For anyone who wants to grow taller, no matter what age, a diet rich in proteins and calcium as well as minerals and vitamins, in general, is an important factor. Getting lots of sleep helps too. The third but certainly not the least of these height-increase habits is exercise. In this article, we will go through some basic but effective exercises that target height growth.

Do consult with your doctor before embarking on any exercise program, and never over-strain yourself. Get adequate rest in between exercise sessions. It is a well known but still often disregarded fact that it isn’t the stressing of your body in an exercise that improves it, it is the recovery after the stress that gets your bones and muscles to repair themselves into something better, or in your case – longer, than before. Also, don’t give up too soon. True, some adolescents sometimes seem to grow a few more inches every night, but if you are not one of these lucky people, and especially if you’re way past adolescent age already, growth may seem very slow. At that point, our object is to squeeze out the very last millimetre we can, so don’t be discouraged.

The key exercise is stretching. The following exercise is based on a yoga position, and you may recognize it also from the toe-touches you used to do in P.E. class. Stand up straight with feet shoulder-width apart. Lay the palms of your hands on the front of your thighs, fingers pointing downwards, then slide your palms slowly down the front of your legs bending only at the hips and not at the knees. Let them slide down as far as they will go. You will feel the stretch on your calves and back muscles.

Make sure the movement is slow and smooth, and don’t force or strain your joints. Height increase won’t happen if you overdo it. When you’ve slid down as far as possible, hold on to whatever part of your legs you’ve reached, then pull down some more ever so slightly with your arms. If you feel pain, back off a bit. It should only be slightly uncomfortable, not painful. Count 20 seconds, then let go and slowly stand straight.

Next, lay face down on the floor, and push your torso up slowly using your arms while keeping your hips in contact with the floor. This stretches your spine the opposite way. Again, don’t over-strain, and back off slightly to just before the first sign of pain. Count 20 seconds, then release.

What these exercises do is stretch your spine and the muscles that support it. It also stretches your shoulder, neck, thigh and calf muscles, adding flexibility and strength. Do this pair of stretches once in the morning and once at night, every day.

There are many more exercise routines you can do to stretch your spine and legs, and with the complete collection of height-increase habits, you can be healthier and happier, and grow taller!

READ ALSO: Fitness Tips – The Importance Of Stretching

Featured Image: Breaking Muscle
Source by Epictetus Dee