Harren Therapies, 208 Marion Street unit 7, Winnipeg, MB (2026)

02/18/2026

~Lymphedema: Treatment Options ~
Welcome back to our continuing series on all things lymphedema.
So far, we’ve covered the basics, learned about the lymphatic system, shared the causes and symptoms, and delved into diagnosis and potential complications. Let’s move on to learn about lymphedema treatment options.
First, the not-so-good news: There is no cure for lymphedema. For those who have received a diagnosis or those waiting for one, this can be disheartening, frustrating news.
However, as we’ve said before, there is hope and help!
Early diagnosis is essential because lymphedema is a chronic, progressive condition. When identified early, the condition is much easier to manage, and the risk of serious complications is significantly reduced. But even if a diagnosis comes later, it is never too late to begin treatment—it just may be trickier to manage, often requiring more intensive intervention.

02/09/2026

~Lymphedema: Diagnosis & Complications ~
Welcome back to our continuing series on lymphedema awareness and education. We’ve covered the basics and gained an understanding of the lymphatic system and the causes and symptoms of lymphedema.
Today, we look at diagnosis and complications.
By now, we’re familiar with the hallmark indicator of lymphedema: swelling (edema), typically in a limb or limbs (arms and/or legs). However, edema can indicate other problems, conditions, and diseases, such as lipedema, hypothyroidism, deep vein thrombosis, lupus, kidney and liver diseases, and even congestive heart failure. So how do we rule these out?
Diagnosis:
If symptoms of lymphedema, especially the telltale sign of swelling, are present, diagnosis starts with seeing a doctor, having a discussion about personal and family health history, such as past cancer treatments and genetics, as well as a thorough physical examination, particularly of the swollen area(s). A doctor will assess symptoms; measure the affected limb(s) compared to the healthy limb(s); and check for “pitting edema” (temporary skin indentation when pressed) and skin texture changes. In some cases, imaging tests (MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, lymphoscintigraphy) are used to confirm the diagnosis, determine the extent of lymphatic damage, and/or rule out other causes of swelling.
Early diagnosis is essential because lymphedema is a chronic, progressive condition. When identified early, the condition is much easier to manage, and the risk of serious and severe complications is significantly reduced.

01/25/2026

~Lymphedema: Causes & Symptoms~
We continue our series on lymphedema awareness and education.
Now that we have some understanding of the lymphatic system (remember, think of a drainage network consisting of lymph fluid, lymph vessels, and lymph nodes), we can examine the causes and symptoms of lymphedema more closely.
When this drainage network is compromised, the lymphatic system is unable to drain lymph fluid, leading to buildup and swelling, most often in a limb or limbs (arms and legs): the telltale sign of lymphedema.
But what causes the lymphatic system to malfunction in such a way? What causes the damage that leads to blockage, buildup, and swelling, among a host of other symptoms of this chronic, complex condition?
Lymphedema can actually be broadly categorized into two main types–secondary and primary–based on its cause:
Secondary lymphedema is the more common type and is caused by damage to the lymphatic system. This damage is done by either cancer treatment (such as radiation therapy and surgery for lymph node removal); infection; injury or trauma; or chronic conditions, like heart disease/failure and obesity.
Primary lymphedema is a rare, inherited condition caused by congenital abnormalities (defective genes) that affect the development of the lymphatic system, which can appear at birth or later in life.
Regardless of type, symptoms of lymphedema generally develop gradually and can range from mild to severe.
Swelling (edema) is considered the hallmark of lymphedema, but can also indicate other problems, conditions, and diseases, such as lipedema, lupus, hypothyroidism, liver and kidney diseases, deep vein thrombosis, and congestive heart failure.

01/16/2026

~The Lymphatic System: A Delicate Balance~
Last week, we introduced the condition of lymphedema as part of a series of posts that will lead up to and include World Lymphedema Day on March 6. (March is also Lymphedema Awareness Month.)
Lymphedema is a chronic condition of the lymphatic system that causes swelling in body tissues due to abnormal buildup of lymph fluid.
To understand lymphedema, it’s important to understand the body’s lymphatic system, a vital component of the body’s immune system. When healthy and functioning optimally, it regularly drains excess fluid, waste, and toxins from tissues in the body.
Think of the lymphatic system as a drainage network, comprised of lymph fluid, lymph vessels, and lymph nodes.
Lymph fluid is a clear, yellowish fluid that contains critical proteins and white blood cells that travel through the body via lymph vessels, a network of channels that carry this fluid. You’re likely familiar with lymph nodes, the small, bean-shaped glands located in the neck, the armpits, and the groin area. Within the lymphatic system, lymph nodes act as filters, “trapping” waste, toxins, germs, and even cancer cells before the lymph fluid returns to the bloodstream. Kinda neat, hey? The body is amazing. In a healthy person, the lymphatic system drainage network maintains a delicate balance, ensuring the rate of fluid removal matches the rate of fluid production in the tissues.
When the lymphatic pathways (vessels and/or nodes) are damaged, blocked, underdeveloped, or otherwise not working properly, this balance becomes disrupted. The system is unable to effectively drain the lymph fluid, leading to buildup, which is the hallmark of lymphedema.
In lymphedema, this disruption to the balance of the lymphatic system prevents the fluid from flowing normally, causing it to collect in the soft tissues of an affected area, most often a limb (an arm or a leg), where the telltale swelling shows up.

