Please explain all this talk in yoga class about stimulating the lymphatic system. Exactly WHAT is the lymphatic system and WHY is it so important.  What other types of exercise can I do in addition to yoga to stimulate my lymphatic system ?
All ears everyone- we have an important question here; one which warrants a substantial response. Â In short, your lymphatic system helps flush and remove toxins from your body. Toxins from the air we breathe, foods we eat, smoking, alcohol, drugs, household and personal cleansers even certain clothes we wear. There are hundreds of other toxic invaders but there isn’t enough space on my computer to list all of them. When toxins become stagnant in our bodies, meaning they stay in our bodies and never leave – we get sick; sometimes very sick. Â I use the word “sick” emphatically yet loosely because “I feel sick” can be your run of the mill symptoms; sluggishness, body aches, low energy, weakness and fatigue to those more serious; even life threatening diseases such as diabetes, infectious diseases, auto-immune disorders and cancer. Poisonous visitors will take up permanent residence in our bodies unless we rid ourselves of them on a regular basis and take measures to keep them out in the first place. Have you ever had a friend or family member over stay their visit? The longer they stay the harder it is to get rid of them and their presence becomes increasingly toxic with every passing minute; meanwhile our stress level mounts to the point of explosion or implosion – neither is good. We need a plan – a good health strategy to help protect ourselves – we must be proactive in regards to our health. While we can’t control everything that happens to us, we do have the power to make healthy decisions everyday concerning our health. I’m talking about none other than: DIET, EXERCISE, REST and STRESS – what else is there? Â Let’s talk about exercise options to improve the way your lymphatic system functions and why and how it works.
YES TO BOUNCING:
Ladies! Your face will not fall off or sadly droop to the floor from a little bit of  bouncing.  No joke! I know plenty of women who refuse to engage in any activity that involves even gentle bouncing for fear it will promote skin elasticity loss resulting in more droop-age. I don’t know what to say. Perhaps borrow a head rap from a plastic surgeon, ask a friend to hold your face or place your face in a collagen sling connected to the ceiling – just be careful not to choke yourself.
Your lymphatic system helps to remove toxins from your body. You can assist your lymphatic system’s function through bouncing. A stability ball, or Swiss ball, provides a supportive base for bouncing exercises without impact on the joints of your body. Exercise balls can be purchased at any sporting goods store and are inexpensive wellness tools.
BOUNCING…….on a stability ball, rebounding-bouncing on a trampoline (they come with support bars too), jump-roping and elliptical type machines are optimal forms of exercise that stimulate your lymphatic system specifically to open lymph valves allowing toxins in our body to drain out.
Your lymphatic system depends upon exercise to help it eliminate toxins from your body. The lymph fluid cannot move on its own. It moves in relation to your body movements. Bouncing helps to open and close the one way valves of the lymph ducts to allow free flowing removal of waste. This is important because when toxins build up in your body you will have reduced energy levels.
Let’s Get Started On The Ball:
Stability Ball
Natural News suggests bouncing for two minutes every waking hour. Bouncing, or rebounding, is likened to resistance training for your cells. As you move up and down, the cells respond to the changing gravitational pull by becoming stronger. Natural News also reports that two minutes of bouncing leads to an increase in white blood cell count for approximately one hour. This helps to boost your immunity.
Fluid Movement
The lymphatic system does not have its own pump, reminds Vitality Magazine. This is unlike your cardiovascular system which includes the heart to pump the blood around your body. There are three ways to promote the flow of lymphatic fluid: movement to provide muscular contractions; a change in gravitational pull on the body; and increase in internal stimulus on lymph ducts. Light bouncing on a stability ball will accomplish all three and improve fluid movement.
Guidelines
When bouncing on your ball, keep your feet in contact with the ground. You can add arm raises to the front and sides as you advance. Begin with one or two minutes and aim to not exceed five minutes during one session. You can repeat your sessions throughout the day. The American Holistic Health Association suggests two to four times each day.
Safety
When choosing a ball, correct size is important. To measure proper size, sit on a ball and look to see if your knees are in a straight line out from your hips. If your knees are too high, the ball is too small. If your knees are too low, the ball is too big. Always wear supportive shoes when bouncing on a stability ball to provide a supportive base. Use you stability ball in a clean, open space and do not use outside. The ball is an unstable surface, so begin bouncing with caution. Ask a friend or your personal trainer to stand next to you for moral support while your trying on your new bounce routine. Many stability balls today come with 2 -3 pounds of sand already inside to provide a more stable and secure base.
Let’s Get Started On The Ball
Running
You can mimic a running or jogging motion while bouncing on the ball. Begin with a bounce, and every time you rise up, lift an alternating knee in a running motion. Bend your arms at at a 90-degree angle with your hands in fists, and move back and forth as if you were running. Boost the intensity by increasing the speed of your knee lifts.
Downhill Ski
You can mimic downhill mogul skiing by beginning your bounce with your feet and knees close together. Jump your feet from the right side to the left side, as if you were skiing downhill, “Fitness” magazine suggests. Position your arms on the opposite side of your feet, as if you were holding ski poles. Increase the intensity by lifting your feet higher off the floor as you move them from side to side.
Jumping Jacks
You can perform jumping jacks while seated on the ball. As you bounce, hop your feet out to opposite sides, then hop your feet together. Move your arms in and out in relation to your feet. You can also work one side at a time by moving the right leg and right arm out and in until you feel comfortable moving both feet at once.
Squat Bounce
Sit tall on your ball and rest your hands on your thighs. Press your feet firmly into the floor and lean slightly forward and look straight ahead. Begin with a small bounce; think….LIFT & LOWER. Hug your belly in and focus on smooth, rhythmic breathing! Bouncing on the ball will also improve balance, core and leg strength and get your heart pumping! Â Gotta love it!
Bouncing  workouts burn a lot of calories and excess fat in your body!  (Do you have any of that?) Stick around for Stability Ball, Rebounding, Jump Rope and Elliptical Trainer mini-workouts on Askinyourface.com in the coming weeks!
So bounce…live better and have fun!
*Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program!
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