Move and Lose It...

Your body has an uncountable arrangement of moving parts working together in unison so you can live. The heart pumps the blood to get oxygen to the cells. The brain is a conglomerate of electrical impulses that ignite functions of all your parts. The glands generate the release of hormones or chemicals to get other parts working. And, the leg bone is connected to the hip bone so you can walk!

Everything has something to help move around what it's primary purpose serves. Everything, except the lymphatic system...which serves a pretty important function in the body.

Simply put, your lymphatic system is the integral element in removing toxins from your body. Believe it or not, the only way the lymph fluid gets moved around to do its job is by YOU moving around!

By practicing yoga, you perform certain moves that help move the lymph around the body faster, which in turn eliminates waste faster. Your body becomes internally stronger and cleaner quicker. Sedentary lifestyles simply allow waste to settle in and set up shop in your body. Not good. Ever inadvertently take a sip of sour milk and immediately spit it out of your mouth to prevent getting sick? Same concept...but a little more complicated. Lymph fluid collects what can cause illness in the body and gets it purged out of the body. The lymphatic system needs your active help in enabling it to do the best job possible.

Key points to be aware of:

*Lymph is originally plasma...the fluid portion of blood. It collects waste as it moves through the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes help destroy potentially harmful bacteria or viruses in the lymph.

*Unlike the other systems of the body, the lymphatic system does not have an organ that helps move the lymph. It depends on YOU to move around sufficiently so that it can do its part.

*Moving the lymph strengthens your immune system. You become more resistant to potential infections or illnesses. You want to enjoy good health, right?

*The practice of yoga inversions, twists, and active movements help facilitate the movement of the lymphatic system. Inversion poses helps the lymph move up to the nodes that are in the upper part of the body. The twists help squeeze out stagnant fluid and let in the freshly oxygenated fluid. The active moves simply gets the oxygenated blood and fluids moving around the body faster.

*Yoga's chief focus on breathing aids in the movement of the lymph in the solar plexus area of the body. Learning to breathe more deeply gives the gentle pressure that the deeper lymph areas need to get worked.

So...get your mat, breathe, and move your lymph as you enjoy your yoga practice. It is so much better than letting things stagnate. You just might feel the gratitude within your body. Move it and lose it is very good in this case!