What is a Lymphatic Drainage Massage?
Imagine that you sit in your car for an hour to get to work, then sit most of the day at work, repeat the drive, then sit in front of your TV before bed. Your muscles are so sluggish that your lymphatic system starts to slow down and eventually it no longer works well. This manifests as swelling or lymphedema! Your arms and legs may start looking puffy and swollen then feel heavy, you may be prone to infection as your white blood cells are not travelling through the body as they should, and your skin may show signs of cellulitis, thickness or feel leathery. That doesn't sound cool!
So what is lymph? Lymphatic fluid is a colourless fluid that travels throughout the human organism alongside the blood vessels of the circulatory system. It carries away toxins and transports white blood cells to fight infection so it plays a huge role in your immunity, but guess what, it has no pump like the circulatory system has a heart!
Additionally, you may notice that you are getting a little chunky without having changed anything in your diet or routine, and have no clue what is happening! Well, it is possible that your lymph fluid is being leaked into the tissues surrounding it, which signals fat cells to mature and multiply! Yes, your chunkiness can be due to a malfunction in your lymphatic system. The system, when slow can affect fat absorption!
So, how does it move around? Our muscle movements and deep breathwork help mobilize the lymphatic fluid from the souls of the feet and top of the head, to where it is meant to go, which is under the collarbones.
So, what can we do? Move, my lovelies, move! This is where the drainage comes in. You can go to a therapist specialized in Lymphatic Drainage Massage, who will help start the process of getting your lymphatic system working again. No, it won’t take one massage to do it, but your therapist should also give you a take-home strategy, so between massages you are working on your lymph.
A Lymphatic Drainage Massage builds a rhythm in the body through light pressure moving towards the clavicle or collarbones where the 2 lymphatic draining ducts are situated. The movements encourage the lymph nodes that are grouped in certain areas of the body to unblock and restart processing the toxin-laden lymph. There is no discomfort and most clients say they feel lighter, have better bowel movements, sleep better and feel generally more active after one massage.
Activities like walking for 15 to 20 minutes briskly, dry brushing the limbs with long strokes towards the heart, deep diaphragmatic breathing, stretching, and proper rest can go a long way towards keeping the lymphatic system working well. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, stay hydrated and avoid sitting for too long. Many small actions can help.
Now you know how important the lymphatic system is for your whole body! It is your immunity to fight infections; it helps keep your fat tissue minimalized and it balances your body fluids. It needs some help sometimes, so get to it! Lymph is life!
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