Can I straighten a hunched upper back (kyphosis)?

A rounded, hunched upper back can feel set in stone, but for most people it is a pattern built from years of leaning forward - over desks, phones and steering wheels. The chest and the front of the shoulders shorten and pull you inward, the muscles along the upper back get long and tired, and the spine settles into a curve. A posture built by habit can be softened by a different habit.

Gravity Stretching opens the tight chest and shoulders that pull you forward, and in the hang the spine lengthens instead of folding - decompression of the body creates space and takes the pressure off. Supported hangs and slow stretches gently remind the body what tall and open feels like, and after a good hang the body itself wants to live tall and move tall - no forced posture-holding.

Go gently and let it build over a series of sessions - this is about easing and re-balancing, not snapping anything into place. For a growing teenager, start with a one-on-one session and tell the trainer beforehand.