How to build an effective height increase stretching routine

There are 4 different types of movements you need to do for a complete stretching session:

1. Extension; such movement includes backbends like Cobra Pose and Camel Pose.
2. Flexion; this movement includes forward bends: Plow Pose, Seated Forward Bend 
3. Side Bend; when you arch your spine to the sides.
4. Twist; you got it, when you twist your spine.

To avoid the risk of injuries you should perform all of the above in a balanced manner and do restorative poses between each set. Restorative poses bring the spine to its initial form. This is important because mixing those 4 movements without an intermediate movement between could potentially damage the discs. 

Best Restorative Pose - Child's Pose

If we follow these principles correctly, an ideal yoga session for height increase should look like this:

1. Back bend > restorative pose
2. Forward Bend > restorative pose
3. Back bend #2 > restorative pose
4. Forward Bend #2 > restorative pose
5. Side Bend > restorative pose
6. Twist > restorative pose

This system pretty balanced. It has two different back bends, two different forward bends, also a side bend and a twist.

Another example:

1.  Touch Toes (Forward Bend) followed by Child's pose 30 seconds (restorative pose)
2.  Cobra Pose (Back bend) followed by Child's pose 30 seconds (restorative pose)
3.  Lying twist (Twist) followed by Child's pose 30 seconds (restorative pose)
4.  Side Bend followed by Child's pose 30 seconds (restorative pose)

The dead hang could also be used as restorative method. 

I advise you to see a doctor before starting any stretching routine and make sure your back and spine are healthy. If you're a beginner, please don't engage in advanced poses. Start with beginner poses and gradually build up the intensity.

For more workout examples check my stretching logs: day 1, day 2, day3, day 4, day 5,  day 1 again

Stretching Journal (7/7/16)

Stretching Journal (Day 5) , July 08 2016

1. Touch Toes - 20 seconds / 20 reps
   Knees to Chest - 60 seconds
2. Cobra Pose - 15 seconds / 10 reps
   Child's Pose - 60 seconds
3. Bridge Pose - 30 seconds / 4 reps
   Knees to Chest - 60 seconds
4. Lying twist - 30 seconds / 6 reps (3 for each side)
   Knees to Chest - 60 seconds 

Stretching Journal (5/7/16 - 6/7/16)

Day 3, July 5th 2016

1. Touch Toes - 20 sec / 20 reps
2. Bow Pose - 20 sec / 8 reps
3. Half Twist - 10 sec / 10 reps x2
4. Side Bend - 3 sec / 10 reps x2

Day 4, July 6th 2016

1. Cat&Cow Stretch - 10 sec / 10 reps x2
2. Plow Pose - 30 sec / 4 reps
3. Fish Pose - 25 sec / 4 reps
4. Locust pose - 20 sec / 6 reps 

In those two sessions I reduced the number of exercises and increased the number of reps for some of them to compensate. My body reacted well and today I felt a slight soreness in my back again, after a long time. This proves once again that changing variables in your routine doesn't let the body to adapt to the movements, which is good. 

Stretching Journal (2/7/16)

July 2nd 2016, Saturday

1. Touch Toes - 20 seconds / 10 reps
   Knees to Chest - 30 seconds
2. Camel Pose - 20 seconds / 6 reps
   Child's pose - 40 seconds 
3. Cat and Cow Pose - 10 seconds / 6 reps each (12 reps in total)
   Child's Pose - 30 seconds
4. Side bend with hand raised up - 3 seconds / 10 reps each side (20 reps in total)
   Child's Pose - 30 seconds
5. Lying twist - 30 seconds / 3 reps per each side (6 reps in total)
   Knees to Chest - 30 seconds 

It took me about 30 minutes to finish this session. It was a good session overall. Felt my back stretching like it should.

Stretching Journal Clean Slate (1/7/16)

Because I've been lazy as hell for the past month and I didn't exercise as much as I should have, I decided to start over again from today, July 1st. Wish me luck.

