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Yoga Theory | by Erika Tennebaum TheSkin You’re in: ASANA AND THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM INEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED BY THE YOGIC PATH. As I peel away the layers on the surface, deeper realizations come to light that make me stop and think. When I started practicing yoga six years ago, I was very focused on how the muscles in my body were affected. I would get so sore. I felt parts of my anatomy I didn’t even know I had. Over time, my superficial aches and pains began to fade, and I started to notice other things. My skin would look so healthy for days after class. My cheeks were getting rosier and my friends took notice. Considering that I work as an esthetician (skin care specialist) during the day, this was indeed a fortuitous development. I was becoming a walking advertisement for skin health and radiance. I decided to look more deeply into how asana improves overall health and, in particular, the skin. As the old saying goes, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” I would go a step further and say, “The skin is a window into the wellness of the body.” Yoga was improving mine, and I had to know why. When I look at someone’s face, I can tell by the condition of their skin if there are hormonal, genetic, or digestive issues at work within their body. I can also usually see if there are drug or alcohol toxicity problems. One of the reasons for this is the involvement of the lymphatic system, which is the filtration system of the human body. I had the opportunity to study the lymphatic system at the Vodder Institute in Cambridge, Massachussettes, and my views on the skin and lymph network were forever changed. I learned that detoxification via lymphatic processes involve the movement of water, whether it is already in our bodies or water that we drink. The principle function of the lymph system is to channel water through the lymph nodes, like a giant internal strainer. After all, the most important element in the creation and preservation of life is water. Forty percent of the lymphatic system is located throughout the skin. The lymph system tends to move rather slowly, so certain manual manipulations, known as MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage), were created to help detoxify the body. When giving someone a treatment in MLD, the focus is on stretching the skin in rhythmic movements, in varied directions. This speeds up the action of the lymphatic network, creating a systemic domino effect. It starts in the layers of the skin and sends the effects through the entire body, down to the marrow of the bones. The major functions of the lymphatic system are to remove excess fluid, help absorb fatty acids, and fortifying immunity. If this doesn’t equate to a comprehensive detoxification, I don’t know what does. You can think of the lymph system as a one way road throughout our entire physical being. Two of the first stops are our liver and kidneys. The liver is the largest organ within the body (the skin is the largest organ in total) and specializes in detoxifying the system. It takes up to a half an hour to mobilize the lymph system but, once active, it remains in a heightened state for three hours. Additionally, by drinking at least a glass of water every hour you will increase the natural detoxification process. You never have to spend a dime on the multi-million dollar “detox” industry that will push its pills and powders to those who really don’t need it. This is not to minimize the benefits of a legitimate hollistic approach to healling the body through herbal therapy. It just seems that preventative care should be kept simple, without a lot of unneccessary supplements and expensive gimmicks. One day during a practice, my teacher commented that a certain pose I was in was great for the lymphatic system. I was struck by the fact that asana is, in itself, a beautiful exercise in keeping the skin and lymph network healthy and flowing. Think about a side angle pose. The entire side of the body, from foot to fingertips, is being stretched and moving toxins through the skin and lymph nodes. Yogic movements involving twisting wring out the liver and kidneys like a sponge, purifying the body and, by extension, the mind. Asana is essentially a massage for the entire body, inside and out. In my experience, yoga is about nothing so much as purity. The next time you’re in class, take a second, whether during something as simple as Tadasana, or a pose as difficult as Locust, that you are doing more than stretching your muscles – you are purifying your body and mind in a most profound and natural way. s 16 YOGA LIVING September/October 2007
The Only Certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Affiliate Studios and Registered Yoga Alliance Power Yoga Teaching Schools in the Tri-State Area 2008 Spring Yoga Alliance-Certified POWER VINYASA YOGA 200-Hour Teacher Training Become a certified power vinyasa yoga teacher on the weekend! Our Teacher Certification Program starts February 23 thru May 18, in Philadelphia. Go to our website or call us for complete details. The training cost is $1500 prior to December 1, and $2000 afterward. Sign up early. Our last training sold out! 95% of our graduates are teaching now! Teacher placement is available. TEACHER TRAINING TESTIMONIALS “Immediately upon graduating from Bill’s training, I was offered a teaching opportunity at a top Manhattan yoga studio. I am now a registered yoga teacher, teaching power yoga 3Xs per week. Bill’s Teacher Training helped me jump-start an awakened dream. His humor, technical skills, professionalism, and compassion made my training a transformational experience. If you want to become an awakened, energized, and inspiring teacher, then Power Yoga Work’s Teacher Training is a must.” -ISUARO F, RYT “The teacher training program at PYW has opened up an endless number of doors for me.” -TINA S, RYT TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOPS WITH BERYL BENDER BIRCH IN MALVERN Nov. 30, Dec. 1 & 2 Complete 3-Day Workshop Fee: $175 Get 12 YA CEUs for all workshops THAI YOGA MASSAGE CERTIFICATION WITH MASTER MICHAEL BUCK IN PHILADELPHIA ON DECEMBER 8 & 9 A must for yoga teachers and bodywork professionals. Learn Thai Yoga Massage in a weekend! Fee: $275 BRYAN KEST POWER YOGA WORKSHOP IN PHILLY MARCH 2008 Fee: $100 Sign up online or call us on all workshops. PHILADELPHIA IN UNIVERSITY CITY 3527 LANCASTER AVENUE | 215.243.YOGA (Corner of 36th & Lancaster, one block north of Market St.) MALVERN 81 LANCASTER AVENUE | 610.889.9642 WWW.POWERYOGAWORKS.COM YOGA LIVING September/October 2007 17
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