How To: Full Body Lymphatic Drainage Massage
We recently visited The Calmm to attend an incredible 2-hour full-body lymph drain workshop and learn the tools to facilitate your own lymphatic drainage massage at home taught by the wonderful Sophie Dulac.
Today, we bring you an easy-to-follow, full-body lymphatic drainage massage sequence to incorporate into your daily wellness and self-care routine.
This guide has been created by The Calmm which they have generously allowed us to share with our BAYTHE community, and Sophie Dulac has kindly allowed us to photograph and video the process so we thank them both for this gift. You can watch the series on our TikTok here.
Lymph Activation
Lymph activation is done by pumping or lightly tapping each of the main lymph nodes.
This activation needs to be done in a sequential order to ensure your body continues to drain post activation.
This routine is great for pre and post exercise to speed up recovery or perfect when you have little time but still want to activate your body each day.
It should only take 5 minutes.
Lymph activation points:
- Above the collarbones
- Armpits
- Elbows
- Cisterna chyli / upper stomach
- Inside hips
- Groin
- Behind the knees
- Below the ankle bone on inside and outside
NOTE: When doing full body drainage, if you want to see the drainage of each section, don't activate all the nodes before but rather, each section as you go. Start from the feet up.
Full body drain
Sweep towards the heart. Where you can, use two hands using a flicking motion at the end of the stroke. Repeat these strokes as required.
- Neck - Continuous downward sweep on the left side of the neck. Repeat on the other side.
- Face - place your hands in prayer, bring your hands up to your face and sweep from your midline (nose) out towards your ears. Repeat times. Next sweep across your forehead, starting at your midline and across towards your temples. Repeat 6 times.
- Arms - continuous upward sweeps, starting at the hands on the outside arm and moving up towards the armpit. Repeat on the inside arm.
- Chest - rainbow strokes from the sternum out towards the armpit.
- Stomach - clockwise strokes around the stomach to encourage the digestion flow.
- Ribs - with the heel of your palm, apply circular frictions to the sides of your ribcage. Follow this with light pinching. Work bilaterally.
- Legs - continuous upwards sweeps, starting at the feet on the outside leg and moving up towards the groin. Repeat on the inside of the leg.
Watch & Follow
Watch Sophie Dulac as she takes you through a full body lymphatic drainage massage in our Lymph series on TikTok HERE.
Shop our favourite tools to use during your at home Lymphatic Drainage massage.
A nourishing botanical oil combining six nutrient-dense oils carefully chosen for their abundance of antioxidants, vitamins A, D and E and skin restorative properties.
2. IMBIBE | CONTOUR BODY GUA SHA
Full body Gua Sha tool to release tension, increase circulation, stimulate collagen and cellulite and to detoxify the body.
3. NATIVSENS | WOOD BODY GUA SHA
The body gua sha can be used to drain excess water in the lymphatic system, expel residual toxins and fat, sculpt the abdomen, increases blood flow, release stagnant energy trapped in the body and provides the relief that your body needs and deserves.
Dry brushing originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Using a firm-bristle brush, you gently massage your skin in an upward motion to increase circulation, exfoliate the skin, and to aid with lymphatic drainage. Dry brushing also helps with diminishing the appearance of cellulite and improves skin radiance.