1. Cat&Cow Stretch - 10 sec / 5 reps x2
2. Cobra Pose - 15 seconds / 5 reps 
3. Plow Pose - 30 seconds / 4 reps 
4. Bridge Pose - 10 sec / 5 reps
5. Half Twist - 10 sec / 5 reps x2
6. Side Bend - 3 sec / 10 reps x2  

As you can see I experiment a lot with poses, number of reps, holding seconds and sequences. I don't like to have a rigid routine, it bores me. I don't think those details matter anyway. As long as you follow the scheme presented here you should be fine, aka an equal amount of forward and back bends in every session, and don't forget about twists and side bends. Remember to breath and stretch yourself to the maximum, in the limit of safety of course. The most important thing is to maintain intensity within your sessions, don't let your body adapt, constantly push forward.

Stretching Journal (29/6/16) and examples of restorative poses

After a 5 days break caused by health issues I'm back at it again. Here's how today's session looks like:

• Exercise 1 (forward bend): Touch Toes - 15 sec / 10 reps
• Exercise 2 (backbend): Cobra - 15 sec / 5 reps 
• Exercise 3 (backbend): Locust Pose 3 variations - 10 sec / 2 reps x3 
• Exercise 3 (side bend): Side bend - 3 sec / 9 reps x2
• Exercise 4 (Twist): Marichi's Pose - 10 sec / 5 reps x2 
• Exercise 5 (backbend): Bird-Dog Pose - 10 sec / 3 reps x2
• Exercise 6 (forward bend): Cat Pose - 10 sec / 5 reps

And of course restorative poses between each exercise.

Locust pose variations 

Dog-Bird pose, alternate left and right

Cat pose 

Child's Pose and Knees to Chest. Hold one of those poses for 30-60 seconds between each exercise so your spine can realign.  

How to perform Cobra Pose the right way and increase your height

As I explain in this post, Cobra pose (Bhujangasana) is a backbend. Backbends are important in a stretching routine for height increase. They are also the most demanding type of stretches, and if you don't perform them correctly you might injure yourself.

This is the right way of doing Cobra: 

• Lie on your stomach with your body completely stretched 
• Firmly press the legs (thighs and tops of the feet) and the pubis into the floor.
• As you inhale start lifting your chest by straightening the arms. Always keep the shoulders away from the neck (don't shrug). 
• Lift from the lower abdomen, and never stretch the arms fully, that will only hurt your lower back.
• Hips, thighs and knees should stay on the ground.
• Keep the back of the neck long and your legs active as you continue to broaden your collar bones and roll your shoulders back and down.
• Hold the pose 10 seconds if you're a beginner. In time you should work your way up to 30 seconds. 
• Breath easily. On an exhalation release your torso down to the starting position. 

Yoga pose performed correctly, shoulders down and pelvis on the floor 

Here we have celebrity Kate Hudson performing Cobra pose the wrong way. She's shrugging her shoulders and lifting her pelvis up.

How Often You Should Stretch if You Want to Grow Taller, How Much and When

How often

Most height increase success stories out there show that consistency and perseverance are key factors for success.

A lot of succes stories indicate that the sweet spot is 6 days of stretching a week. Some people even do it every day, but you shouldn't do that. There should be at least a day a week reserved for recovery.

How much

Start with 20 minutes sessions if you're a beginner, then gradually work your way up to 1 hour. This is of relative importance though. Some people like to exercise faster some slower. My advice is to take your time and don't obsess over how much time you've spent on the yoga mattress. It is more important to exercise correctly, focus on the breathing and finish your stretches.

Also always listen to your body. That is the best indicator of a good workout or a lazy one. Don't focus too much on counting the seconds or the reps. In the end it's all about intensity and aiming for a satisfying workout. Soreness the next day is a sign that you are on the right track.

When

Mornings, after you wake up. This is not a golden rule though, but I have a theory that stretching in the morning will have a stronger impact on your spine than stretching in the evening for example. In the morning the spinal discs are loosen up and filled with liquid, raw, more responsive. Whereas later in the day your spine is already flexible and compressed from the gravity and all the movements you've made during the day. So logically mornings are ideal for an effective back workout.

You will probably notice this by yourself, stretching in the morning feels a lot more intense and painful.