Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Explained (and How to Do It at Home)

With in-spa remedies nonetheless restricted and the significance of self-care at an all-time excessive, we’ll take any probability we get to include a brand new wellness apply into our routine. We’re particularly occupied with practices that lightly help the physique’s detoxing—bonus factors if it comes with magnificence advantages. From foam rolling to massage, the lymphatic drainage therapeutic massage deserves consideration.

Common lymphatic drainage classes can strengthen the immune system, assist cut back cellulite, and enhance your temper, all whereas sculpting the physique.

To get the news on every part lymphatic therapeutic massage, we chatted with Gianna de La Torre, acupuncturist and co-founder of Wildling, a holistic magnificence model that focuses on lovely, thoughtfully-crafted instruments for time-tested pores and skin rituals. (Their Instagram is certainly one of my favourite spots for gua sha tutorials). Gianna de la Torre is a wealth of information, having been within the wellness business for 20 years, first as a yoga trainer, then an acupuncturist, and most just lately as a Wildling co-founder. She is obsessed with straightforward practices you are able to do at house to enhance your well being and well-being and gently help your physique and wonder routine.

Be a part of us as we dive into lymphatic therapeutic massage and study every part from what it’s precisely to how you are able to do it your self at house.

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How did you find yourself in the world of holistic wellness and journey into gua sha?

My interest in wellness started when I was a child. My dad is a doctor and I grew up going to extravagant meetings hosted by drug companies. I’ll just say that was enough to send me on a journey toward alternative medicine. I went to four years of acupuncture school, not many people know that it requires nearly 100 more hours than medical school. Gua sha was my first love of Chinese Medicine because I was able to use the technique effectively as a student to reduce pain, fever, and illness in my patients. It’s an incredibly powerful healing modality but is also a tool used safely at home. The lymphatic system doesn’t pump itself so it relies on us moving our bodies or doing massage for proper circulation. At Wildling, we are passionate about sharing simple gua sha rituals that help you look and feel better in a relatively short period of time. We created a beautiful dry brush and a body gua sha stone specifically for this. We call it the Aura Ritual.

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What is the lymphatic system and why is supporting it important?

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels in the body that carry waste material out of the tissues to detoxify the body. In our culture, it has garnered a lot of attention lately because it’s easy to live a stagnant lifestyle. If we work at desk jobs, eat unhealthfully, and suffer from poor digestion, it’s a recipe for suboptimal fluid metabolism. This is one of the reasons that we look or feel puffy. The biggest lymph in the body is the Spleen. According to Chinese medicine, the Spleen Qi is damaged by eating too many sweets, sitting, worrying, overthinking, etc. Does this sound anything like 2020?

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What is lymphatic drainage massage?

Lymphatic drainage massage, or manual lymphatic drainage, is a specific technique that is done by licensed massage therapists. I’m more interested in teaching regular, nonprofessional people how to encourage lymphatic movement in their own bodies so that they can feel and look better. The Aura Ritual does this so superbly.

What advantages does it supply?

It encourages lymphatic circulation as we simply mentioned, it relieves rigidity, and it additionally breaks up the fascia adhesions within the tissue that create cellulite. Cellulite isn’t actually about fats, it’s about fascia (connective tissue). Dry brushing additionally exfoliates the pores and skin. The result’s toned, clean, sculpted pores and skin.

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How to do it yourself:

Lymphatic massage strokes are gentle, light, slow, rhythmic, and nurturing. You want to move lightly and intentionally rather than hard and fast. Try to massage the fluid in one direction: toward the lymph nodes, not in circles. Be sure your skin is moisturized before beginning so your tool (or hands) glides over the skin rather than pulling.

Watch the lymphatic massage tutorial below or you can see the full four-step Aura Body Gua Sha Ritual in action here.

STEP ONE: Detoxify

AURA SWEEPER — Dry brushing stimulates lymphatic circulation and warms up the tissues for gua sha. It’s a necessary step in activating the pores and skin and maximizing outcomes. Use earlier than a bathe.

STEP TWO: Activate

AURA ACTIVATOR — French seaweed-infused physique serum hydrates, plumps, and enriches the pores and skin with minerals. Use after a bathe, or instantly following dry brushing when you’re skipping the bathe, and earlier than the Aura Oil.

STEP THREE: Nourish

AURA OIL — Highly effective complete plant oil infusion that reinforces circulation, promotes activation of lymphatic processes and helps to contour the pores and skin. Use after the Aura Activator has absorbed for hydration and/or to organize for gua sha.

STEP FOUR: Launch and Easy

AURA STONE — A multi-action device crafted from sustainably sourced Bian stone massages complete plant actives into the pores and skin whereas stimulating the tissues of the physique, releasing rigidity extra successfully than palms alone.

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Is there an optimal time of day to do it?

Nope, anytime is great. Ideally, you would incorporate it into your shower routine, but this isn’t mandatory.

How can you expect to feel afterward?

Invigorated, like you’ve had a massage.

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What tools will you need for it?

Ideally the Aura Collection. We additionally deal with puffiness within the face with the Empress Collection, our facial gua sha system.

Scroll on to buy a few of our favourite instruments for lymphatic drainage, plus the Wildling Aura Assortment.

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Wildling Aura Stone

A multi-action physique gua sha the Aura Stone is designed to stimulate lymph circulation, assist to launch muscle rigidity and clean the fascia.

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Wildling Aura Collection

This four-part bodywork routine contains every part you’ll want to assist soothe pores and skin, launch rigidity and stimulate lymph circulation all through the physique. The set contains the Aura Stone, the Aura Sweeper (a dry brush for the physique), the Aura Activator (a physique serum), and Aura Oil (a physique oil).

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De La Heart Lymphatic Drainage Body Tool

Constructed from 100% pine, we love the distinctive form of this device and the way the curves completely match the completely different contours of the physique.

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Esker Allover Roller

Designed particularly for the physique, the textured curler breaks up fascia to disclose smoother, extra toned pores and skin.

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Detox Mode Body Crescent

Made from beech wooden, this physique crescent is designed to completely curve throughout the physique and stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory techniques.

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