Will Yoga Make You…Taller? 😉
A few months into starting yoga, a coworker said to me, “Debra, you look taller.” I never grabbed a measuring tape to check, but I remember feeling taller and a lot less achy in my back. And it wasn’t just my posture that changed.
I felt more patient, a little kinder—even my husband noticed. 😄 My anxiety, that constant undercurrent of stress, seemed to ease up. It was like yoga gave me a way to process everything, softening the hard edges and bringing a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt before.
If you’ve been practicing for a while, maybe you’re noticing some changes too?
Research shows that regular yoga practice can significantly reduce cortisol levels—the body’s primary stress hormone—and increase GABA levels, a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. A study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that consistent yoga practitioners have greater resilience and emotional stability, while another in the Journal of Behavioral Health revealed that yoga can improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
When we’re caught in constant stress—whether it’s the city hustle, the daily grind, or workouts without balance—our nervous system takes a hit. But each time we step on the mat, we’re retraining ourselves to respond with more ease and grace. This is where the true magic of yoga happens. Studies even show that yoga can boost creativity, improve focus, and help us let go of habits that don’t serve us.
And, of course, there’s the flexibility, strength, and that blissful post-yoga glow. 🤩 So, while yoga might not actually make you taller, you’ll definitely feel lighter, stand a little straighter, and maybe even slouch a little less!
