Yoga is a practice that many people do to keep their bodies in shape. It gives so many benefits - it leads you to better health, helps you to be a more peaceful inner self, puts you into good shape and improves your posture. But can you use yoga as a height increase stretch exercise? Or does yoga exercise increase your height? If it does, with so many different types and practices of yoga, which types you should choose?

First, you need to know that your body height is determined by the length of your bones. When you're still on your growth spurt phase, you became taller and taller because your bones grew. Thus there're many things you can do to get taller if you're still young and your bones are still growing. Otherwise, you'll need to go through a painful height increase surgery to allow your bones to grow. So, does yoga make you taller?

Well, there're many yoga practitioners reported that they gain some extra height after intensively practicing yoga for a while. The height increase is ranged from only ½ inch to 2 inches. With this fact, you can assume that yoga does help you to grow taller although may not significantly.

However, many experts suggested that the physical height increase from yoga is more likely just a "feeling" of being taller, due to more flexibility and straight posture yoga brought. This is completely true; yoga does not make your bones grow.

But it's certainly possible to gain a couple of inches in height by doing yoga exercise, although this is surely not due to the growth of your bones. Instead this is more likely because in yoga, you not only spend a great deal of time extending your spine, but at the same time you're also building the muscles to support the extension. The stretching in many yoga poses will correct your spine, by aligning your spine properly and prepare it for elongation. This is added by the more flexibility and straight posture yoga offer. This is how yoga makes you taller.

Now, let's take a look at some of yoga poses which emphasize on spine stretching and may benefit to your height increase process.

Core power yoga exercise lengthens and stretches the muscles and at the same time it builds stamina, strength and lean muscle mass. The focus of core power yoga is on the coordination of the breath movement, connecting the body, mind and spirit to the warmest level.

Ardha Kurmasana is also known as Half Tortoise Yoga Asana. Due to its resemblance to a tortoise it is known as the tortoise pose. This yoga asana is very beneficial to your body in every possible way. Ardha Kurmasana stretches the spine which relieves you from any backache or spine problems. The bending and stretching increases the level of flexibility of your arms and hips. The pressure on the thigh and legs makes it strong and sturdy. The spine is elongated by the stretch provided during the asana.

Bhujangasana is known as the snake or cobras pose because it reflects the look of a raised hood. As you raise your head along with your chest it represents a snake hood. The rest of the body lies down representing the body of the snake. This asana can be one of the best asanas for your back as well as your spine. During Bhujangasana the spine receives a powerful backward stretch which increases flexibility of the spine, strengthens the spine and rejuvenates the spinal nerves. Each vertebra of the spine is given a rich supply of the blood. By stretching, it tones the spinal column which reflects your back and with the extra pull entire abdominal muscles get toned too.

Dandayamana Janushirasana is also known as Standing Head to Knee Pose. It strengthens your limbs and your hands which are a great support system of your body. Every muscle of your body gets stretched to its maximum. It tightens the abdominal muscles resulting in toning of your abdomen. It strengthens your back muscles which gives you a steady posture. Your biceps and triceps get toned due to the strengthening of the muscles. Due to the toning of the abdominal and thigh muscles your body achieves firmness.

Ardha Matsyendrasana asana is also known as the Spine Twisting Asana. It's the only asana which twists the spine to achieve a healthy and toned body. Every movement of the asana assists in strengthening the spine and its muscles. The twist stretches every muscle and ligament of your back. If you are a person with good height but stooping shoulders, this asana can correct it. It also improves the back and corrects a faulty posture. Your back, hips, neck and shoulders get stretched very well.

Sukahasana - As a start you can try the Sukahasana pose (sit / easy position)
This is a starting position that helps focus awareness on breathing and the body, strengthen the lower back and open the groin and hips.

1. Sit cross-legged with hands on knees.
2. Focus on your on your breath.
3. Keep your spine straight and push the sit bones down to the floor.
4. Allow the knees to gently lower.
5. If the knees rise above your hips, sit on a cushion as it will help support your back and hips.
6. Take 5 - 10 slow, deep breaths.
7. On the next inhale, raise your arms over your head.
8. Exhale and bring your arms down slowly.
9. Repeat 5-7 times.

For other simple stretching exercises, you can visit: Pilates & Yoga Exercise for Height Increase. Ashley Coelho wrote about several simple Yoga and Pilates exercise to help others improve their health and get taller naturally.

Finally, if you're a natural slouchier, you'll have a pretty big change to increase your height with regular practice of yoga exercise. You can use it as a height increase stretch. You can start by doing some basic pose such as the Sukahasana pose and work your way to more advanced pose like the Bhujangasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, etc. Now it's time to grab your mat and a towel and get the most out of your yoga exercise.