If you are reading this article, you already know how cellulite looks and how irritating it can be for anyone.
Cellulite is nothing more than fat, but in this case the adipose tissues, instead of being bound by the connective tissues, start pushing against them, giving the dreaded crumply look to the skin.
The favorite places of cellulite to form are the thighs, hips and in many women cellulite is also common in the lower abdominal region. Cellulite can occur in both men and women, but it is more prominent in case of the women folk.
Cellulite can stop you from putting on those stylish leg revealing dresses and can be a real nuisance to achieve that perfect figure you always dreamt of.
The only good thing about cellulite is that you can get rid of it, even without having to go under the knife. Dieting coupled with proper exercises can not only reduce but remove cellulite from your thighs and hips.
However, to get the expected results, you actually need to pick the right exercises and moves that target the particular area and you also have to work hard, as cellulite is not easy to burn out.
If you are ready to take the challenge and cover the extra mile to get rid of cellulite, here is the best exercises and yoga poses that can actually help you get rid of cellulite quickly and naturally.
Exercises for getting rid of cellulite
Cardio workout
Before you start with the exercises that particularly target the cellulite and helps in burning the excess fat quickly, it is essential to do at least 10 minutes of cardio.
Cardio exercises make your blood rush through the vessels and can be highly effective to increase the efficiency of the targeted exercises that you will do afterwards. Cardio exercises can be as simple as jogging or skipping the rope.
Even sit ups can also work as effective cardio exercise, if you do it nonstop for 20-25 counts. Once you are all warmed up, move to these targeted exercises that will help you to get rid of the stubborn cellulite.
Lateral stepping
Side stepping is an easy and effective exercise to burn cellulite in the thighs and hips. This exercise helps in toning your glutes as well as quadriceps and abductor muscles offering targeted effects for cellulite reduction.
To do this exercise, stand straight on your feet, with your spine erect. Now take a giant step with your left leg to the side. Bend your right knee to reach a full extended position. Now lower your hips to feel the tension in your thigh and hip muscles.
Get back to the starting position and repeat with the other leg. You should do 5 sets of 8 reps to start with and increase as you go to melt your cellulites.
You can also take light weight dumbbells in your hands while doing this exercise to ensure better effects. It is best to start in open hands and then after you have practiced the exercise for a week, add on the dumbbells.
Kneeling back kick
Kneeling back kick is another easy exercise that works on your glutes and thigh muscles. Kneeling back kicks can be of different type and all of them are ideal for burning the cellulite of the hips and thigh regions.
To do this exercise, kneel on the floor with your hands placed beside your shoulder. Your body should remain parallel with the floor. At this position take up your right leg and extend it upwards in a motion, like a kick in the air.
Once you complete the kick, take the leg to the floor and repeat the same with the other leg. You need to do at least 5 sets of 8 reps at the beginning to reduce cellulite from your thighs and hips.
There are also some variations of this exercise and you can do all of them in combination to introduce variety in your workout. You can also add some ankle weights while doing this exercise for quicker results.
Squat with side kick
It is another amazing exercise for burning that stubborn cellulite. It works out your glutes, hamstrings, hips, abductors as well as quadriceps giving the best toning effects. Using ankle weights while doing this exercise can increase the effectiveness of the move.
Stand straight on the floor with your feet shoulder apart. Now bend your knees steadily and lower your body till the point your thighs become parallel with the floor. Hold this position for few moments.
Now lift your left leg to the side swiftly, like a kick and hold the position for few seconds before getting back and repeating with the other leg. You need to complete at least 5 sets of 8 reps to get results.
Walking lunges
Walking lunges ensures proper workout of the glutes, quadriceps and hamstring. Including walking lunges in your daily exercise regimen can be effective in reducing cellulite quickly.
To do this exercise stand on your feet with your spine erect and then step the left leg to the front and start lowering your body by bending your knees to reach the position as shown in the figure.
Make sure, that the knee that is close to the floor, is not touching the floor but is at a parallel distance.
Hold this position for few seconds then track your legs back to the standing position and take the next step with the other leg and repeat the same. Start with 3 sets of 5 reps. Lunges with a table can also be effective to reduce cellulite.
Yoga poses for cellulite reduction
Yoga poses can also be highly effective in reducing fat and also to burn out the cellulite formed in the thighs and hips.
There are some yoga poses that can be particularly effective to get rid of these dimples of fats. Check out the most effective yoga poses for natural cellulite reduction below,
Garudasana or eagle pose
Garudasana or the eagle pose is considered as one of the most effective yoga asanas that can help in reducing the stubborn cellulite. To do this pose, stand straight on your feet.
Take your left leg up and twist it around the right leg as shown in the figure. Once you are able to reach balance in this posture, bring your hands to the front and in the same way twist your left hand with the right hand.
Hold this posture for 30 seconds and then first untwist your hands and then the legs to reach the standing position. Repeat with the other hand and leg. You should do at least 3 sets of 3 reps of this asana at the begging.
Sarvangasana or shoulder stand
Sarvangasana helps in aiding the lymphatic system and can be helpful to stimulate the burning of the extra adipose tissues stored in the hips and thighs. To do this asana, lie flat on the floor with your legs together.
Now lift your legs up, when your legs are around 45 degrees with your body, use your hands to push the thighs, hips and back upwards.
Ideally, you should reach a position when your whole body will remain perpendicular to the floor and your body weight and balance will be maintained by your shoulders and head.
Hold this position for 30 seconds and then get back to the lying position slowly. It is best to do sarvangasana under the supervision of a master.
Uttanpadasana or standing forward bend
This asana helps in stretching of the hamstrings and also helps in toning the hips. This asana is known for being able to reduce cellulite effectively.
To do this asana, stand with your feet together and then fold your torso from your waist to touch the ground with your hands or to twist the hands behind your legs. Stretch your body and ensure that you can feel the strain in your thighs, hips, stomach and back.
Make sure that you follow the normal movement of breath while doing this asana. Hold the pose for 30 seconds and then slowly get back to the normal position. You need to do at least 5 repetitions of the same at one go.
Gomukhasana or the cow face pose
Gomukhasana when done in the right way can be effective to reduce cellulite as it involves the stretching of the hips and thigh muscles. To do this asana, sit on the floor with your spine erect.
Now take your left leg and place it under your right hip. Place the right leg from above the left leg to reach the extreme left corner. Make sure that your knees are placed at the top of the other.
Now bend your left hand and extend it upwards from the back. Take your right hand up and bend it down to hold the other hand at the back as, shown in the picture. Hold this position for as long as it is comfortable for you. Do not forget to repeat.
Setubandhasana or the bridge pose
To do the setubandhasana lie flat on your back. Now bend your knees and push your body upwards. Extend your hands to hold your feet. Ideally, your whole body weight should be balanced on your shoulders, head and on your feet.
Hold this position for as long as you are comfortable and then relax slowly. Follow normal breathing during the asana. Repeat for 2 more times.
While doing the asanas always keep in mind that you might not be able to reach the perfect posture at the beginning but with time and regular practice the posture will be more perfect and closer to the ones shown in the picture.
