The Fitness Zone

What is Lymphatic Drainage & Massage? – Australian Institute of Fitness

Jun 26, 2014 | by AIF

Massage courses are back in vogue for many reasons. Many people have discovered the wide and varied benefits of massage therapy, and are looking to get treated by a therapist either as a one-off occasion for relaxation, or to help them through rigorous workouts. Massage improves circulation, stimulates muscle repair, provides relaxation from stress and helps to heal and nurture your mind and body. Therefore, it is no wonder more and more people are looking to enjoy the benefits of massage therapy.

Have you considered adding massage therapy to your repertoire if you’re currently working in a career as a personal trainer? By introducing massage to your personal training business service, you can offer more benefits to the client, and diversify your personal training business, potentially helping you to gain even more clients.

What are the benefits of lymphatic massage?

The philosophy of lymphatic massage is to promote healthy functioning of our immune system through stimulation of the lymph nodes to remove fluid and waste. When our bodies become toxic from environmental or dietary factors that slow down our lymphatic system, fluids build up, causing the body to become fatigued and heavy making us susceptible to colds, flus and viruses.

Lymphatic massage will benefit people who are susceptible to illnesses (especially in winter), have a weak immune system, injuries, emotional stress, low energy and depression. It has a positive effect on skin, promotes vitality and helps with respiratory disorders. Because this type of massage activates the body’s innate healing mechanism, it also has application for people who are managing pain.

As well as massage, physical activity such as trampolining has been shown to help improve lymphatic drainage. But, if trampolining isn’t your style, then a lymphatic massage can be just what is needed in order to feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Those suffering from depression may feel the added bonus of relaxation through massage to help relieve stress levels, as well as removing toxins in the body and helping with bloating. If aromatherapy oils are used, such as ylang-ylang or lavender, this may also be hugely beneficial to the health of those suffering with depression.

Using lymphatic massage to bust cellulite

Want to give that cellulite a one-way ticket out of your body? Then lymphatic massage can help to clear away accumulated fatty deposits that have set up residence! It is amazing what this type of massage can do and the amount of benefits it holds. This type of massage also helps to alleviate fluid retention and improve mood for women suffering with premenstrual syndrome. There are plenty of other illnesses and disorders that can be relieved and helped with lymphatic massage, so it is a very important type of massage that can be truly beneficial to you and your health.

Lymph drainage for beating the bloat

Manual lymph drainage is most commonly used for treating Lymphedema, a blockage of lymph nodes in the arms and legs. It is another gentle type of massage therapy that is used to drain excess fluid out of the body. You may feel that you have excess fluid around your abdomen, legs and arms, and this is when manual lymph drainage massage may help to remove excess fluid from the system that isn’t draining at its own accord naturally. The massage therapist will use one or a combination of four light massage strokes to encourage the flow of toxins through the lymphatic system.

It is possible to do manual lymph drainage massage at home for yourself, however if you want to receive the true benefits of such a massage, a qualified and experienced massage therapist is the best person to perform such a massage. They will have the skills and knowledge, as well as experience, to provide the massage in the correct manner to ensure any toxins are removed from the body correctly. The massage therapist may also use aromatherapy oils during the treatment as an added feature and benefit to your massage.

Remember to consult with your doctor before getting a lymphatic massage if you have heart problems or are undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Your massage therapist should also be aware of this, and ensure that you are healthy and safe enough to receive such a treatment. As a massage therapist, it’s important to learn exactly how to maneuver such a treatment, and to ensure proper drainage through lymphatic massage.

Becoming qualified to perform lymphatic massage

If you’d like to learn more about lymphatic massage and become a massage therapist, the first step is to get qualified as a massage therapist and learn all about the profession. With the right training, you will be able to provide health benefits to your clients, learn more about the lymph nodes and how to manually drain them, as well as the benefits of aromatherapy oils. Check out our website  for all the information you need, regarding our massage course options!

AIF

AIF

The Australian Institute of Fitness
The Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) is the largest and longest established fitness training organisation in Australia, with dynamic training methods and expert course coaches nationwide - spanning fitness, massage and nutrition. The AIF qualifies more fitness professionals than any other provider in Australia, as well as offering a broad range of continuing education courses (CEC), upskilling resources and partnership programs for existing industry.

Read more articles

View all articles

Disclaimer: Where Certificate III in Fitness, Cert III/Cert 3, or Fitness Coach is mentioned, it refers to SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness. Where Certificate IV in Fitness, Cert IV/Cert 4, or Personal Trainer is mentioned, it refers to SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness. Where Master Trainer Program™ is mentioned, it refers to Fitness Essentials and SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness. Where Master Trainer Plus+ Program™ is mentioned, it refers to SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness and SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness. Where Certificate IV in Massage or Cert IV/Cert 4 is mentioned, it refers to HLT42021 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy. Where Diploma of Remedial Massage is mentioned, it refers to HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage.

chatsimple