Lets talk Lymphatics…
What’s All the
Fuss About the
Lymphatic System
and Lymphatic
Massage?
In my mind, I 100% do not think it’s overhyped.
This system is bloody incredible. And honestly, the more I learn, the more I’m like, WOW. People need to know this. They need to know how to support this system so it can stay healthy and thriving — so they can feel and look amazing.
So, let’s talk lymph.
The lymphatic system plays a key role in protecting you and your body from harmful germs. It’s made up of a network of vessels, nodes and organs throughout your body. It works closely with our circulatory system and plays a bit of a clean-up crew role every single day helping collect excess fluid, waste and other substances and eventually returning that fluid to the bloodstream so it can be processed and eliminated.
But that’s when everything is working well.
Every day, the lymphatic system needs to move around 3–4 litres of excess fluid (lymph-a sticky, watery fluid) around the body. If this fluid isn’t moving properly, or there’s too much fluid building up, our tissues can become congested and we can start to feel like absolute crap.
Enter the fish tank analogy from Dr Perry Nickleson.
Think of your body like a fish tank.
Think about the human body as a fish tank.
The right tank is clean a bit like what the inside of your body can look and feel like when your lymphatic system is working efficiently. Balanced, clear-headed and thriving.
The bottom tank is what it can feel like when things aren’t moving properly.
Shitty. Dirty. Toxic. Clogged up.
Think chronic inflammation, pain, poor digestion and feeling stressed and sluggish.
Everything in your body is surrounded by interstitial fluid, which is closely connected to the lymphatic system meaning your cells are essentially bathing in their surrounding fluid environment all day, every day.
So… which tank would you rather be living in?
Why do we need so much more support for our lymphatic system than ever before?
Like any system in the body, the lymphatic system can be thrown off. When that happens, fluid may not drain as efficiently and can build up in the tissues.
Twenty, thirty, fifty or even 100 years ago, our bodies were living very differently. Today, there are more factors placing pressure on our systems, and I believe this is one reason we’re seeing such a huge increase in interest in lymphatic support.
We are more stressed as a society.
We come into contact with more things in our environment that our bodies need to process.
And we’re generally far more sedentary, moving less than we used to.
The way we are living especially as women is often not particularly aligned with our biology.
And this is where things like lymphatic drainage massage can be a beautiful form of support.
Stress
Stress affects the body in so many ways. Increased stress can influence hormone release and can place additional demands on the systems involved in processing and eliminating metabolic waste and hormones.
Stress can also affect our ability to breathe diaphragmatically.
And this is important because our diaphragm acts like a pump, helping support the movement of lymph through the body.
Less movement
Less movement = less natural lymph movement.
Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a heart pumping lymph around the body.
Our breathing, muscle contractions and movement all help.
Even low-level muscular contractions help encourage lymph to move towards the thoracic duct and back into circulation.
So yes, walking, dancing, moving your body… it all counts.
Environmental exposure
There is more for our bodies to process from our environment — from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the products we use on our bodies.
Our bodies are incredibly clever and have systems in place to process and eliminate many of these things.
But supporting those systems matters.
And this is where lymphatic massage enters the chat…
Professional treatments like lymphatic massage and facial massage too can support healthy lymphatic flow.
The lymphatic system of the face and the brain is a little more complex than simply calling it the “glymphatic system” (the glymphatic system specifically refers to the brain’s waste-clearance pathway), but this is an area I find fascinating.
If you’re someone who experiences brain fog, tiredness or puffiness, there are lots of possible reasons for this and supporting circulation, fluid movement and relaxation can be one piece of the bigger picture.
Professional treatment can help support the lymphatic system when it needs a little extra love.
Lymphatic massage helps get things flowing again. It helps clean the tank.
In my experience and from what I see with my clients they often leave feeling lighter, more refreshed and less puffy, with a sense of more energy and vitality.
Clients also tell me they notice things like better digestion, improved sleep and mood, feeling more balanced throughout their cycle and glowing skin.
Just to name a few!
What makes our treatments at Josephine Studio different?
