THE TRUTH BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE BRAZILIAN CONTOURING MASSAGE

Did you know there are actually several different practices out there all calling themselves “lymphatic drainage”? But here’s the truth: there is only one authentic type of lymphatic drainage massage and it’s not the viral trendy kind that makes your tummy flatter! What is actually true lymphatic drainage is a light touch stretching of the skin, not pressure, not rubbing, not oil or lotion, no wood or tools either. Anyone who understands how the lymphatic system works knows that there are 4 components to authentic lymphatic drainage massage.

1. Sequence; there is an EXACT SEQUENCE that needs to be adhered to, because the lymphatic system works in one direction only, it has an endpoint which is where we start and then we work out from there. We always work Proximal to Distal (close to far).

2. Depth of touch; The lymphatic system is a FRAGILE SYSTEM, with segmented lymphatic vessels that are like pieces of hair and smaller, microscopic even, and a heavy hand collapses them. The lymphatic vessels are throughout the whole body, but for the most part we can only access the vessels right under the surface of the skin. So a light touch that stretches the skin with a special torque, stretches the fragile segmented vessels and shuttles the fluid from one segment to the next.

3. Direction; The network of lymphatic vessels filled with lymphatic fluid flow in ONE DIRECTION ONLY. It is critical that a trained lymphatic therapist knows which direction to gently guide the lymphatic fluid.

4. Pace; The lymphatic system is a SLOW MOVING system. The pace of the lymphatic fluid is like a slow, steady metronome, and we need to match our movements to that natural rhythm.

Now that you understand the key elements - sequence, depth of touch, direction and pace - let me explain why heavy handed Brazilian contouring massage doesn’t align with the lymphatic systems natural function.

When you use a contouring massage that’s inherently heavy or forceful, you end up compressing those delicate lymphatic vessels and pushing fluid out of their thin walls in a way that disrupts the lymphatic system’s natural process. In fact, this can actually slow down the lymphatic flow. In addition to being heavy handed a contouring massage also employs a much faster pace, which further disrupts the lymphatic system’s natural rhythm.

In summery, achieving authentic lymphatic drainage requires not just the right depth of touch and a gentle pace, but also a precise sequence and correct direction. Only a highly trained and seasoned practitioner can seamlessly integrate the correct depth of touch , pace, sequence and direction to truly support the lymphatic system.