We’ve all heard about the amazing real-life experiences of people who have undergone surgery to add a few inches to their height, and we couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain they went through just to overcome an insecurity that many others share. Fortunately, there is a legitimate substitute for height-enhancing surgery: yoga!
Yoga is known for stretching muscles, but specific poses like the ones we are about to share with you do wonders to help the most vertically-challenged of us.
1. Surya Namaskaras (Sun Salutation)
The Surya Namaskaras is a pose that imitates praying to the sun, as it is revered as the source of all life and energy in the world. This sun salutation pose is considered an ideal warm-up exercise and a full body workout when done in 12 reps. This pose works best when done on an empty stomach and just as the sun rises. The Surya Namaskaras is traditionally done with a little morning prayer, thanking the sun for all the life that it has given the earth.
This pose greatly improves blood circulation and nerve function. For individuals with thyroid and anxiety problems, the Surya Namaskaras pose stabilizes thyroid activity while simultaneously reducing stress and anxiety. A single round burns up to 13.9 calories for someone of average weight.
2. Sukhasana (Pleasant Pose)
The Sukhasana is one of the easiest poses in yoga asanas, as it is suitable for anyone of any age. This basic-level pose works best when done in a meditative pose just as one wakes up in the morning. Doing the Pleasant Pose on an empty stomach and following it up with other poses, can significantly increase its benefits. Staying in this pose for as long as you can stretches the muscles and straightens ones back, improving posture and making one taller.
Sukhasana engages the back muscles, making it one of the most effective yoga poses to increase height. Allowing your head to touch your lower leg as you stretch to wrap your hands around your feet increases flexibility and strength, while calming the body and mind.
3. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
The Paschimottanasana is a pose that works several systems in the body at one time. This basic level pose, just like the Sukhasana, works best when done on an empty stomach and just as the sun has risen. Doing this pose in the evening is also great, but let three to four hours pass after you’ve had a meal before doing the Seated Forward Bend, and pose for 30-60 seconds to reap the most benefits.
This pose not only gives the spine and hamstring a good stretch, it also improves digestion, and activates the kidneys and liver. This pose is also great at combating headaches, stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and insomnia.
4. Marjariasana (Cat Pose)
The Marjariasana is just like you guessed it, a pose that follows the stance of a cat. This pose is great to regulate the digestive system. Just like most basic level yoga poses, the Cat Pose is best done when one hasn’t had a meal yet. Doing this pose at least four to six hours after a meal gives the system enough time to digest. Holding the pose for 10 seconds stretches arm and back muscles.
The Cat Pose makes the spine flexible while strengthening the shoulders. It massages and engages the digestive system, resulting in a more toned abdomen when done regularly as it removes unnecessary stomach fat.
5. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
The Tadasana is considered the base pose in which many other yoga poses emerged. This pose can be practiced at any time of the day, regardless of one having had a meal or not. But if one plans to follow up the Tadasana with other poses, it is recommended to do the routine four to six hours after a full meal.
Practicing this basic pose everyday for at least 10-20 seconds improves posture, strengthens knees, reduces flat feet, regulates digestion and improves the nervous system. Most notably, it makes the spine more agile, contributing to making one taller.
6. Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)
The Vrikshasana or the Tree Pose as most people know it, attempts to imitate the grounded stance of a tree. This pose requires a lot of focus and concentration to balance all of one’s weight on one foot. The Tree Pose is also a pose that is recommended to be practiced in the morning, as it contributes to the feeling of feeling more refreshed and energized after a night’s sleep.
The Tree Pose calls for balancing body weight for one minute for each leg. Doing this pose everyday strengthens the spine and improves neuromuscular coordination. Because of the balance that this pose calls for, it also strengthens knees and tones leg muscles and improves concentration.
7. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
The Trikonasana is named so as the pose resembles a triangle. To maintain balance when practicing this pose, just like with Vrikshasana, the eyes must be kept open. For beginners, this pose needs to be held for at least 30 seconds on each side of the body.
The Triangle Pose stretches the muscles, particularly the ones on the backside of the body. It also strengthens knees and legs and extends the muscles in the neck. The pose is also great for flat feet, neck pain and stress.