Like pilates, there has been a lot of buzz in the past few years about how to grow taller using yoga. But also like pilates, there is so much misinformation on what yoga can and cannot accomplish that it would be hysterical if it wasn’t so downright sad. The truth is that yoga can be great for flexibility, relaxation, stabilization, and toning muscles that you never knew you had. But yoga – in and of itself – will not make you taller even though it can help you train your body how to grow taller.I want to repeat myself because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been presented with this question.
Yoga – in and of itself – will not make you grow taller.
Whew. Ok. That’s out of the way.
Now, that being said, certain yoga stretches can be absolutely great as a supplement to other grow taller exercises. In fact, I have found them so useful that I included them into the Grow Taller Blog after consulting with several of the most knowledgeable yoga teachers and experts in the field today. My goal was to isolate no more than three yoga stretches that would assist in properly aligning the spine and providing strength to those crucial core muscles that are so imperative in making it possible to stand taller and – in effect – get taller.
Here they are, in no particular order:
Curled Pelvis Thrusts
Lie flat on your back on the floor (or on a mat) and bend your knees so that the heels of your feet are touching your behind. Grab your ankles with your hands. Keeping the back of your head on the floor, slowly thrust your pelvis up into the air so that the only parts of your body that remain on the floor are the back of your head, your shoulders, your upper back, and your feet. You will feel the stretching motion in your entire back so it’s crucial that you maintain control and perform the stretch slowly. Hold this position for 5 seconds and slowly return to the floor. Repeat 10 times.
Cross-Legged Back Stretch
Remaining you on your back, cross your legs so that the tops of your feet and toes are resting on the opposite thigh. It may take a few days or even weeks of stretching to be able to accomplish this, but you can still do the motion even if you can’t get your feet quite that high at first. Bend your neck backwards so that you are resting the top of your head on the floor instead of the back of your head – this will put you in a position where you are looking behind you. Lift your back up as high as comfortable in this position and feel the stretch. Hold for five seconds and relax yourself back down. Repeat ten times.
Side Bends
Come up to the sitting position and cross your legs again. Bring your arms up and lace your fingers behind your head. Your elbows should be pointing straight out to the side, not in front of you. From this position, bend to the left as far as comfortable, feeling the stretch. Hold for one second and then bend to the right and hold for one second. Perform the stretch slowly and carefully to avoid any risk of injury. Perform the stretch 20 times – 10 for each side.
Like the pilates grow taller exercises, incorporate the yoga stretching exercises to increase height into your stretching regimen once per day, three days per week but alternate from the days you have incorporated the pilates.
For example, if you have included pilates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, you may want to add in the yoga on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings and then take Sunday “off” for your standard set of stretches.
Remember to only perform them once per day, not twice like the other exercises.
