Yoga & The Lymphatic System

If you know me then you know I am truly FASCINATED by the human body - it’s an amazing place! And once I started diving into all the stuff it does whilst we go about our daily lives I was mind-blown, and all I could think was “this is a lot of work, how can I help?” More recently I’ve been learning about the lymphatic system, which is something that was pretty much completely overlooked in my high school biology curriculum and I really don’t understand why. The lymphatic system is SENSATIONAL!

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THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM’S TO-DO LIST

The lymphatic system does a bunch of cool stuff, but there are two things it does exceptionally well, constantly;

1. The lymphatic system is best known in its role as Ministry of Defence. That’s because lymph nodes harbour lymphocytes - the cells that fight bacteria in the blood. Lymph nodes are abundant in the body, and it is their sheer force in numbers that makes them excellent at their job - they are constantly monitoring everything that passes into the body, on the look out for nasties. And when they find them, they initiate the attack! Basically, the lymphatic system needs a raise!

2. The lymphatic system also feeds good nutrients into the blood when they are either too big to be carried into blood stream or when they spill out of the blood stream. Yup, stuff falls out of our blood stream all. the. time. causing fluid build up and bloating. Some of our internal blood vessels are only one cell thick, so fluid and vital nutrients leak out and, without movement, pool. When the pool starts to overflow this fluid gets sucked up by the lymphatic system to be fed back into the blood. Swollen ankles be gone, the lymphatic system is coming for you!

So, what does the lymphatic system have to do with yoga?

I’m jolly glad you asked. The lymphatic system is an open ended system that stretches out all around the body - between blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and tendons. You guys, this stuff is EVERYWHERE. But, unlike the cardiovascular system which uses the heart, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump! So how does lymph move nutrients and pass messages about nasty bacteria around the body? It is entirely dependant on movement; specifically the twist and pump of muscles as we contract and release them.

Yoga involves dynamic movement across your whole body; twisting, stretching and contracting muscles that gets your lymphatic system going. You can just imagine all the lymphocytes watching you roll out your yoga mat and a call of excitement goes up as they wake up roll out of bed and get their dancing shoes on, ready to get moving and jiving :D

Yoga, and similar dynamic movement, stimulates the lymphatic system, which relieves bloating from fluid build up and boosts your immunity.

If you don’t like reading, and prefer watching/listening then you can get a run down of the function of lymphatic system here:

Pranayama and The Lymphatic System

As much as I love the human body I am also truly obsessed with the power of the breath. For many reasons, but one that relates specifically to the lymphatic system is that when you breath deeply and intentionally (diaphragmatic breathing) you are working your diaphragm - the expansive muscle below your ribs. The trunk of your body is PACKED with lymph nodes and big, import lymph ducts at the top of the chest and the centre of the chest so, the simple act of pumping the diaphragm using the breath gets the central lymphatic system party started! Don’t call the cops - let that party rage on!

To summarise, the lymphatic system is one of the hardest workers we have and we reeeeaally need to show it some love and there are a bajillion different types of yoga you can practise to love on your lymphs.

I know that the yoga world can be a little confusing, and that’s why I designed the 10 Day Discover Yoga Program - to give you an insight into different styles of yoga so you can find what suits you best. You can access The Discover Yoga Program for FREE by subscribing below.

MORE YOGA to get your lymph party started

If you already love yoga, and this article has only solidified why you love it, then I invite you to meet me on Moviing.co where I teach yoga, meditation and pranayama alongside over 75 other, internationally renowned yoga and movement leaders.

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