Cellulite be gone – massage techniques

Ah Cellulite, our fatty adversary. Mostly commonly found on a woman’s thighs, hips and knees. While exercise helps us shed those pounds, unfortunately there are some areas that just don’t seem to get the hint.
Tried everything? Don’t give up until you’ve tried these simple massage techniques.

Why massage?

Massage is generally beneficial because you can get to those hard to exercise areas and directly stimulate the fat under the skin. This allows you to break up the fat so your body can deal with it in a more practical way. It also means that once the fat is disturbed and spread out, your skin will start to appear smoother and less bumpy, continuous massage will help tighten the skin and break the fat up easier.

Techniques

Strictly speaking there are 4 main hand techniques you can use that are effective for doing this. If you cannot stand proper massages (some people are too sensitive or find them painful for example), finding a gentler way of handling yourself will still be beneficial but may not produce results as quick as a thorough massage.

1. Kneading – A bit like making bread. Depending on the area is can vary from using finger tips to a whole hand but the premise is the same. It is a squeezing and lifting motion, repeated a long the area. The motion is just as kneading a ball of dough in the kitchen.

2. Wringing – Just like wringing a wet towel out or a Chinese burn’ – this involves the same wringing or twisting motion is opposite directions. This is better done in the fleshy areas that allow that grasping and twisting motion. Once the muscles are relaxed, grasp the flesh in both hands and wring it out like a towel (opposite motions).

3. Knuckle massage – Our knuckles are one of the hardest parts of our limbs, so using them to pummel the cellulite will break it down a lot faster and allow your body to work it’s magic. I don’t mean smash your fists into your leg, but a firm hit or rocking motion.

4. S massage – Imagine you are using your fingers and thumbs as a view finder (90 degree angles) and then rotate/twist them to make ‘S’ shapes. Try varying the pressure used.

It is something to add into your routine, whether it’s added to exercise or on it’s own, it will be beneficial either way but will wield different results.