Lymph Loves Good Posture

Let’s be honest — we are over being lectured about our posture. Modern life makes maintaining good posture a battle, with most people having to spend long stretches of time deeply focused on their computer. This means they are not only seated, but invariably rounded forward with eyes glued to the screen. This not only leaves us feeling tight and sore in the muscles of our neck, shoulders and back, it creates bottlenecks for our lymphatic drainage too, which only adds to that feeling of exhaustion and stagnation at the end of the day.

When it comes to lymphatic health, your posture is a big deal. Your lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the heart, so it relies on body movement, muscle contractions and the pressure fluctuation of breathing to help move lymph fluid up against gravity to where it drains back into the circulatory system below the collar bones. If you’re slouched over all day, it can compress the areas where lymph needs to flow freely, it limits the necessary muscle contractions to move lymph, and severely limits deep diaphragmatic breathing.

When you sit or stand tall, you’re literally giving your lymph system space to breathe and move. Even just becoming aware of how you hold your body can make a difference. Try this: throughout the day, take little posture check-ins. Roll your shoulders back, lift your chest slightly, soften your knees, and feel your spine lengthen.

Add in some gentle stretches or spinal twists, and you’re golden. Combine that with your regular lymphatic drainage sessions and you’re setting your body up for vibrant, flowing health.