What is Cellulite? How do we get rid of it?

By Brodie Kelly
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08 Mar, 2017
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Cellulite, we all have it… but what actually is it? If you’re finding regular exercise and a healthy diet are not eliminating the appearance of cellulite then let’s figure out why. To do so, we need to have a look at the root of the problem which lays underneath the skin.

What it looks like under the skin.

Underneath your skin, you have layers, just like an onion. In your thighs, the first layer underneath the skin is the dermis layer (where the nerve ending, sweat glands and hair follicles lay) which is followed by 3 layers of fascia and muscle before reaching the bone. These lay horizontally covering the bone. Then running verticallyfrom the bone up towards the skin we have connective or inter-structural fascia and nerveswhich is the blue squiggly lines in the diagram

What is fascia?

Fascia is biological tissue holding the body together much like a plastic shopping bag holds your groceries together. It covers and goes through layers of muscles and organs. Now imagine the plastic grocery bag inside another bag, and then inside another bag. There is something in each bag and together it is one big bag full of groceries. In our bodies these ‘bags’ are made out of fascia, containing muscles and organs. The fascia provides a hydrated surface in-between the muscles and organs so they do not rub and create friction.

What is fascia made up of and what does it do?

Fascia is comprised of water, glycosaminoglycan (carbohydrates or sugar) and collagen. In comparison to other tissues within the body, such as bones and cartilage, fascia is a lot more flexible and its main role is to be strong enough to keep everything together whilst being elastic enough to stretch without breaking, and staying well hydrated and smooth for the muscles to move freely.

So, how does fascia turn into cellulite?

There is more than one answer to this question and here is why; Healthy fascia can be described as smooth, un-knotted, hydrated hair. Imagine the tissue of fascia running side by side without crossing overand moving with ease. Whereas un-healthy fascia can come in three different types.

It is true when people say that getting cellulite is in your genetics, although having naturally tight or tangled fascia does not mean you can’t correct it, as I will show you it is quite easy to do so over time.
Another cause of cellulite is fascial adhesions, these are little tears in the fascia from either over work or over stretching. As it tries to repair itself, the fibres get tangled, crossed over and knotted which creates an unsmooth surface to the skin. This is how some of the fittest people can still get cellulite.
This is when the inter-structural fascia that runs vertically (seen in diagram earlier) from the bone through the muscles towards the skin becomes tight. Once tight, the fascia begins to pull the skin down and creates small dimples which forces the layer of fat under the skin to push out around the dimples.

You are increasing your chances of getting this type of cellulite if you do not exercise, stretch or get massages regularly and especially if you are someone who drives for long hours, works in an office job and/or only perform repetitive minimal movement with your body.

However, there main three types of cellulite are not the only way to get it. There are many more factors at play here, including hormonal changes, allergies and many more.

Now we know what cellulite is and how it comes about… Let’s discuss how to get rid of it.

Regardless of what type of cellulite you have or how it came about, one size fits all when it comes to the healing process. Massage and foam rolling are the best techniques as it breaks down the tight fascia or fascial adhesions allowing it to recover properly and become smooth, rehydrated and oxygenated as it increases the blood flow and circulation. Also maintaining a healthy intake of water each day increases the hydration of the fascia. Below are images of a few places I like to foam roll to release fascia. For more suggestions check out my Instagram page ‘brodiekelly’.

It is proven that Grapefruit oil can also assist with the reduction of cellulite. This oil contains large amounts of Bromelain which is an Enzyme assisting with the breakdown of cellulite.

*Use: 1 drop of grapefruit oil with 15 drops of coconut oil. Massage into skin and apply daily.*

Foam rolling on the front of the thighs releasing the fascia covering the Quadriceps muscles. Engage pelvic floor. Think, bellybutton to spine and two hip bones draw together. This protects your lower back.

