Yoga makes cellulite worse?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I’ve been practicing yoga at what many of you would call a “box” studio for about a year. Mostly I’ve done some Bikram style classes and some flow classes in warm-ish rooms. I was in pretty decent shape to start with having been a spin instructor and then a member of a boxing club.

I began doing yoga because by 2011 goal was “working out for sanity not vanity” - I was hoping to learn to cope better with stress and anxiety. And it has helped. In the mean time I put on a 3-5 pounds but I wasn’t too worried about it because my clothes still fit and I was watching the scale.

My legs have gotten smaller and I am wearing skinny jeans and I began to notice my “thunder thighs” were no more. Now I was a spin instructor and have always had pretty lean legs but I could feel them getting leaner esp since an old IT band injury has kept me off the serious leg weights for almost 10 years -all good right?

But then I noticed the entire back of my thighs looks like I’m 60 (I’m 40) and there is so much fat and lumps -even though my legs are overall smaller and feel much firmer -esp my hamstrings.

A former friend that owns a yoga studio once told me that yoga squeezes the fat out from around the muscles and organs and that’s why it is so good. But I can’t find that backed up anywhere. According to her once the fat was “out in the open” it would be processed more easily.

I’m really trying not to be caught up in these “vanity” things but I was just so surprised and I wondered if it was a “looking worse before it gets better” phase and if I need to put up all my shorts next summer. :smiley:

#2

In my experience yoga has helped with my cellulite. I’m not a medical professional, but I’ve read that inversions are particularly helpful for this because the inversion reverses the flow of the lymph, improving circulation.

Before yoga found me, 10 year ago I was 65 PBS heavier. I lost weight through changing my eating habits, and eventually began skating 10 hours a week. As I lost weight, I noticed the appearance of cellulite, but after a started yoga ( thanks to a suggestion from a physic therapist) I saw improvements.

I also started dry brushing my legs before showering each morning, and ensured I was adequately hdrated inside and out: I traded caffeine for herbal teas, drink a lot of water, and massage oil into my skin after showering. ( I recommend pure coconut oil, like you eat, and I’ve also used Weleda’s birch cellulite oil which was nice, but contains wheat germ pill so I had to stop using it as I’m celiac and extremely sensitive to wheat in anything)

As my body ages, I’m doing my best to observe these changes and accept them for what they are.

In my experience, the appearance of cellulite will improved. Weight loss does tend to make cellulite more obvious, but i’ve seen it improve in myself. Keep up with your practice & hang in there! And do try the dry brushing and after-bathing oil massage- just remember to ale ays brush/rub towards the heart.

#3

Thanks! I was thinking of dry brushing. I already use unrefined coconut oil on my face. I guess I’ll start there. Thanks.

#4

[QUOTE=DeeD;69464]
A former friend that owns a yoga studio once told me that yoga squeezes the fat out from around the muscles and organs and that’s why it is so good. But I can’t find that backed up anywhere. According to her once the fat was “out in the open” it would be processed more easily.

[/QUOTE]

:lol:

#5

Hi DeeD,
It’s not a sin to be vain. I would lie if I said I had never been caught looking at myself in the mirror!
Yoga does stimulate the lymphatic system and also helps to regulate our metabolic system to use the energy pathways more efficiently (especially fat!) I would say keep at it!

Btw, how is the ITB injury? Thankfully i’ve haven’t had an ITB injury, but I sure now what a tight one feel like!!

#6

I do not think yoga is related with cellulite increase.

#7

I like the dry brushing suggestion and the coconut oil. I used to use coconut oil on my face then stopped. It spilled all over my stuff and ruined my passport when I was in Costa Rica and I just never picked it up again. But I do remember it worked well. I should forgive the passport-ruining coconut oil and let it back in my life again. :slight_smile:

#8

stress is probably the cause of cellulite. cortisol breaks tissues down so de-stress.

#9

[QUOTE=DeeD;69464]I’ve been practicing yoga at what many of you would call a “box” studio for about a year. Mostly I’ve done some Bikram style classes and some flow classes in warm-ish rooms. I was in pretty decent shape to start with having been a spin instructor and then a member of a boxing club.

I began doing yoga because by 2011 goal was “working out for sanity not vanity” - I was hoping to learn to cope better with stress and anxiety. And it has helped. In the mean time I put on a 3-5 pounds but I wasn’t too worried about it because my clothes still fit and I was watching the scale.

My legs have gotten smaller and I am wearing skinny jeans and I began to notice my “thunder thighs” were no more. Now I was a spin instructor and have always had pretty lean legs but I could feel them getting leaner esp since an old IT band injury has kept me off the serious leg weights for almost 10 years -all good right?

But then I noticed the entire back of my thighs looks like I’m 60 (I’m 40) and there is so much fat and lumps -even though my legs are overall smaller and feel much firmer -esp my hamstrings.

A former friend that owns a yoga studio once told me that yoga squeezes the fat out from around the muscles and organs and that’s why it is so good. But I can’t find that backed up anywhere. According to her once the fat was “out in the open” it would be processed more easily.

I’m really trying not to be caught up in these “vanity” things but I was just so surprised and I wondered if it was a “looking worse before it gets better” phase and if I need to put up all my shorts next summer. :D[/QUOTE]

lol yoga is not a sport.:smiley:

#10

Sometimes, when you start losing weight, your fat cells could shrink faster than your skin can adjust to. That could result in your skin looking more saggy, fatty…Don’t forget that there’s a network of elastic stuff called collagen below your skin surface. Cellulite usually occurs when the collagen band is either broken or is so stretched out that gaps starts to form. The gap usually exposes your adipose tissues.

#11

When you start losing weight (especially if fast); your skin and collagen might not have time to “snap back” right away. Give it time. When in doubt, go see a dermatologist. They could recommend some cream or some procedures…It could also be that you are over compensating and eating more than you realized…maybe you gained weight.

#12

forgot to say, not a medical doctor and above posts I made are just theories using recollection of past classes I took. I have no medical degrees and can’t diagnose. Just throwing out possible causes.