Being Tall - Can Stretching Exercises Increase Height .... Safely ? (Jul 28, 2009)
One of the simplest and most effective ways to increase your height is through stretching and following the guidelines of a height increasing exercise program.
Exercising & Stretching can help correct posture, strengthen important muscles and aid proper circulation around the body - especially when combined with the correct diet for growing taller. The different stretching techniques and exercises discussed here are also designed to increase the body's production of growth hormones - essential in helping you grow taller. Human growth hormones or HGH is a hormone that - when triggered through exercise and stretching - strengthens bones, muscles and tissues and causes your whole body to grow. What these grow taller exercises essentially do is release the human growth hormone into the bloodstream, while the height increasing stretching exercises enable the hormones to better carry out there function of stretching the muscles and allowing the bones to grow.
Although an effective Exercising & Stretching program is of benefit at any age, the body is more receptive to this process during it's final growth phase and hence of maximum return at this time. Experts agree that this is one of the safest forms of height gain methodologies and far more preferable to any form of medication.
One of the most effective means to increase your height is through a carefully carried out height increase exercises program which is designed to strengthen core muscles, improve posture and also encourage your body to increase the levels of growth hormone it releases in to your blood stream.
It is a well proven fact that exercises of high intensity such as anaerobic activities like cycling, sprinting or swimming can have a huge impact on your body's production of growth hormones. A good program should include a variety of exercises that will move your body through a full range of motion. This helps your body become more flexible and makes the bone and cartilage more receptive to growth.

Hanging - Did Newton say "Gravity is one of the biggest obstacles to growing taller" ? You spend most of your day in an upright, vertical position. All day long gravity compresses your spine and joints, which squeezes and thins the cartilage and makes you shorter. However, it is easy to counteract this affect through a simple hanging exercise because it lets the weight of your lower torso stretch your spine and reduce the tension between your vertebrae. In fact, hanging has been known to increase a person's height by one to two inches. You will want to have a horizontal bar that is high enough so that your body can fully extend. If your body cannot fully extend, then bend your knees slightly until you hang freely.
Grab the bar, make sure your palms are facing away from you and your thumbs are almost touching. While you are hanging, try to keep your arms, shoulders, and hips are relaxed as possible. This helps gravity pull on your body even further. Try to hang for at least 30 seconds and repeat the process when you are able to grip the bar again. You should also repeat this exercise a minimum of three times. Also, if you wear ankle weights while hanging you will get an increased benefit.

Being Taller Using Shoes - How to Appear Taller Using Height Increasing Shoes (Oct 11, 2009)
In most cultures, being tall is something most men aspire to be. Many ladies would also like to enjoy the advantages of being tall. Unfortunately mother nature determines an individuals height, with ones genetic influence playing a large part in all of this. A healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and following a favorable exercise program can assist nature make the most of your potential height.
However one of the easiest and safest ways to gain height has to be the use of height increasing shoes (aka elevator shoes, lift shoes etc.). Elevated shoes have been the subject of much research and design improvements lead to the wearer standing straighter (hence taller), with improved posture. Most importantly, the individual feels better about themselves and being taller means more confident. The key design feature of shoes to make you taller in years gone by was a thick shoe sole, visible from the outside. While this did deliver height increase, it was not very subtle and many wearers were aware that their 'trick' was very visible.

Modern shoes assisting people being tall are of a superior design and deliver the height increase without you noticing any difference from the outside. The exterior looks just like a normal shoe, but the interior contains the lift, which is blended into the shoe design. All the usual desirable properties of shoes, such as style, comfort and durability are very much integrated into most height increasing shoes. Many online shoe retail outlets stock such shoes and indeed some stores specialize in them.

For a safe way to gain height, with an immediate impact, that will not cost a small fortune, you could be standing on the answer - your shoes. Good luck getting taller and mind your head on those lampshades.

For more on the joys of being tall and how to increase your height, visit http://www.beingtall.com.

Beingtall.com is an informational site covering all topics on being tall including the advantages of being tall, and some tips on being taller. Enjoy BeingTall.

Being Tall - Home Design Tips For Tall People (Oct 5, 2009)
Despite what people think, there are many disadvantages to being tall, most of which arise in a domestic setting. The good news is that good home design can eliminate many of the problems that tall people face. This is particularly easy to factor into a new build, but minor modifications to your existing house can make a dwelling so much more comfortable for tall people.
One hundred years ago, average height of an American male was 2 inches smaller than it is now. House builders build houses for average people and provided you are not too far from this average, the regular house is perfectly functional for you. However I'm 6 foot 5 inches and notice many things in the regular house that does not suit my posture , height and build. Any body taller will notice more problems and to a degree that's more severe. What I consider a minor inconvenience, a taller person could consider a factor that makes a house uninhabitable. Lets look room by room...

