Northern Michigan Woman - Jan/Feb 2024 Fitness Issue
BENEFITS OF LYMPHAT IC MASSAGE
Hannah Brunk 2023-12-22 13:36:01
Go with the Flow
In 2017, I made the career change from human resources to massage therapy, and never once regretted the choice. In 2019, I had a client with lymphedema (the build-up of fluid in soft body tissues when the lymph system is damaged or blocked) who mentioned that our community needed a certified lymphatic massage therapist. I soon traveled to Toronto to receive a thorough and enlightening training that connected me to therapists from all over the world.
I came back and was ready to help those with lymphedema and make a difference for those who could not get the treatment they needed before. Additionally, I began treating other conditions. When I witnessed firsthand the profound differences in the quality of life of someone who had severe health problems, I was truly inspired to do this work for more than just lymphedema.
After COVID and 2020, more health conditions emerged, especially dysfunction of lymphatic systems. I became sensitive to feeling the movement of the lymph, noticing if it was slower or more stagnant than it should be. Clients reported feeling incredibly better after trying lymphatic drain for the first time.
I then made the decision to grow. I added electric tables to my practice that were easier for elderly clients to get on, an infrared sauna and red light therapy, which were also proven to help with wellness and lymphatic flow. This was the beginning of Enliven Massage and Wellness. Soon we opened a second location, Enliven Center for Lymphatic. We currently have five trained manual lymphatic drain therapists, including myself, four treatment rooms with electric tables, a red light bed with PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) and a large room for group therapies. Between the two locations, we now have nine therapists in total and an apothecary.
BRING LYMPHATIC MASSAGE TO YOUR OWN HOME
By regularly cleansing your lymphatic system, you are getting things moved and flushed out. Lymphatic drain assists with this. You can do things at home to maintain lymph, including dietary changes, wearing compression socks, exercise, and self-MLD.
Hannah Brunk is a Northern Michigan native who enjoys outdoor activities, has two teenagers and two dogs. She loves camping, being by the water, gardening, and biking. Hannah and her husband, Chris have enjoyed growing the business together and look forward to what the future brings. Visit www.enlivenmassageandwellness.com/enliven-center-for-lymphatic for more information.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
SELF-MLD
Face/Neck: You can drain your face and neck by doing downward strokes with the palms of your hands under the ears and down the neck, just slightly dragging the skin.
Axillary: Use the palm of your hand and do full circles, dragging the skin directly over the armpit
Breast: Regular breast massage is important for women. First, activate the armpit area as described above, then do a circular dragging motion on each breast, moving fluid outward and up to the armpit. If you feel a tight area, gently massage that area to soften it so that the body can carry away the rest.
Stomach: With any kind of stomach discomfort, clockwise strokes on the abdomen moving toward the left hip will help resolve and move fluid, and aid in digestion.
EXERCISE
Any type of exercise that gets blood pumping, skin turning warm and red, and gets you sweating will move lymph. One thing that is really good for people who don’t have the time or energy to do full cardio is to invest in a rebounder (small trampoline) and do small movements up and down on it daily.
DRY BRUSHING
It is helpful to use a dry brush just before showering. Do soft but brisk upward strokes on the legs and arms, moving toward the heart
ASK THE PROFESSIONALS
Finally, schedule yourself an MLD session at a local center so that you are shown these techniques in person! Regular lymphatic drain will help you the most.
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