Stretching offers the body numerous benefits. For instance, you can improve flexibility and strength, reduce pain and even improve your posture. While it's not technically possible to increase your height through stretching since your bones will not grow anymore, you can look taller by elongating your spine and improving connective tissue flexibility.
Lengthen Muscles, Not Bones
Performing stretching exercises will make your muscles and tendons more flexible. This means they will grow longer and capable of a wider range of motion. With consistent practice, stretching can relieve pain caused by tense muscles that pull on your bones. So, while stretching won't make your bones stretch or grow longer to increase your height, it can lengthen your muscles, which will ease the tension on your bones and allow you to stand taller.
Posture
Poor posture can have a negative affect on your height. While it won't literally make you shorter, slumped shoulders and a forward-thrusted neck can make you look shorter and less confident. Stretching often and doing stretching exercises can help you pull your shoulders back, hold your head up and stand up straight, making you look taller and feel stronger.
Forward Bend
One way to stretch your muscles to ensure you'll stand as tall as possible is to perform the forward bend. This is a yoga pose that involves bending at the waist. With your feet spread slightly, bend forward as far as you can while keeping your back straight. Hold your elbows with your hands and allow gravity to stretch you farther. Hold for several seconds before slowly raising back up.
Hip Extensions
Another exercise you can do to stretch your spine and improve your posture is the hip extension. To perform this exercise stand in front of a chair with the back facing you. With your feet spread apart and your hands on the chair for balance, lift your right leg behind you as far as it will go without bending your back. Hold your tummy tight and hold the position for a few seconds before returning to the starting position. Repeat on your left leg.
Downward Facing Dog
To further improve your posture, elongate your spine and increase the appearance of your height, you can do the downward-facing dog yoga pose. To do this pose, begin on all fours on a yoga mat. Place your weight evenly on your hands and knees, then lift up onto your toes. Push your hips up toward the sky and straighten your legs. Try to touch your heels to the floor. Hold for several seconds before returning to the starting position.
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