Here at Josephine Studio, we don’t only work with the superficial lymphatic system.
We also work with deeper tissues and the fascia network, as well as the face.
This is one of the reasons our treatments can feel so different from anything you may have experienced before.
We follow the anatomical principles of lymphatic massage, but you won’t find our treatments to be cookie-cutter.
Every body is unique.
Every body has different needs, different patterns of tension and different areas that need attention.
So we work with your body and what it needs on the day.
So… how many treatments will I need?
Again, everyone is different.
For some clients, I’ll recommend coming weekly or fortnightly for 2–3 treatments initially.
Others are perfectly happy with a monthly treatment.
Some clients benefit from alternating between Ora Face and Ora Lymphatic Release, especially if they’re experiencing tightness or inflammation through the face and neck.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
What else can I be doing at home to support my lymphatic system?
My favourites are:
Movement — walking, dancing, stretching, moving your body.
Opening the hips and getting your body moving through different ranges of motion.
Fascia release with a ball.
Legs up the wall.
An anti-inflammatory, nourishing diet.
Water.
Breathing.
The Big 6 routine.
And, of course…
The Jose Fascia Duo
Our lymphatic-loving oil and cup are amazing for mobilising tissue and helping get things moving. You can purchase in clinic or on my website.
The lymphatic system loves consistency.
So whatever you choose to do, keep doing it.
Small, consistent habits can make a beautiful difference to how you feel in your body.
Nikita and Lisa currently have availability so get stared today.
Is your Jaw dragging you down?
jaw pain
TMJ, jaw pain, jaw clicking, lockjaw, full/blocked ears — these are all connected.
One of the biggest things we see in clinic at Josephine Studio is wāhine dealing with severe jaw pain. Jaw tension can create patterns right through the face, leaving clients feeling stressed, puffy, and like their face is being pulled down — and it could be. The jaw is the largest muscle in the face, so when it's heavy and tight, it causes big issues. Many have tried it all — Botox, night guards, magnesium, even chiro or osteo work directly on the joint.
At Josephine Studio, we work holistically, so we'll never say one treatment is the be-all and end-all. But when we step back and look at the bigger picture, we can start to get to the root cause of the pain and actually change the body's stress response — so it stops defaulting to holding and clenching, causing pain that so often ends in drastic measures just to manage it.
So how does Ora Facial Release actually help?
Facial massage releases the muscles that have been holding on tight — not just the masseter (the main jaw muscle), but the temporalis (temples), SCM and platysma (neck), traps, and all the muscles that connect into the jaw. This allows for a full release, not just a partial one.
When needed, we also bring in intra-oral (buccal) techniques as the cherry on top of the treatment, working directly inside the mouth to release the deeper jaw muscles that can't be reached from the outside alone.
During your assessment, we look at where fascial restrictions may be contributing to the problem, along with lifestyle factors, posture, and breath. Sometimes that means releasing fascia in the stomach or upper back too — it's all connected.
The first treatment is usually a mix of release work and some tender spots, because we're working to release muscles that have been holding on for months, sometimes years. You'll usually feel like your face has had a workout — in the best way. On top of this, we activate the lymphatic system to depuff the face, boost circulation, and relax the nervous system, so your skin, mind, and body are glowing for days after.
In our experience, results after the first massage for this kind of pain tend to last around a week. After 2 treatments, about 2 weeks. After 3, about 3 weeks — and so on, until we build toward a maintenance plan. We're reprogramming the body's default stress response to clench or hold.
How many sessions will I need?
Everyone is different, but most of our clients with severe jaw pain need a series of 6–8 appointments, starting around 2 weeks apart and gradually spacing out, before moving to a maintenance plan of monthly to 6–8 weekly.
Here's what some of our clients have had to say about jaw pain and Ora Facial Release at Josephine Studio:
[client testimonials here]
Ready to get to the root cause of your jaw pain?
Lisa has been trained and is mentored by Josephine and is currently welcoming new clients — book in here today.
Josephine has rare appointments available, or you can join her wait list.
We hope to see you soon — ngā mihi.