Kitchen -- Worktops, sinks, faucets etc need to be an inch or two higher to eliminate stooping down for food preparation. Air extractor fans need to be higher, as do all light fittings, to prevent bashing ones head. Positioning handles on drawers, cabinet and fridge/freezer a little higher also helps. Much of this is only possible at build time, but with the assistance of a good architect can be designed into your house.

Bathroom -- probably the worst room in the house for a tall guy. The shower head needs to be tall enough to allow you stand straight and still have a generous water spray hit your head. Not having to bend too far down to the shower controls is a nice-to-have. Some vendors stock extra long baths, a must for the tall person who likes to immerse their whole body, knees included in the water. The final problem in the bathroom is a mirror positioned too low on the wall. There's nothing worse than bending at the knees to get a view of your face when shaving.

Bedroom -- the major issue here is the bed and it's length. Also the sleigh bed designs, with the vertical board on the end is one to avoid. Another tip here is to increase the height of your wardrobe hanging rails a little to avoid having your shirts hitting the bottom floor of the wardrobe.

Simple modifications can make a house more comfortable for a tall person, be it you, your loved one or your 6 foot 4 inch fourteen year old son. For more on how to modify your house and lots more on the advantages of being tall and disadvantages of being tall, visit http://www.beingtall.com

Myles Long, at 6 foot 5 inches, knows all about the potential inconvenience of living in an unsuitable house. By using the tips shared above he has eliminated many of the disadvantages of being tall. For more on being tall visit http://www.beingtall.com.

Clothes for tall people (Aug 30, 2009)
Clothing can be used to accentuate the positives of being tall, but a number of key guidelines must be adhered to. The importance of picking the right type and style of clothing is far more critical for tall men and tall women than it is for the shorter counterparts, who not only have a larger selection of clothing to chose from, but also have more styles that suit their physique.
The number one problem that tall people encounter when buying clothes is that High Street stores and mainstream manufacturers target their clothing ranges at he biggest market segment, which happens to be people of average heights. Thankfully their are many retail stores, both High Street and online, that specialize in clothing for tall people. Using these stores ensures that tall people have a big selection of clothing that is appropriate for them, as opposed to wasting time browsing through rails of items only to find that the item you like most only comes in sizes small and medium.
Now that we've resolved problem one for the tall shopper, on to problem number two - what styles of clothing suits the tall person and what styles of clothing should they avoid? The answer here is far more difficult as it varies from individual to individual. The many factors affecting styles for the taller person include age, gender, culture, body shape and skin tone. However some rules govern some common characteristics such as avoiding vertical stripes if you feel you are tall and thin as this only magnifies height. Most tall clothing shops will offer expert advice of selecting clothing suitable for tall people. Even though you think you may be outside the norm, these shop sales people have seen it all before and will have suggestions that should suit your taller build. Even the online tall clothing retail outlets offer guidelines as to what styling suits what body shapes. Many include standard advice based on chart sizes, but the better ones will provide an interactive personal advice service such as an email Q&A service.
Hopefully this has given you some food for thought and for further information on clothing for tall people, please refer to http://www.beingtall.com.
http://www.beingtall.com - The website that outlines the good the bad and the ugly about being tall. Detailing all about Tall person clothing, the advantages and disadvantages of Being Tall.

Does Being Tall Improve Your Sporting Ability ? (Aug 02,2009)
Sir Steve Redgrave has launched a campaign to find tall athletes to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games. Redgrave, Minister for Sport Richard Caborn and UK Sport began the "Sporting Giants" search in Trafalgar Square. And Redgrave told BBC News 24: "Within the sports of rowing, volleyball and handball we need people with height.
"If you pass the series of tests you will get drawn into the young start programme and will be brought through with the national team."
UK Sport is aiming to encourage individuals between the ages of 16 and 25 of 5ft 11in or above if they are female, or males taller than 6ft 3in, to apply to their scheme.

