Wikepedia has an interesting comment:

“Cellulite is a description rather than a physical object. The term was first used in the 1920s, and began appearing in English language publications in the late 1960s, with the earliest reference in Vogue magazine, “Like a swift migrating fish, the word cellulite has suddenly crossed the Atlantic.” Its existence as a real disorder has been questioned, and the prevailing medical opinion is that it is merely the “normal condition of many women”

Well I don’t know that I would call it normal; however it is common.

Up until now I have been coming up with ways to stimulate areas in the body where stagnant lymph sits in order to cause lymphatic fluid to move. Two of the most powerful ways are through breath (a method we described in previous blog posts) and exercise. There are a few basic yoga-like positions that move toxic lymph stored in the lower body. When that lymph begins to drain, cellulite starts to move too, OUT!

Calming the nervous system, by moving slowly and methodically and breathing deeply and slowly into the belly stimulates lymphatic drainage. The pumping activity drains the toxic lymph and starts to stimulate activity in the muscle tissue so that the pockets of cellulite begin to dissipate.

Do this simple, relaxing set of exercises daily. Make sure you are hydrated before starting these exercises. Have at least one glass of warm or room temperature water before beginning.

Position one:

Lie flat on your back and raise your knees to your chest. Put your arms out to the side at shoulder level, relax your neck, and then twist the bent legs to one side to a relaxed position on the floor (or as close to the floor as your body will allow). Hold that position for two minutes and breathe deeply in and out. You should see your belly rise and fall with each breath. Slowly lift the legs and repeat on the other side.

Position two:

Lying flat on your back now raise your legs to a right-angled position and hold them there. If that position causes strain, an alternate is to put your feet up against the wall and hold that position for two minutes breathing deeply and slowly through the nose. It is important that there is no tension or strain in this position so the lymph is allowed to drain.

Position three:

Up until now you have been lying on the floor. Now turn over and get on your hands and knees. Tuck your toes and elevate your buttocks so that your legs are straight and your buttocks are raised, making an effort to get your feet as flat as possible. Breathe deeply in and out the nose for two minutes. (Many of you may find this a familiar pose, in yoga it is called downward dog).

Position four:

From the previous position, walk your feet toward your hands and let your upper body hang for two minutes, breathing slowly and deeply. Let the knees bend a little and shift the hips back and forth if the back becomes sore.

Position five:

Stand up straight and raise your arms above your head, palms facing. Look up at your hands and hold for two minutes, breathing slowly and deeply. If your neck gets stiff, relax it for a few moments by looking forward instead of up.

Bring your arms down and lie down on your back, fully relaxed, palms up. Breathe slowly and deeply for two minutes.

Position six:

To finish, lie down flat on your back, fully relaxed, palms up, eyes closed and breathe slowly and deeply for two minutes.

Next blog:

What foods keep cellulite in place?

There are two things we don’t do in this culture, one is breathe and the other is chew. The tendency with breathing seems to be like a rabbit, short sharp breaths to the upper part of the lungs, stimulating the fight and flight response and aggravating the already fatigued adrenal glands.

Breathing through the nose and deeply into the lower lobes of the lungs stimulates a calming response for the nervous system, balancing brain chemistry (including serotonin), reducing stress, increasing fat burning capacity, alkalizing the blood (reducing inflammation), cleansing toxic lymph and in general making one feel the draw to slow down, a general feeling of ease. Sound good?

It is simple to generate this feeling of ease with all of its other good side effects including fat burning and reduced inflammatory response by simply breathing slowly and deeply through the nose.

How to do it and when do I see the results:

The feeling results are immediate, after only three breaths you will begin to find your mind settle and your shoulders come down from your ears. The fat and cellulite reduction may take a little longer but if you are patient (which you might become if you begin to breathe like this), you will find that within a month you begin to look smaller, and your dimpled thighs may be less dimpled, you will be much calmer and your aching joints may feel some relief.

How do I do it and when??

There are two methods; one being what is called in Tibetan Medicine “Lung” (pronounced loong) breathing, taking breath slowly in through the nose while extending the belly, holding it there with belly extended for a slow count of 6 (longer if you can but no strain) and releasing it slowly, again through the nose. This practice should be done for between 2 and 5 minutes.

The second method is called “Eliminating the Foul Air” which is another method of balancing lymph, alkalizing blood, balancing serotonin resulting in a feeling of calm and ease. This is alternate nose breathing. With your dominant hand, close one nostril with the thumb and breathe in deeply and slowly through the other, release that nostril and close the other nostril with the middle finger, breathe slowly out the other. Then breathe in slowly through the same nostril, release and breathe out the other. Sound a little confusing, not really just in one nostril close it, out and in the same and continue.

First thing in the morning, when you wake up is a good time to connect and use the breath. Sit up in and breathe for at least two minutes (five is better). Either of these breathing techniques (in a shorter version) can be done throughout the day when you feel tired, craving, anxious or just need a break. And remember that you are not just taking a break, but balancing serotonin, melting fat, reducing cellulite and inflammation!

