apart from exercise and yoga, other factors like proper nutrition helps the body develop properly. Including protein in the diet helps build tissues, calcium strengthens the bones, vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium, zinc is essential for growth in children and magnesium for good bone health.