Caborn said: "Sporting Giants will give taller athletes the chance to reach the peak of their potential by trying sports both new and old, introducing them to the high-performance environment.
"The home crowd will want to see the best of British talent when London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012. This campaign will help us to meet those high expectations."
Tall people are looked up to. Many admire them. They themselves maybe very self-conscious of their height, but many feel it is an asset. No doubt, tall people do encounter some difficulty in movements, like they find it difficult to use public transport, or their legs stand out too tall on the bed, but in sports their presence is welcomed.
There are many advantages of being tall and one among them is participating in sports. Being tall does not bar you from taking part in sports. Many tall people excel in sports and do not think their height is a disadvantage.
What are the Advantages of Being Tall in Sports?
They can participate in certain games better such as basketball, volleyball and tennis. Their height helps them to place the ball in the basket and long arms helps them to serve better in tennis
Long legs help them to do well in running sports. They can run fast as they can take long strides and reach the destination on time. They can go much ahead of the others
In swimming also long arms and legs are an advantage. The strokes can be long and wide
Tall people are considered to be good leaders in sports. In school itself they are noticed and given leadership responsibility
In certain games such as basketball, volleyball, fencing and water-polo; they enter these games without any competition. Their selection process is easy. In other words they are selected very easily
They are tall in stature also. Their personality comes across well. They appear to be more self-confident and their self-esteem is high.
Mobility is also high. Since they can take long strides easily, they are very agile.
Sportsmen like being tall. They receive a lot of attention and stand out in the crowd. Their height is an advantage to them in certain sports and they do take up challenges more confidently. So one need not feel too conscious of one’s height. One can try one’s hand at such sports, where being tall is not considered to be a hindrance.
For further details on being tall in sport and lots more on being tall, visit



Advantages of Being Tall - Feel Good About Your Height (Nov 03, 2009)
Being tall is a great attribute. It can be a help in life in many ways. In addition to the physical advantages of being tall there are also psychological benefits to being tall. Modern lifestyles generate much negativity and cause many people to feel bad about themselves - these could be financial pressures, relationship issues, family issues etc. Hence it's more important to feel good about you, if you are tall - not everybody is!
If you are tall, you probably don't even realize the physical advantages that you enjoy - you take them for granted. But think about the amount of times that a smaller person asked you to reach to the top shelf in a supermarket and hand it down to them. Think of those times at a sporting or theatre event when you stood three or four deep in a crowd and were able to look over the heads of those in front and enjoy the occasion.
However aside from the physical advantages of being tall , there are also those intangible benefits that should boost the self confidence of the taller person. This is especially important for tall teenagers, that they feel good about themselves and their stature, at a time in life when they need to feel emotionally secure. They possibly don't realize that many of their smaller classmates and friends secretly wish they were a few inches taller. Being tall also makes the tall teenager feel more confident when it comes to the all important dating game and it's generally of advantage in the college sporting arena as well.
Whilst there are disadvantages to being tall, the advantages far outweigh these. For a teenager, who needs to feel secure about their place in life, being tall is a reason they should feel good about themselves. For parents of tall kids, they should make every effort to ensure their kids see their height as a positive attribute and use this as a reason to build their self confidence during those early years.
Hopefully this has given you some food for thought and for further information on dealing with being tall, please refer to being tall
http://www.beingtall.com is an informational site covering all topics on being tall including the advantages of being tall, the disadvantages and some non-offensive jokes about tall people. Enjoy http://www.BeingTall.com.

Being Tall : Choosing a vehicle (Feb 10, 2010)
Whilst there are many advantages to being tall, it can pose many challenges. None more challenging than selecting a  car. Whilst most people consider mechanical reliability, style, performance etc. as the most important considerations in selecting a new vehicle, the tall person will put comfort first and foremost. The problems are two fold - comfort and operational issues, both caused by lack of cabin space.
Automotive design has, in general, moved towards smaller, sleeker and more compact models. Not surprising when the focus is on style, performance and fuel efficiency. However this leads to the anomaly of people are getting taller and cars getting smaller. The most important message in this article is that tall people need to be cognizant of cabin space and it's effect on comfort and operability. Head and leg room are immediately comprimised if a vehicle is too small. However most manufacturers will provide numerous adjustable features that make the most of the limited interior space. Drivers should understand the seat adjustment features which usually included front/back movement, up/down movement, back of seat tilt movement, head rest movement, lumbar support etc. Many of the operational features such as steering wheel column, rear and side mirrors which are also adjustable. Many vehicle models contain sunroofs that bite into the cabin space - the model without the sunroof will have more space.
Perhaps even more important than driver comfort is the issue of vehicle operability. Tall drivers need to ensure that they can operate the vehicle safely. The most common issues likely to be experienced by the tall driver in the small car are likely to be lack of vision, restrictive access to pedals, reaching for control items such as gear stick, steering wheel etc.
In summary the taller driver needs to inspect a vehicle very carefully before making a purchase. Driver comfort and  vehicle operability are paramount. Be sure to test vehicles and use the adjustment features to modify the vehicle to verify if the vehicle is right for the individual or not. Safe driving !