*One leg long, one slightly bent to get into the sides of the thighs.*

*Outside of thigh. Do not roll onto the knee joint. Using a hand on the floor for stability. This releases your Iliotibial Band.*

*More intense, stack legs. Keep shoulders away from ears. These are my ‘go to’ places to roll including my glutes. Happy rolling!*

Studio News

Self-Love: the Truth behind the Trend

By AerialFit • 10 Feb, 2019 •

Put simply, it’s the rather radical notion of loving ourselves with the same intensity and grace with which we love others.

Think about what you’d do for your best friend. If they’re sick, you’re the one making sure they take the day off and bringing them soup and tea. When they’re happy, you’re dancing around the house with them. So this month, let’s practice extending that same care and love to ourselves! We’ve collected our three favourite ways to bring a little extra love to each day, with links to help turn dreams to action…

Mindfulness

Another buzzword, mindfulness is a practice that can, and will change your life. Starting with three minutes, then five, then ten, and maybe even working to twenty, mindfulness is the simple practice of being present in the moment. Techniques like focussing on your breath, picking five things you can see, hear, smell, feel and taste, or even visualising warm sunlight filling you up from the inside out, can help lower anxiety levels, preserve memories and encourage healthy thought patterns. Researchers at Stanford, Harvard and UCLA have spoken: mindfulness is key to a healthy mental practice!

Grow your mindfulness muscle in our Yin Yoga, Vinyasa, Power Flow and Aerial Yoga classes , where we take a few minutes at the beginning and end of the class to focus on our breath, our body, and our presence in the room. If you’re a little nervous about going into a full hippie meditation, getting into a Yoga class is the perfect gentle introduction to mindfulness - no incense required.

You can practice mindful moments at home by simply taking deep breaths in for the count of four, and out for the count of six. Combine that with your favourite app of choice (we love Smiling Mind for free and accessible mindful practice for everyone!) and you’re one step closer into bringing a more loving aspect to your day.

Movement

Of course, we know that movement makes all the difference. Hundreds of our clients can testify - taking an hour to leave your phone on do not disturb, and engaging with our bodies strengthens our bodies and minds. Health professionals recommend at least pencilling in deliberate movement at least three times a week, preferably five times to encourage healthy heart function, muscular strength and the release of ‘happy hormones’ like dopamine and oxytocin throughout the body to fight stress and release physical and mental tension.

What’s key is finding your movement. For some, that’s pounding the pavement after a long day at work, for others, it’s a sun salutation bright and early in the morning, maybe hitting the Barre or flipping upside down in Aerial Yoga. Whatever your favourite kind of movement is, make sure to schedule it in advance and prioritise you! Apps like MindBody are super helpful when you’re booking in movement, since you can sync your classes here with your calendar, giving you a little reminder that today, you chose strength!

Meals

This one is tricky. I don’t know about you, but I am a die-hard chocoholic. There’s something about a bar of roasted almonds in milk chocolate that hits the spot; but I realised after going an hour out of my way to pick up my daily dose of chocolate, that a little treat was becoming a lot more worrisome.

We’ve all got our little vices, and do you know what… that’s okay! I think we can forget how important it is to be kind and have grace for ourselves. That kindness can be extended to mindful eating, and you’ll soon see what a difference it makes to your eating habits when you look at each meal as sacred nutrition. Much like any mindfulness practice, it takes time, effort and lots of back-and-forth to turn it into a habit. Learning to taste each flavour in a meal, and reclaiming the joy of cooking a meal is one goal we’re determined to keep as the year goes on!

All this being said, what matters most is finding your form of self-love. For me, self-love is getting up half an hour earlier to make a freshly ground cup of coffee and reading a book before the day gets too busy. For my housemate, it’s sleeping in until 10, because she knows her body needs it. My neighbour? They’re up at six for a run. Every single beautiful body is different, and when we learn to listen to the still whisper inside, we can learn to respond to our needs, and maybe even hear the needs of others… that sounds like a pretty great form of love to me!

