Are you feeling generally sluggish or your skin is feeling puffy after a season of over indulgence?
Maybe your legs and arms are feeling swollen and are you finding it hard to put your jewellery back on? Possibly you are experiencing none of the above but you want 2024 to be the year that you to feel your best self – here triyoga therapist Anna Barry suggests 10 easy ways to optimise your health and vitality and stimulate your lymphatic system.
- Dry skin brushing ideally before having a shower. Starting on the soles of the feet and brushing up your legs in the direction of the heart only (it is very important you do not drag the brush in the opposite direction away from the heart because you will be brushing the lymph in the opposite direction to where it needs to go). Then move onto your arms and brush up your arms towards your shoulder from your wrist.
- Exercise! The muscle contraction as a result of movement stimulates the lymphatic system. Any movement is great but getting your heart rate up is even better as toxins will leave the body when you sweat.
- Drink loads of water. As the lymph is made up of 95% water, it needs water to flush out toxins through sweat when we exercise or through the kidneys when we urinate. A glass of warm water with lemon first thing in the morning is not only hydrating but the lemon will help alkalize the body and an alkaline body is necessary for optimum health.
- Deep breathing not only helps us relax, but when we take a deep breath our lungs expand to accommodate the air, which causes the diaphragm to move. This movement helps to stimulate the deep lymphatic vessels in the digestive cavity, which will also help a sluggish digestive system.
- Ditch your bra or any other restrictive clothing like tight rimmed socks or jeans.
- Use steam or infrared sauna; when we sweat our body detoxifies
- Eating a healthy, balanced and non-processed diet most of the time.
- Cold water swimming or at the very least, turning the shower to cold for the last few minutes will help with your metabolism when done over period of time.
- Sleep is so important. Getting enough good quality sleep is vital for our health because it is when we are sleeping that our bodies can get rid of the waste that accumulates in our cells and brain during the day.
- Specialised massage can stimulate your lymphatic system and support it to get rid of toxins.
Book a lymphatic drainage massage with Anna Barry at triyoga by clicking here. View all treatments at triyoga by clicking here.
