lymph

When I was a teenager I noticed that, when I couldn't move my mind, I should move my body. This was my first understanding of somatic therapy: the body--it's memory, it's position and location in time and space--is the lens we look through. At that time in my life there were a lot of situations that I could not move, but I noticed that if I changed my position, I could see things differently. I noticed the power of perspective and--through studying the body--I considered the human ability to shift and create change.

Moving the physical body moves the mind, emotions, nervous system and immune system. Science is showing how the lymphatic system, the nervous system, and emotion are linked together in more ways than we thought. The interesting thing about the lymphatic system is that it requires body movement. It depends on our volition: our choice to move. Unlike the circulatory system that has a heart to pump fluids, the lymphatic system has no heart--in relies on the contraction of skeletal muscles. Body movement is essential to the lymphatic system because, it is the primary way we move fluids through the body, release toxins, and recover from inflammation. Inflammation in the lymphatic system represents a state where fluids have pooled and are not flowing. It protects an injury and is part of the healing process but, if it stays around too long, it can result in chronic pain conditions.

Therefore, Inflammatory (Autoimmune) diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, or chronic fatigue also exist in the emotions and nervous system. And it is becoming more understood how depression and anxiety are just as much in the body as in the nervous system and the mind. It is interesting to think about how the nervous system's purpose is telling us to move (or not move)--fight, flight or freeze. It is interesting to consider how all these dis-eases may be unwound in the nervous system via physical movement--the experience of moving, and contemplation of what it means to move.

Here is a video of a basic lymphatic work out. The opening work out shows a woman who is courageously unwinding long-standing conditions in the body, mind and nervous system. In this workout, I consider inflammation and depression as one and the same--the goal being to allow energy--lymph, blood, thoughts, will--to flow.


Bodymind practices like yoga or Tai Chi involving daily movement give ways of keeping our system in flowing balance. In fact, a yoga vinyasa in the sun salutation, stimulates all the major lymph nodes plus aiding circulation. These daily practices can be considered preventative medicine. And if you are sick or stuck on any level, this idea encourages you to gently move whatever you can. Even if the ability to move is small at first, trust that it will grow and shift you on all levels.