01/09/2026

Let’s talk about lymphedema.
First, what is it?
Lymphedema is swelling in the body, most commonly in the soft tissues of a limb, caused by a buildup of lymph fluid that can’t flow freely. The lymphatic (lymph) system helps the body fight infection and is made up of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and organs that collect and carry lymph fluid through the body.
Lymphedema can be a challenging condition to manage and treat, including here in Manitoba. Many people affected are facing limited treatment options, but there’s hope and help! 💪
Awareness and education is the first step, so we’ll be digging deeper into the roots of lymphedema over the next eight weeks, leading up to and including World Lymphedema Day on March 6.
Did you know that Craig Harren, an RMT at Harren Therapies, is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT)? Craig is passionate about lymphatic health and care, and his own practice as a CLT.
Certified Lymphedema Therapists are experts in both assessing and treating lymphedema. CLTs range from nurses and physiotherapists to occupational therapists and massage therapists who meet the national training standards of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, the national umbrella organization supporting lymphedema research and best practices.
CLTs work to empower those with, and at risk of, lymphedema to live their best lives in optimal health.
Massage therapy can play a crucial role in both preventing and treating lymphedema. It’s a powerful tool for both managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Stay tuned for more information about lymphedema and how Craig can help manage lymphedema through massage therapy.
Let’s raise awareness and push for more comprehensive care in Manitoba. Share this post to spread the word!
Book a massage with Craig: 204-297-9641 or craig@harrentherapies.com

CertifiedLymphedemaTherapist MassageTherapy HarrenTherapies

09/30/2025

https://youtu.be/wjx2zDvyzsU

08/27/2025

Hello, folks! We hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

Harren Therapies is pleased to announce that Craig has increased his availability. Effective immediately, Craig now offers treatment times on Saturday afternoons: 1:00, 2:15, and 3:30 pm are now available.

To book one of these times, text Craig at 204-297-9641, email
craig@harrentherapies.com, or book online by clicking the link below.

Here at Harren Therapies, we value your feedback and ideas. We would like to gauge community interest in yoga classes.
Would you be interested in attending a gentle Ashtanga yoga class, Thursday evenings, 7:00 pm, starting in the fall?
Are there other days / times that would work better for you? Please let us know. Thank you!

Craig Harren ( he/him)
204-297-9641
Craig@harrentherapies.com. https://kitherapies.juvonno.com/plogin.php

06/01/2025

We are here. At the end of May, at the end of ; in recognizing that, let us be reminded that we are always learning, always growing, always exploring, always journeying, always practising. This isn’t over, ever. And, for now, we close out this chapter as we move into June with this thought:
“June energy:
Stay kind
Be less busy
Prioritize joy
Let go of tension
Flow instead of forcing”
(~Yung Pueblo)
Stay kind.
Let this be a reminder to continue pracising kindness, most especially lovingkindness (metta), or compassion toward all beings.

You are a tree.
A cottonwood, strong and thick and grounded into the Earth, growing tall and strong and stretching, stretching, stretching up, up and out.
Branches, reaching up and out, some big, some small.
Leaves, rich and green
Extending love to all
To all beings.
Lovingkindness
The radical act of self-compassion, or
Kindness, gentleness toward ourselves
Reaches up and out, to all selves.
Lovingkindness
Connecting to ourselves, connecting to each other, connecting to nature
In the forest, we are all trees
Blowing in the breeze
Whispering to each other
Remembering our roots
Grounding in our roots
So we can reach up and out.
We are not free until we are ALL free.
All beings, all life–we are the collective whole.
We are the forest
And the forest is burning.
Let’s find the yearning, inviting a spirit of renewal of what it means to be truly connected, to be alive, to be mindful.

To close out May, we have a mantra
For you, for me, for we, for us, for all:
May we all be safe
May we all be at ease
May we all be free
May we all find peace

05/22/2025

As we continue to explore Metta (lovingkindness), may we hold space for Balance, for opposing forces, holding space for both, for all.

Lifting up and
Grounding down
Reaching up, then around
Yet firmly on the ground
Earth and Sky
Sun and Moon
Light and Dark
Push and Pull
Yin and Yang
Not OR
Rather, AND
Holding space, holding hands
The complicated dance
Of balance

May we hold space for loving our full selves, our true selves, to embody lovingkindness: compassion for ALL. All selves. Fully. Truly. Madly. Deeply. In harmony.

