Lymphatic drainage massage has gained increasing attention in the wellness world - and for good reason. This gentle, rhythmic therapy supports one of your body’s most vital yet often overlooked systems: the lymphatic system. By improving lymph flow and detoxification, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may offer benefits that go beyond relaxation. Whether you’re seeking support for immune health, post-surgery healing, reduced swelling, or simply a sense of lightness in your body, this specialized massage technique could be the natural reset you need. What Is the Lymphatic System—and Why Does It Matter? The lymphatic system is a crucial part of your immune and circulatory systems. It acts as a detox network, transporting lymph fluid, which contains white blood cells, waste, and toxins - throughout your body. Unlike blood, lymph doesn't have a central pump like the heart. Instead, it relies on movement, breath, and muscle activity to keep it flowing. When lymph stagnates due to inactivity, illness, surgery, or stress, you may feel bloated, puffy, or sluggish. That’s where lymphatic drainage comes in. What Is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)? Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique developed to stimulate the natural movement of lymph through the body. It involves slow, light, rhythmic strokes that follow the direction of lymph flow—toward your lymph nodes. Unlike deep tissue or Swedish massage, MLD targets superficial tissues and is designed to encourage detoxification, reduce swelling, and enhance immune function. Top Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage 1. Reduces Swelling and Water Retention By promoting lymphatic flow, this massage technique helps flush excess fluid and toxins, which can be especially helpful for: Post-surgical recovery (e.g. cosmetic surgery or lymph node removal) Chronic puffiness or lymphedema PMS-related bloating 2. Boosts Immune System Function Your lymphatic system is responsible for transporting immune cells. When lymph circulates efficiently, your body is better equipped to detect and fight infections.

When entering into any wellness service agreements, clarity is key. Defining service terms clearly helps both parties understand their rights, responsibilities, and expectations. This reduces misunderstandings and builds trust. Whether you are a wellness provider or a client, knowing how to outline and interpret these terms is essential for a smooth and professional relationship. Why Clear Wellness Service Agreements Matter Wellness service agreements are contracts that specify the details of the services provided, payment terms, cancellation policies, and other important conditions. Clear agreements protect both the service provider and the client by setting boundaries and expectations upfront. For example, a wellness coach might offer weekly sessions, but without clear terms, the client may not know the cancellation policy or what happens if sessions are missed. This can lead to disputes or dissatisfaction. Key reasons to define terms clearly include: - Avoiding confusion: Clear language prevents misinterpretation. - Protecting legal rights: Well-written agreements can be enforceable in court. - Building trust: Transparency fosters a positive relationship. - Managing expectations: Both parties know what to expect and what is expected of them. A well-structured wellness service agreement should cover all essential aspects, including the scope of services, fees, duration, confidentiality, and dispute resolution. Wellness consultation room setup Essential Elements of Wellness Service Agreements To create effective wellness service agreements, certain elements must be included. These elements ensure that the contract is comprehensive and clear. 1. Description of Services Clearly describe what services will be provided. For example, specify if the service includes one-on-one coaching, group sessions, nutritional advice, or physical therapy. Avoid vague terms like "wellness support" without further explanation. 2. Payment Terms Outline the fees, payment schedule, and accepted payment methods. Include details about deposits, refunds, and late payment penalties. For instance, "Clients must pay a 50% deposit before the first session, with the balance due within 7 days."

