Lymphatic Drainage FAQ's
What exactly is the lymphatic system, and why is it so important for overall wellness and beauty?
Think of your lymphatic system as a waste removal/repair infrastructure. It carries immune cells into areas that need healing, and transports cellular waste and metabolic byproducts out. As it pertains to beauty, these functions are vital for staving off acne, facial puffiness (inflammation), and cellular aging.
How does a stagnant lymphatic system manifest in the skin or body—are there telltale signs we can look for?
When your lymphatic system is stagnant one of the first things you'll notice is facial drooping and puffiness around the eyes, neck and jawline. Fluid retention under our skin tissue weighs the face down and gets stuck in certain areas like the eye lids and under-eyes.
The major lymph nodes to detoxify the face are around the ears and neck, so another telltale sign is acne or congestion along the jawline, lower cheeks, and ears. Essentially this is showing the path of where lymph fluid is getting stuck under the skin and causing an inflammatory reaction.
How do daily practices like dry brushing or gua sha support lymphatic flow, and how often should we be doing them?
The lymphatic system is stimulated by two major things: muscle contractions and/or manual manipulation. Dry brushing and Gua Sha are two manual techniques that allow you to move lymph easily through the delicate vessels. Because our lymphatic system is always "on" you can use these techniques daily to encourage lymph and waste removal.
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What are your favorite moves for depuffing the face in the morning or sculpting cheekbones?
The “Big O” is my favorite face yoga pose to depuff. To get into this pose you want to create a low "O" with your mouth; this stretches all the muscles in your face, which stimulates the lymphatic system.
To sculpt the cheeks, I use a combination of face yoga “lifting” poses to strengthen the muscles, and then various massage techniques to release stress and collagen adhesions in the face. This combination is the key to sculpted, lifted cheekbones! We do a lot of these kinds of poses in my Skin Within Studio classes.
Are there certain facial expressions or lifestyle habits that contribute to premature aging—and how can face yoga counteract them?
Our face produces the outward expression of our inward emotions. When we are consistently stressed or triggered, our muscles form a pattern of expression that—when not processed or resolved—end up lingering on the face. Face yoga poses can not only physically change the lines and curves of your facial structure, but also create an opportunity to be present with yourself, and can even help you change how you respond to daily stressors in your life.
How long does it take to see results with a face yoga practice?
With consistent practice you can see significant changes in just a few weeks. “Muscle memory” is real, so once you build a strong foundation it's easy to maintain, especially if you consume adequate protein to keep those muscles strong.
How does hydration and nutrition impact the effectiveness of lymphatic and facial work?
Water is what enables your lymphatic system to transport cellular waste and toxins, so drinking adequate water is vital to keeping the skin firm and clear because it flushes the lymphatic system. And then when you reduce the “junk” the body has to process out, it helps the lymph system work even more efficiently. The best foods to eat to keep your lymphatic system in top functioning order are unprocessed, unadulterated, organic whole foods (fruits, vegetables, quality proteins, healthy fats and probiotics).
What’s a common myth or misconception people have about lymphatic health or face yoga?
People mistakenly believe face yoga poses will “create” wrinkles. This idea is not entirely false: when you hold an unhealthy expression (or an incorrect pose) you can absolutely exacerbate wrinkling, and it's exactly what many of us do day to day. This is why it's so important to learn proper technique.
Do you have a personal wellness ritual that keeps you grounded and glowing?
My go-to ritual I do every single night as the first step in my skincare routine is oil cleansing. What I love about this is that it does so many things all at once; it conditions and pre-moisturizes the skin, it cleans the pores, it balances the skin microbiome, releases stress and inflammation from facial tissue, softens surface dead skin cells, and it immediately grounds and centers my energy.
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What advice would you give to someone just beginning their journey into holistic beauty and self-care?
There are so many directions you can go as a beginner in holistic beauty, the key is to not get overwhelmed and try to do everything all at once, or all in one night. Learn one technique and start implementing and perfecting that first. As you add more tools to your toolbox, you'll become more intuitive of what your skin and soul needs each night. It's a lot of fun, and you learn so much about yourself along the way, just be patient.
Where can people go to learn more or practice face yoga with you?
The Skin Within Studio is my online platform that offers over 200 rituals in face yoga, massage, gua sha, and reflexology. You can find more information about that on my website or by using this link: - Studio Information + FAQ
You can also find a ton of free tips on my instagram, Instagram (@beautyshamans)