BALANCE
Harmony
With all of creation
That organic connection
With Mother Nature, the Earth
Just as we connect to
What’s around us
What surrounds us
We find we return to the breath
We return to ourselves
We find balance, harmony, peace within

Remember, everything you need is already inside you. You can hold space. You can hold it ALL.
For this next Metta Mantra, focus on someone you care about, fully, truly, madly, deeply.
Perhaps they are struggling with finding and fully embodying balance. Perhaps they need more Yes And, less No But. Perhaps they need gentle encouragement to practise holding space, as we all do:

May you find balance
May you love your full selves
May you hold space
For you, for everyone else

Be well.
To continue exploring the mind-body connection and for support on your own healing journey, please ask about the therapeutic services we offer here at Harren Therapies.
Call 204-297-9641 or book online at kitherapies.juvonno.com/

05/17/2025

Craig Harren has finished his studies and is now a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. With this specialized training, Craig has begun work with clients diagnosed with lymphedema while consulting with their doctor and other health professionals.

Lymphedema is a condition that results in swelling due to a build-up of lymph fluid in the body. It usually happens in the arms or legs but can also occur in other parts of the body. Lymphedema is a multi-factor health challenge requiring a multi-factor approach.

We’ll share more information about this condition and why early and careful management is needed.

05/14/2025

Mid-May, on Treaty No. 1, it’s plus 35
The city thick with smoke, we try
To breathe, to survive
This heat, this intense-intensity
Do you feel it?
Do you see it, breathe it, taste it?
The heat, the fire, the smoke, the immensity
As the hot wind pushes smoke across the sky
Emotions spiral up, swirling, twirling high
Tangled, twisted, conflicted
Climatic and emotional extremes
The urge to SCREAM
Can you take a moment, take a breath
To feel what’s happening inside, and what’s next?
Take a moment...
Breathe...
When the emotions are “too much”
“Too” intense
“Too” strong
Remember, they are not wrong
And yet...
It helps to unravel them
To see what’s there
Underneath it all
To become self-aware
And bring that awareness
Into our practice of lovingkindness
Metta
Unbridled compassion toward ALL beings
Feeling our feelings
Brings healing, love
Transformation
As you deal with difficult emotions, remember that the goal isn’t to judge them or make them go away, but rather to embrace them, and hear what they have to say.
When you do this, you will notice an energy shift that feels less personal and more universal. This brings healing, love, and transformation.
This transformative work takes practice. Humans struggling with intense, challenging emotions tend to find quick coping mechanisms instead of truly feeling their feelings.
And sometimes we need help getting there.
Jack Kornfield** offers a guided meditation, “Transforming Difficult Emotions,” that looks inward and then outward, taking us on a meditative journey toward lovingkindness. (The link is below.)
For today’s Metta Mantra, focus on a specific person for whom you have complicated feelings, or a relationship in which you feel stuck, torn, heartbroken, or challenged in any way.
Practise saying it out loud throughout the week: May you find peace
May you feel your feelings
May you find hope
May you find your healing
Be well.
To continue exploring the mind-body connection and for support on your own healing journey, please ask about the therapeutic services we offer here at Harren Therapies.
Call 204-297-9641 or book online at kitherapies.juvonno.com/

05/06/2025

Welcome to our first Metta May for this month’s Mindful Monday.
As we look, with much curiosity, into what this month might bring
As we close our eyes and listen to the chickadees sing
Here is a mindful reminder to stay curious, open
And say to yourself:
“I will take whatever is given to me
And see what I can do with it.”
So whatever is handed to you
Is not meant to test you
But to allow you to see
All the possibilities
To be curious about what you will do
This is self-compassion
Not self-care or action
No expectation
No explanation
Just compassion
For yourself, as yourself, your true self, always
Turning compassion inward
Observing with curiosity and kindness
So, will you be kind to yourself
So you can spread that kindness from inside to outside
From inward to outward
To all beings?
For our first Metta Mantra, we’re going to turn it inward, to ourselves.
Practise saying it out loud, to yourself, every day for a week:
May I be kind to myself
May I be gentle with myself
May I be true to myself
May I trust myself
May you remind yourself to speak out this mantra
Every time your inner critic becomes a little too loud.
Remember, everything you need is already inside you.
And when we are truly self-compassionate
We can practise lovingkindess (“metta”):
Unconditional compassion toward all beings.
This is what the world needs.
Metta starts with you, with me.
Be well.
To continue exploring the mind-body connection and for support on your healing journey, ask about the therapeutic services we offer here at Harren Therapies. Call 204-297-9641 or book online at kitherapies.juvonno.com/

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