How do you stay Mindful, practice Self-Love and bring gratitude to your day? Share your tips and comments below

- Eliza and the AerialFitTeam

6 Creative Ways to Pay for Your Membership

By AerialFit • 10 Feb, 2019 •

Memberships are one of the most cost-effective ways to attend our Studio Classes, not to mention a great way to build a habit of wellness. But when balancing budgets, attendance, bills and more can start to build up, wellness is far too often the first to go. We've come up with some of our favourite creative ways to help ensure that self-care stays through the seasons.

1.Stick it on your Wedding Registry

Celebrate your big day with the gift of wellness that will last long after the honeymoon is finished up. Add a membership to your registry and ask guests to chip in to give a gift you’ll actually use!

2. Celebrate with a Membership

You don’t need to be celebrating a wedding to ask for loved ones to combine their gifts for a membership! Whether you’re graduating (finally,) celebrating a birthday, or finishing up some tough circumstances, get the GoFundMe account out, and let’s get hustling

3. Pre-Pay Baby, Pre-Pay

It’s tax time, so why not put that tax money towards something that will last a lot longer than a new pair of shoes. You can pre-pay up to six months of your membership in-studio and get a discount, or put a dollar amount onto your account - it’s time to treat your future self

4. Get your Garage Sale on

We’re all for living a simpler, decluttered life, so clear out the cupboards, get your bake sale on, and throw a garage sale! Needing some tips on what to clear out? Check out our interview with Kirsty Farrugia where she gives us some handy decluttering tips

Bonus Tip: Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are perfect for selling your pre-loved items within the local community, find your local Buy/Swap/Sell page and see what you can sell!

5. Give a Gift.. a Gift Voucher

Gift vouchers are the best way to combine little gifts to make a big difference. Whether it’s chipping in $5 to a gift voucher from workmates, or adding in all your AerialFit gift vouchers from last Christmas, we can combine them to make memberships a whole lot easier!

6. Baby Shower Beauty

Once you’ve got the all clear from your doctor, you can join the beautiful community of women celebrating their new motherhood in class. Some of our clients have joined us for classes right up until the week before the birth, and were back only a few weeks later! It’s a great way to stay sane before and after baby’s arrival, letting you have an hour of ‘me-time’ where it’s less about the bump, and more about taking care of your mind, body and soul.

Finding Confidence for the Summer

By AerialFit • 15 Aug, 2018 •

Spending the last two years working through a journey to mental wellness has meant putting aside obsessive calorie counting, resting from a daily 5k run and embracing the softer movements that give my body the rest and challenge it needs. Some days that looks like a gentle Yin Yoga flow to release physical and mental tension, other days it's a run around the block to get the jitters out with a Pilates-inspired workout after to strengthen my core and protect my spine so I can hold myself with strength and confidence. Sometimes it's nothing at all, a day to rest and process.

At the studio, we’re pretty proud of making space for all bodies and all abilities, and I’ve learned that this space makes all the difference. No matter the goal, we always try to include a healthy dose of positive self image in our classes, including time to stretch and challenge ourselves each day. Making time for just one class that makes me feel confident does more for my body and spirit than five punishing runs that lead to injury. Of course, there’s still more I want to learn, parts of my body that I want to see stronger and able to carry me further, but there’s a new kind of joy that helps me embrace the beauty of my summer body, every single part of it.

The summer body isn’t a seasonal body, it’s your body, in the summer. Wobbly bits, or no wobbly bits, our bodies are stronger when we learn to be confident where we’re at. Picking up an attitude of confidence, strength and self-love is far more effective than picking up a meal replacement shake, and we’d much rather have fun during a class than workout to the point of exhaustion.

Come see what makes us different, and how movement can be a celebration within the challenge. Use promo code HAPPYBODY to receive 10% off any 10 or 20 Class Pass Purchase for the next 30 days, and let’s jump into spring with confidence and strength.

*valid from August 15-September 15, 2018 for New Clients purchasing 10 or 20 Class Passes.