Tips to reduce cellulite and live healthier
Rebounding, in case you’re wondering, is a fancy word for jumping up and down! Ideally using a trampoline to get that ‘g-force’ which causes more of a gravitational shift, allowing your internal organs to lift, and the muscles and connective tissue to stretch out and therefore become more supple and stronger.
Rebounding is also fantastic at stimulating our lymphatic system, which is like our body’s waste-disposal system, responsible for removing excess fluid and toxic waste from our skin cells, filtering it through lymph nodes and finally back into our bloodstream. If our lymphatic system becomes sluggish, then toxic fluid can build up in our cells, leading to swelling, restricted movement and cellulite.
Unlike our cardiovascular (blood) supply which uses the heart to pump blood around the body, our lymphatic drainage is reliant on muscle movement to prevent stagnation. Almost any movement will do and I advise my clients who need to sit all day for work to stretch out their muscles as often as possible. Then it helps to get regular exercise at least a few times a week with a walk, yoga, swim, weight training or whatever gets the muscles moving and heart pumping!
Rebounding is particularly useful however, as all that jumping up and down helps to pump the lymph very efficiently, relieving any fluid build-up and increasing overall circulation throughout your body. This increased circulation will also help deliver nutrients to your skin cells to rejuvenate your skin and connective tissue.
So, how do you go about rebounding? There are mini trampolines sold especially for the purpose, but any trampoline will do. It’s best to wear loose fitting clothes to allow your skin to move freely and allow plenty of jiggle! It’s also probably best to eat afterwards and not before (depending on your constitution). Start slowly, even keeping your feet on the trampoline to begin with and just gently bounce.
Over time as it becomes easier, and you become fitter, then feel free to bounce as high as your joints will let you! Aim for at least 4 to 5 minutes to start, building up to about 15 to 20 minutes a day (you can stagger it if you need to).
If you haven’t ‘bounced’ for a while, be prepared for a bit of a shock! You’ll feel muscles you didn’t know were there and you’ll suddenly be very aware of how strong your pelvic floor is (or is not). If you’re worried, visit the loo before you bounce and really concentrate on engaging your core and pelvic floor. I find the best way to do this is to pretend someone’s about to hit me in the gut and I ‘brace for impact’. This will usually instinctively ‘switch’ on that whole abdominal/pelvic girdle.
Now, if you don’t have access to a trampoline, then try skipping instead (or just bounce on your bed if you think it’ll hold up to it)!
Have a go and let me know if you feel/see a difference in your cellulite!
