Cellulite, Yoga and the Lymphatic System

While there is no guarantee that cellulite will go away completely, you can increase your chances with hard work and correct eating and training habits. However, there is something else that probably requires your attention.

Cellulite is more than just an aesthetic issue. It can be an indicator of something more concerning but less obvious: a sluggish lymphatic system, which can cause fat cells to swell up and fill up with toxins.

According to one study, women with cellulite typically have lymphatic deficiencies[1] and another study found that 80 percent of women have sluggish lymphatic systems[2]. Getting the lymphatic system flowing smoothly is one of the forgotten keys to easier weight loss and improved feelings of well-being.

Most people know little about this complex system but they should because it works as an important cleansing system for your body where lymph fluid drains off toxins from the blood, intestines and liver.

Lymph travels through a network of capillaries close to the skin and its duty is to carry toxins and infections from all over the body, through lymph nodes; but because lymph is not pumped around the body by the heart, if you do not move enough, the system gets blocked.

Only your body’s movement and skeletal muscles can push lymph fluid through the body. This is why training your whole body as a complete system like yoga does is important; as opposed to running or walking or any other one dimensional exercise.

With a lack of real muscular movement, cellular "waste" begins piling up and your fat cells are particularly vulnerable to the build-up of toxins. You have 500 to 1,000 times more toxins in your fat than in the rest of your tissues. If your lymph becomes slow and lethargic, then your fat cells may swell—and one of the costs of this sluggishness is cellulite.[3]

But that’s not all!

Your body’s toxin removal system is indispensable and if it is not working well, you quite simply become ill.

Yoga is a fantastic way to get lymph flowing properly around your body. Every deep breath, every bend, twist, turn and inversion is helping you to improve not just your blood flow but also the flow of lymph around your body, so that it passes through your lymph nodes and gets purified.

Lymph nodes are tiny nodules which act as filters for the lymph. They produce white blood cells to attack the bacteria and remove toxins. There are hundreds of them around your body but you might feel them in the groin, arm pit and neck/throat area; and they swell up when you get ill. Again, key areas of focus in a yoga class. Don’t think those easy neck rotations are simply stretching your neck, there is a much bigger picture to be seen there.

Cellulite is just one indication that your body’s detoxification system could be compromised and it is important not to ignore it. So if you want to add another string to your exercise bow, get healthier and decrease your cellulite, don't just give yoga a try, make it an important part of your day.

If you would like a daily programme to get your body moving, why not try the Fielding Fit Yoga for Fat Loss Programme

[1] http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lymphomania-the-secret-to-eliminate-pain-cellulite-fat-and-more.html

[2]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071383832/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0071383832&linkCode=as2&tag=drmicschcoo-20

[3] http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2014/06/13/cellulite-removal-power-plate.aspx#_edn2

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