Easy and quick.

The role of the skin in detoxification

The skin is the largest organ in the body. Because it plays a significant role in detoxification, it is sometimes called the “third kidney”. Other organs involved in detoxification are the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Through perspiration, which is generated by movement, toxins move to the surface of the skin where they can evaporate.

Toxins also collect under the skin from such common substances as soap, skin cream, deodorants and even from synthetic fibre worn next to the skin. Herbicides and pesticides are often used to treat fabrics and materials, and new clothing toxins can penetrate through the outer layers of the skin; therefore, it is always advisable to wash new clothes and dry them in the sunlight and open air to reduce your chemical exposure. Dry-cleaned clothes should be taken out of the plastic and aired before wearing. All of these toxins can contribute to a variety of skin problems, as well as to other physical conditions. Even if you are very conscientious about applying detox techniques and aware of toxicity you are exposed to, we live in a toxic world so detox is an ongoing conversation.

Benefits of dry skin brushing

Every year we lose approximately 7.5 pounds (3.5 kg) of skin through sloughing. Dry skin brushing keeps the sloughing happening in a much more effective manner. To have the skin really do its job, it is essential to keep the pores open, the sweat glands stimulated, the lymphatic system pumping, and detox ongoing.

Here are some of the reported benefits of dry skin brushing:

Tightens skin and makes it glow

Helps digestion by improving blood circulation and    oxygenation

Helps to remove cellulite

Stimulates overall blood circulation

Increases the rate of cell renewal in areas brushed

Assists the lymphatic system to clear deposits of toxins

Removes dead skin

Strengthens the immune system and alkalizes the blood (keeping inflammation at bay) through fluid exchange and blood circulation

Improves the exchange of fluid and trace minerals between cells

Stimulates the endocrine glands to help all the systems in the body perform at peak efficiency

It also helps your skin look and feel elastic and resilient. You and those who see you will notice an unmistakable look of glowing health.

How to dry brush your skin

First, buy a natural (non-synthetic) bristle brush that won’t scratch your skin. Buy one that suits you, long-handled or short-handled, so that you can reach all areas of your body.

- Perform the brushing at least once a day before showering or bathing. Brushing wet skin does not have the same effect and stretches the skin.

- Always start on the bottom of your feet, brushing in small clockwise circles toward your heart. The soles of your feet have strong nerve endings that affect the whole body.

- After your feet, brush your ankles, calves, and thighs, then   across your stomach, chest, buttocks and back. Finally, brush your hands and arms to your shoulders.

- Make circular, counterclockwise strokes on your abdomen and small clockwise circles on the rest of the body, always moving toward the heart.

- Reach around from the sides, waist, and shoulders to get to all areas of your back.

- Brush more lightly over and around your breasts, and do not brush your nipples at all.

- Brush in circles around each of the joints.

- Brush each part of your body several times, vigorously but lightly.

- Wash your brush in warm water at least once a month and let it dry before using it again.

After brushing, take a warm bath or shower, followed by a cool bath or shower. Use good-quality liquid peppermint soap. Peppermint is stimulating and naturally antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. If peppermint soap is too drying, use pure glycerin soap.

Watch for another tip on cellulite reduction later this week!

The lymph stores toxic waste products produced by bodily functions as well as bathes the bodies organs and systems in fluid so that that waste can be deposited easily.  Although we have a motor that circulates our blood called the heart, the only thing that causes movement with the lymph is physical activity and muscle contraction. The lymph drains well with water only and the boiled water because of its warmth (either warm or room temperature not cold) and altered molecular structure works exceptionally well.

Cellulite is a result of sluggish lymph. It deposits in the buttocks, belly, hips and thighs and often is quite stubborn to get rid of . Yoga movements such as downward facing dog, forward bending, and elevating the legs at right angle to the body will assist in moving lymph and loosening cellulite. With the added filtering of boiled water and consistent movement, eating lots of toxin free vegetables, fruit and grains, the stuck lymph pockets (showing up as cellulite) will move. This will not happen overnight but will happen.

RECIPE for boiled water: take half your ideal body weight and reduce it to litres or quarts of water (so if ideal weight is 50 kilos then 25 ml of water or 120 pounds then 60 ounces of water or almost two quarts).  Try this with yoga poses and some good alternative speed walking and your shape should start shifting!

I am starting this new blog to be able to be more in touch with you but also to let you know what I am up to on a regular basis not just through the social media and a little more intimately. I am starting a cleanse today and thought I would share the process with you day by day since the cleanse I am doing is new and I am thrilled that all the components of the Alive Plan are incorporated into it. I will fill you in after I get going.

love much

rae of sunshine

This is a great way to wake up or relax your entire body, day or evening! You can either do the entire session or pick parts of it you find applicable to your particular condition today