Looking for a gentle, feel-good workout that actually targets cellulite? Maybe it’s time to give Pilates a try. If you’ve heard of it but aren’t quite sure what it involves, read on…
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What is Pilates?
The Pilates method, commonly known simply as Pilates, is a physical discipline developed in the 20th century by Joseph Pilates. It is a “fusion” discipline, drawing from gymnastics, fitness, yoga and dance. Its goals are wide-ranging: strengthening deep muscles, improving posture, balancing the body, increasing flexibility in muscles and joints, and more broadly, enhancing overall physical function.
The Benefits of Pilates for Your Body
Joseph Pilates once said: “After 10 sessions of Pilates, you feel the difference. After 20 sessions, you see the difference. And after 30 sessions, you have a whole new body!” Practitioners agree: the Pilates method has been life-changing. The benefits of this practice are many:
- Improved posture
- Strengthening of deep muscles and balanced muscular development
- Greater joint flexibility – shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles – and improved range of motion
- Increased flexibility in motor muscles (hamstrings, psoas…)
- Better functioning of internal organs (breathing, digestion)
- Improved veno-lymphatic circulation
- Reduced risk of injury (dislocations, sprains, muscle tears)
- Enhanced physical and mental coordination
- Stress reduction
Does Practising Pilates Have an Effect on Cellulite?
But what about Pilates and cellulite specifically? Could this activity be a worthwhile addition to an anti-cellulite routine? It certainly seems so…
Effects on Body Fat
Cellulite (particularly the adipose or fibrous type) is caused by an excess accumulation of fat in adipocytes – the subcutaneous fat cells. This overload causes them to increase in size and alter in structure. The result is visible on the skin’s surface: rather than being smooth, the skin develops those tell-tale dimples and bumps known as orange-peel skin, the bane of so many women.
Pilates exercises are designed to tone the muscles – especially those of the stomach – by reshaping them. They place intense demands on the deep muscles, which requires significant energy expenditure. And as we know, when the body needs energy, it draws on fat reserves. Regular Pilates sessions therefore encourage your body to burn calories in order to perform and hold the various positions.
The effect on cellulite is significant: it diminishes as muscles become noticeably more toned and sculpted. The silhouette becomes more defined and the skin regains firmness.
Effects on Water Retention
Water retention and cellulite are closely linked. Water that is naturally present in the body becomes trapped in the tissues instead of being eliminated through natural pathways. The culprit? A sluggish lymphatic system… Women affected by this lymphatic insufficiency develop aqueous cellulite, which has a puffy appearance and tends to concentrate in the lower body (thighs, legs, ankles).
Pilates engages the whole body, including the joints. Pilates postures stimulate the various lymph nodes: cervical (neck), axillary (armpits), thoracic and lumbar (abdomen), pelvic and inguinal (groin). Lymphatic circulation is naturally reactivated. Muscles also play a key role: when engaged, they effectively “massage” the blood and lymphatic vessels, boosting circulation.
By positively influencing the flow of vital fluids, regular Pilates practice helps water circulate properly throughout the body. Aqueous cellulite gradually fades.
Anti-Cellulite Pilates: A Few Key Exercises
1- Side Scissors
A Pilates exercise that works wonders against cellulite on the love handles and saddlebags.
- Lie on your side, hip on the floor, feet together, arm extended under your ear. Keep your body in a straight line.
- Hold your waist “in balance” – it should not touch the floor.
- Lift your legs slightly and begin with a set of ten wide scissors: one leg extended forward, the other back.
- Alternate the position of your legs while staying stable. Your pelvis should not move.
- Follow with a set of twenty small-range scissors, as if you were walking in mid-air.
- Remember to breathe deeply throughout the exercise.
2- Squats
This exercise helps target cellulite on the thighs and buttocks.
- Stand upright, arms extended in front of you, back straight and feet firmly planted on the floor.
- Perform a set of ten squats: lower yourself with knees bent and back straight, keeping your arms extended in front of you.
- Exhale as you lower, inhale as you rise.
- Follow with a second type of squat: balancing on one leg, extend the other behind you with arms raised toward the ceiling.
- With each exhale, extend your leg and foot as far back as possible, keeping your back straight and arms raised, while maintaining your balance.
- Switch legs.
3- Bridge
This exercise is ideal for targeting abdominal cellulite and working towards a flatter stomach.
- Lie on the floor, shoulders flat, knees bent, feet hip-width apart, arms alongside your body.
- With each inhale, slowly lift your pelvis, lower back and abdomen upward.
- As you exhale, lower yourself back down gradually: upper back first, then lower back, then buttocks.
What Anti-Cellulite Treatments to Use After a Pilates Session?
To amplify the effects of your Pilates session on cellulite, nothing beats an effective anti-cellulite routine! Our Anti-Cellulite Method is designed for exactly that. Start by exfoliating your skin in the shower with our Cellulite Scrub. Then massage the areas affected by cellulite: apply oil to your thighs, stomach or legs and let the cupping cup and the orange-peel massager do the work! Just 3 minutes of daily massage per area is enough to see a real difference in your cellulite from as early as 21 days. Your skin will look lifted and your silhouette more refined.
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