The typical Vancouverite is an ever-moving, active individual. Does that sound familiar? With our busy work, personal, and active lifestyles, we experience our fair share of aches, pains and discomfort.
Thankfully, a lymphatic drainage massage is the answer for many Vancouver residents. This specialized form of massage can be incorporated into your healthy lifestyle routines or received to deal with pain or injury.
Keep reading to learn more about lymphatic drainage massages and see if it’s right for you.
What is lymphatic drainage massage?
The lymphatic system is part of our body’s immune system. It helps maintain proper blood circulation, body fluid balance and immune support. It’s also a function that helps our body eliminate waste so that only healthy, “clean” lymph fluids are transported to our veins and heart.
The lymphatic system contains your vessels and lymph nodes (the largest of which are in your neck, groin, and armpits). Lymphatic drainage massage aims to unblock your lymphatic system. It supports the healthy draining of any swelling due to fluid buildup (edema) in your body. While edema can occur throughout your body, it’s most common in your ankles (also known as “cankles”), legs, arms, and wrists.
There are four types of lymphatic drainage massage:
- Vodder – uses sweeping motions.
- Foldi – alternating between sweeping motions and rest.
- Casley-Smith – uses circular hand motions using the sides of the palms or the wrist.
- Leduc – uses hand motions to collect lymphatic fluid before redistributing it for reabsorption in your larger lymphatic system.
How it eases lifestyle pain points
High-stress jobs
Vancouver is a major urban centre with many large corporations. Many residents have high-stress jobs. Have you ever noticed how those who are stressed get sick more often? Their body focuses on the “stress” and not on fighting off infections or viruses. Or they’re likely too busy to focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and strengthening their immune system.
Lymphatic drainage massage can help boost your immune system when you’re not caring for it as you should. A well-functioning lymphatic system better traps and expels unwanted substances (like bacteria) from your bloodstream. Regular lymphatic massages help ensure everything is moving as it should to boost our immune system.
Active Lifestyles
Many Vancouverites enjoy an active lifestyle. After all, it’s so easy to do in Vancouver with its plethora of indoor and outdoor sports and activities. However, sometimes being active can cause swelling in your extremities. A lymphatic drainage massage can help ease the swelling or joint pain from exercise. It can also help your muscles heal faster after an injury.
Sedentary Lifestyles
Edema can also occur in sedentary people or those carrying extra weight (like when pregnant). Cutting off circulation in your body (like when you sit for extended periods) can cause swelling of fluids, especially in your legs and ankles. While the preventative measure would be to avoid sitting for long periods, if it does happen, Lymphatic drainage massage can help increase fluid flow again. Regular drainage massage can help prevent it from returning.
Excessive Smoking or Drinking
Lymphatic drainage massage can support your journey if you’re trying to quit smoking. Because this massage helps remove toxins and waste from your body, it’s often included in cleansing and smoking- or drinking-cessation programs.
Encourages weight management
If you’ve been overeating Vancouver poutine and tasty burgers at the Keg lately, you may consider starting a weight loss or management program. Lymphatic massage can be part of your plan as it improves your circulation and muscle tone to aid in weight loss.
Poor Diet
Vancouverites with poor diets may find their lymphatic system is blocked or not functioning optimally (as noticed by how easily their extremities swell). While you take steps to improve your diet and lifestyle, you can get lymphatic drainage massages to help your body manage the excess wastes your body is creating from over-eating or eating unhealthy foods.
You can perform a self-massage over your abdominal area at home if you suffer from constipation or irregular bowel movements due to poor diet or other health conditions. To do this, start massaging your abdomen clockwise, starting by your right hip. This helps support food movement in your digestive system through your colon. You can do this for a few minutes twice daily to find relief between appointments.
Sleep support
If you’re a Vancouverite who struggles to sleep, regular lymphatic drainage massages can help. Getting this type of massage is very relaxing; some people take light naps during the massage. Others report feeling more relaxed, which helps them get a better night’s sleep.
How to get the most benefit from a lymphatic massage
Like most natural therapies, you can benefit from lymphatic drainage massages by including them in your healthy lifestyle plan. This includes eating a balanced, healthy diet and getting adequate exercise. Lymphatic drainage massages are usually performed in batches of 4-10 treatments 7-10 days apart.
Before your massage appointment, drink water (and bring some with you). Many report feeling tired after their massage, but being well hydrated can help minimize excessive or dangerous tiredness so you can safely get home after your appointment. You should also eat as healthy as possible and limit your intake of processed foods.
It’s also essential to always have your massages by a certified lymphatic drainage massage specialist. They know how to perform it safely and how to customize the massage for your unique needs or pain points (both physical and psychological). There are a few lymphatic draining massages that you can perform on yourself at home, but see your registered massage therapist for manual lymphatic drainage massage or massages for cellulite-prone areas.
Book your lymphatic massage at Oceana Wellness
At Oceana Massage, we have registered massage therapists specializing in lymphatic drainage massage.
Discover what Oceana can do for you. Book your Lymphatic Drainage Massage appointment today to reduce pain, live a healthier lifestyle, and return to your busy Vancouver life.