The best place to start, is at the beginning, the alpha…YOU! When dealing with life, we experience the world and reactions from interactions, as we are; "As within, so without" Essentially, this means that what we are thinking, feeling and due to the resultant choices, we make, we influence our physical state of being. By starting with you, you start to create the reality you seek. This cheat sheet is a means to guide you on that route. Don’t be alarmed by the seeming magnitude of this task! You are already dealing with most of it; and simply need to know where and what to focus on, to experience the life of your dreams… and, as always, I believe in you! The easiest way to eat an elephant is …? One bite at a time ;) so that’s what we’ll do, break things down into manageable sections, that are clear in their function and objectives. A functional life is about doing as much as possible, within your maximum capacity but without causing undue wear and tear (stress!). It’s about being energetic and vital, well-rounded and on top of your game but yet applying the law of LESS IS MORE or work smart, not hard. There are 12 main areas that require your attention and these are listed below: (goal setting = objectives driven & outcomes based) * Health – without this you have nothing * Fitness – supports many other areas of ones life e.g. health & social * Relationships (romance, sex & love) – consider o Past o Present o Future * Family o Kids (immediate/extended/fostered/adopted) o Parents (paternal/maternal/extended) o Siblings (immediate/extended/fostered/adopted) o Important others e.g. cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. * Intellectual – what you do to stimulate your creative mind? * Emotional – what you do to make you feel better/good? * Spiritual – how you connect to your ‘higher self’? * Recreational/Social – what you enjoy doing for fun and activity? * Education/Developmental – what you do to invest in your skills, experience and knowledge?

1. Stand up straight with your shoulders back There’s more to standing up straight with your shoulders back than just a guide on how to have the right body posture. Doing so exudes confidence, and it shows that you have a “bring-it-on” attitude. In turn, it makes you feel powerful. So, when problems come your way, don’t hide from them. Instead, look for a solution and approach them with diligence. 2. Treat yourself like someone, you are responsible Sometimes, people get so busy taking care of others that they forget to give themselves the attention they need. No one knows you better than yourself, so it’s crucial that you make self-improvement as one of your main responsibilities in life. That applies to taking good care of your health, cultivating your skills, and focusing on things that help you grow. After all, that’s the best gift you can give yourself. 3. Make friends with people who want the best for you - supportive friends We all know there are a lot of toxic people and if we’re not careful, they could hurt us if we let them and can bring a lot of negativity in our lives. Word of advice, find people that will encourage you and celebrate your successes with you. In turn, stay away from people who take pleasure in your failures. 4. Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today You’ll likely feel discouraged and disappointed in yourself when you compare your life to someone else’s. This information is not new, but it’s important to reiterate that everyone follows their own pace and path. The only benchmark you should use to see if you’re experiencing personal growth and if you’re better than you were yesterday –that’s it. Everyone else’s life course should not affect yours. 5. Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them If you disapprove of your children’s actions, confront them about it. Don’t forget that as their parent, your role is to guide them in being the best people they could be and hopefully, they respect it enough to listen. So while they’re under your care, correct their ways when you’re not in favor of the things they do. You don’t want to live a life disliking your children because of some things they do that you could’ve at least tried to correct when you had the chance.

Nicci B Oct 14, 2019 Since we are multi-dimensional beings we need to get to know ourselves on all levels; body, mind & soul. Allow me to share some of the tools and resources I have used over the years to learn about my own biological, mental and spiritual state of being. Please consider that your state of being is constantly changing; in response to your thoughts, actions and response to environment. Establishing baseline stats on your current state is the best place to start. And it is wise to start with the body, the vessel for our soul (consciousness). When we meet for your comprehensive health consultation, we will review your health and lifestyle history and current habits of daily living, as well as all possible influencing factors that are affecting your health and well-being. Your post consult notes will include recommendations, suggestions and useful resources for addressing health & lifestyle matters, paying particular attention to those aspects that are causing you pain, discomfort and/or dis-ease. Areas covered include, but not limited to, nutrition, functional movement, supplementation, herb & plant medicine alternatives, stress management techniques, and add on services such as reflexology, massage and/or reiki. However, some useful things to know when you attend your consult, are latest blood and medical test results. It is my aim, to support any treatment regime you are receiving from your preferred medical practitioner. So while I am learning about you, perhaps you can use some of these resources & tools to get to know your body composition better: Metabolic Type - this is a more comprehensive approach to the blood group diet, and that is one component that falls into this ideology.