Dealing with Tall Jokes (Apr 13, 2010)
Writing on behalf of tall folks - we know we are tall and it doesn't make us feel any better to be constantly reminded of it. I am sick and tired of being told "Is it cold up there? So how tall are you anyway?" OR "Was your mother a giraffe? If I were obese, I can't believe people would say to me "Wow you are fat - how much do you weigh?"
I can't say that I enjoy being considerably taller than most others in my company and it must be particularly difficult for ladies to deal with, especially when with shorter men who are embarrassed by a ladies height. Combined with issues like not being able to get clothing that fits, not being able to fit into cars, aeroplanes etc, having bad backs and more - being extra tall has many drawbacks.
Written in the hope that readers will be sympathetic to the plight of tall people, maybe folks will think twice before they next ask "How's the weather up there?". We know we are unusually tall - please don't keep reminding us!

For some innoffensive jokes about tall people and lots more on the joys sorrows of being tall, please go to http://www.beingtall.com. Learn also how to cope with what life has to throw at the tall person - we have to be above tall jokes. Forgive the pun, but it's not always easy being tall. There are many advantages and disadvantages to being tall - and dealing with jokes about tall men is just one.

Jokes about being small (Apr 23, 2010)
Being small is great in many ways. However there are disadvantages to being small also. Some people like to poke fun at small people by making jokes that reference their height. Small jokes can be entertaining, but can also be a cause of hurt to shorter people. How vertically challenged people deal with this is important to maintaining self esteem.

Often driven by jealousy, making jokes about a short persons height is an all too common happening. Sometimes deliberately intent to cause hurt, but sometimes in innocent fun, smaller people (just as taller people do) must learn to live with hearing jokes about their height. Shorter males are in a worse position to deal with handling this type of scenario as society deems being tall to be a desireable quality in males. History depicts man being a hunter gatherer type animal, being taller represented more opportunity to survive the challenges that prehistoric life presented. Hence smaller men usually carry a lack of confidence that cause them to struggle to deal with a joke about their height.

Small ladies may also be subjected to attempted ridicule over their lack of height. Likewise it's important that they are emotionally equipped to have the strength to deal with such juvenile behaviour as using jokes about small people. Smaller ladies should be proud of their stature, but may also choose to be cognisant of their clothing so as not to over play their height. At all times they must keep in mind that the advantages of being small far outweigh the disadvantages of being small. Hence coping with the occasional tall person having a joke at their expense should be seen as one of those occasional hazards of being small.

If you choose to tell jokes about small people in public, be aware of the hurt they could cause. Most times it will be innocent fun between friends and small people will not take offence, especially if they are not within earshot. But think before you joke about small people. For some innoffensive jokes about small people and lots more on the joys of being tall, please go to http://www.beingtall.com

Being Tall and water sports (May 14, 2010)
Being exceptionally tall has many advantages, but what about when it comes to sporting endeavour, in particular when it comes to water sports. So just what are the plus and minus points of height when it comes to Swimming, rowing, water polo, canoe sports etc. How can a competitor use extra height to gain a competitive advantage over an opponent who has a different physical make up.
Let's look at the key attributes of the taller sports person. First and foremost is the ability to reach further. Being taller implies longer arms and legs, in turn meaning longer reach ability and longer stride ability. This is a tremendous advantage in many sports, but in particular water sports. One of the key factors to swimming is to generate long arcs with the arms and legs. This is only possible with long levers. The front crawl swim stroke requires that you have a long stroke i.e. your arms are powering through the water longer for every stroke than a shorter competitors. The longer your arms are in the water the more time you have to propell yourself in forward motion. Taller swimmers (and just take a look at who lines up for the next Olympic 200 metres Freestyle final) tend to have the textbook long, smooth stroke, whereas the shorter swimmers have a shorter, snappier stroke. Shorter swimmers, if powerful enough do however tend to excel at the more explosive and shorter events, such 50 metre breast stroke, where the long smooth stroke is overpowered by the more powerful short sharp strokes that generate forward momentum quickly.
Rowing is very much the domain of the taller athlete. Take a look any elite rowing crew and they will be tall. Even the lighter weight crews tend to be long and lean as opposed to short and muscular. Rowing is very much a team sport where all action and movement must be simultaneous to maximise effort. This is much easier to acheive if your crew of four or eight are of a similar height. Then to achieve a long stroke, maximising the oar time in the water, longer levers are required.
Canoeing and kayaking can favour the shorter or longer paddler depending in the particular event. Some disciplines, such as slalom, white water event favour the shorter more balanced and powerful athlete who can generate power in a short number of strokes. Other events are more favourable to the taller athlete as they require long smooth stokes to generate forward momentum and maintain it for long period of time. 
Like many things in life, being tall has many advantages. Being tall in water sports is no different.