Lymphatic Flow: A Practice for Spring Clearing The arrival of spring is an annual reaffirming that re-growth is possible and necessary. It gives us hope, energy, and a sense of freshness. Just as bodies of water cleanse themselves by constantly moving and flowing, and by going through phases like changing from liquid to solid to gas and cycled through earth, ocean, and atmosphere, our systems yearn for a renewal. The main purpose of the lymphatic system is to maintain fluid balance in the body, remove excess (edema), and filter out harmful substances, toxins, and pathogens from the tissues. It plays a crucial role in the immune system by transporting lymph, a clear fluid containing white blood cells and waste products, throughout the body. The lymphatic system also helps to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and transport them to the bloodstream. It serves as a vital component of the body's defense against infection, inflammation, and disease. Promoting lymphatic flow is crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system, proper fluid balance, and overall well-being. 1. Muscular Contraction & Relaxation: Muscular engagement plays a significant role in moving lymph fluid through the body. When muscles contract during physical activity, they exert pressure on nearby lymphatic vessels, helping to propel lymph fluid forward. Regular and varied movement is crucial for promoting lymphatic circulation. 2. Respiratory Movement: The movement of the diaphragm during breathing is one of the best ways to increase lymphatic circulation. As you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, creating a vacuum in the chest cavity and drawing lymph fluid upward toward the thoracic duct, the main lymphatic vessel in the body. When you exhale, the pressure in the chest cavity increases, pushing lymph fluid further along its path. 3. Valves in Lymphatic Vessels: Lymphatic vessels contain one-way valves that prevent the backward flow of lymph fluid. As lymph moves through the vessels, these valves ensure that it travels in the right direction, toward the lymph nodes and eventually back into the bloodstream. 4. External Pressure: External forces such as massage, gua sha, dry-brushing, skin rolling, and fascial releasing can stimulate lymphatic flow. Light pressure applied to the skin in particular areas and directions clears out congested tissues and moves lymph fluid through the vessels. 5. Gravitational Force: Gravity plays a role in lymphatic drainage, particularly in the limbs. When you elevate your legs above the level of your heart, gravity assists in moving lymph fluid from the lower extremities toward the central lymphatic vessels in the torso. 6. Interstitial Pressure: Interstitial pressure, the pressure exerted by fluids surrounding the cells in tissues, also influences lymphatic flow. Changes in interstitial pressure, such as during inflammation or injury, can affect the movement of lymph fluid through the lymphatic vessels. 7. Hydration: Adequate hydration is essential for lymphatic function. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep the lymphatic system hydrated and to help flush toxins from the body. Through practice and a deeper understanding these mechanisms, we can support and enhance lymphatic flow for maintaining overall health, immunity, and well-being. Join our Lymphatic Flow: Sunday, April 14, 2024, 12:00 - 2:00 pm Still Furled
If you listen really carefully In Fairview Park this morning You will hear the daffodils The very nearly daffodils All of a tremble Whispering to one another "Is it nearly time? Is it nearly time?" And one particularly anxious one Whispering to her neighbor "Remind me again! Remind me again!" "Yellow" Pat Ingoldsby
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So, you've been HOLDING SPACE... We have been learning how to hold space. According to 'Psychology Today', Holding space is a practice of making space for somebody else's experience and centering them. To hold space, one must be fully present and create a safe environment. Once the circumstances are created, holding space fosters listening and empathizing. But there is a problem with Holding Space. If we have been walking out of a life experience where we DIDN'T hold space... where we did not know how to center the experience of an other, where we were not in safe places, where we did not empathize, then yes, learning how to Hold Space is super important for creating positive social emotional connections... with humans and with horses.
It is possible we start holding too much. We make ourselves into a container. People, and horses, will trauma dump on us. Make us- the Space Holders -responsible for them and their stuff. We carry the baggage of others. We even see someone else training their horse in a manner and way we find troublesome, and then we apologise to the horse we have, for what someone else is doing, and then forge a training approach around our apology for existing. Space Holding can go too far. For some of us, it is second nature to center others. It is second nature to forge safe places by strong boundaries of protection. For some of us, empathy is a language we have lived with always. We do not need further pushing or social conditioning to do more of it. Because those of us for whom Space Holding comes easy, if we focus too much on it, we stop being Space Holders and start being containers for exploitation. No. My dear, sensitive, intelligent, talented, empathic horse people. 2024, is the year we call it back. A client recently described an experience where she let go of a social pressure to Hold Space for others in a way which was detrimental to her and her horse. And instead made a different choice centered not on the needs of them, but on her needs. She said her internal dialogue felt like; "I'll take that back please" We cannot Hold Space for others in a balanced and appropriate way if we have not met our own needs first. Our own needs of four dimensional safety (Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). You cannot give from an empty cup. So this is the year I an encouraging us all to practice the very important healing phrase of "No." I will take that back now. My sanity. My safety. My authenticity. My talents. My feelings. My ideas. My spaces. I will take those back now. I will not Hold Space for everything, every man and his dog and all activities under the sun. I cannot. We cannot. We are not that powerful. Instead be discerning. Some things we hold space for, some things we do not. And that is ok. In the bustling cacophony of modern life, where stress and tension are often our constant companions, the pursuit of inner peace and mental well-being has become an essential endeavor. Amidst various holistic practices that promise solace for the mind, Yin Yoga emerges as a gentle yet powerful tool, offering a serene pathway to inner harmony and emotional equilibrium. Originating from the ancient principles of Taoist philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine, Yin Yoga is a slow-paced practice that involves holding passive poses for extended periods, typically ranging from one to five minutes or even longer. Unlike its dynamic counterpart, Yang Yoga, which focuses on muscular engagement and movement, Yin Yoga targets the deeper connective tissues, ligaments, and joints, facilitating profound physical release and energetic balance. However, the transformative magic of Yin Yoga extends far beyond the realm of the physical body, permeating into the subtle realms of the mind and spirit. Here are some profound benefits Yin Yoga offers for nurturing mental well-being:
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