7 Cellulite-Fighting Yoga Poses
Cellulite affects nearly 90 per cent of women at some point during their lives, regardless of whether they’re slim or physically fit.
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Yoga, when coupled with cardio, can help you tackle cellulite by working the parts of your body where cellulite often appears.
For best results, combine 20 minutes of yoga moves with 30 minutes of cardio four times a week. Here are 7 cellulite-fighting yoga poses to get you started.
1. Standing Forward Bend
Start standing with your feet hip-distance apart. Bend your body forward the same way you do when you’re touching your toes to stretch. Keep your knees soft with a slight bend and hinge from your hips. Pull your head toward the ground. Straighten your legs but keep a slight bend in your knees, making sure your knees don’t lock. You should feel this move in your quads. Hold for 5 to 8 deep breaths.
2. Eagle Pose
Start from a standing position. Bend your knees, cross your right thigh over your left thigh, and hook your right foot behind your left calf if you can. (If you can’t, just keep your foot on your thigh.) Bring your left arm under your right arm, press your hands together, and sit into the pose by squeezing your thighs together. Hold for five to eight breaths before switching legs.
3. Half Shoulder Stand
Start lying down with your back flat on the ground. Rest your arms by your sides. Bend your knees to curl your body inward, aiming your knees at your forehead. For support, put your hands under your hips. Hold for 8 to 10 deep breaths before releasing your knees and gently rolling yourself back to the ground.
4. Dancing Shiva
Stand with your feet hip-distance apart, hands on your hips. Raise your right leg behind you, keeping your knee bent. Aim your foot toward the ceiling and keep your tailbone tucked in as you pulse your leg for 20 reps. Hold the last rep and reach behind you with your right hand to grab your right ankle. Lift your leg upward with your hand while leaning your core forward. Keep your chest lifted as you raise your right arm, engage your abs, and hold for 5 to 8 breaths. Repeat on the other leg.
5. Chair Pose
You know the drill for this one: from a standing position, sit back as if you’re sitting in a chair. Raise your arms above your head and hold yourself in a sitting position, knees bent and hips back for five deep breaths.
6. Warrior III
Start from a standing position. Lean your torso forward and bring one of your legs straight behind you, using your other leg to hold your weight. Continue leaning your core forward and pulling your leg back until your body is in a straight horizontal line. Hold for five breaths. You can use a piece of furniture for support if balancing in this position is too difficult.
7. Naukasana
This is a boat pose with folded leg. Sit on the floor. Bend your right leg and put your right foot on your left thigh. Bend your left leg and hold your left thigh with both hands. Breathe in. As you breathe out, lift your left leg off the floor and hold your body straight. Hold for several deep breaths before switching legs.