REVIVE Bodyworks

09/04/2025

Lymphatic work and Scar therapy work together. Even if your scar ‘looks fine’, there may be underlying adhesions and lymph blockage.

✂️ C-Section Scars & Your Lymphatic System: What Really Happens Beneath the Surface

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

Many mothers are told that once a C-section scar heals on the outside, the body is “all fine” again. But the truth is, deep beneath the skin, your lymphatic system is often still affected. This silent disruption can explain why some women notice puffiness above their scar, heaviness in the legs, or a lingering sense of tightness in the lower abdomen.

🔄 How Lymph Normally Flows in the Abdomen

Your lymphatic system is a vast network of vessels that collect fluid, toxins, and immune cells and transport them through lymph nodes for cleansing. The lower abdomen and pelvis are major drainage hubs:
• Lymph from the legs, pelvic organs, and lower digestive system all passes upward through these channels.
• Smooth flow is essential to prevent swelling, bloating, or toxin buildup.

🚫 What Happens After a C-Section

During a C-section, both lymphatic and blood vessels are cut. While blood vessels repair themselves quite quickly, lymphatic vessels don’t always reconnect neatly. This can cause:
• Lymphatic congestion: Fluid can pool above the scar, leading to puffiness or a “ledge” of tissue.
• Impaired drainage from the legs: Swelling in the thighs, calves, or ankles can be more noticeable after long days of standing.
• Pelvic congestion: Lymph from the uterus, ovaries, and intestines may slow down, contributing to bloating or heaviness.

🧩 The Role of Scar Tissue

Scar tissue and adhesions act like roadblocks for lymph flow:
• Fibrous tissue can “trap” lymphatic fluid, preventing free circulation.
• Tissues and fascia may stick together, creating tightness or pulling sensations.
• Nerves in the area may also be affected, causing numbness or hypersensitivity.

🌐 Systemic Ripple Effects

Because lymph is interconnected, disruption in one area can affect the whole body. Common signs include:
• Swelling in the legs, feet, or lower abdomen
• Bloating and digestive changes
• Feeling of heaviness or fatigue in the lower body
• Persistent tightness or tenderness around the scar

🌱 Supporting Lymph Flow After a C-Section

The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to restore flow:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): A gentle therapy that helps re-route lymph around blocked areas.
• Scar Mobilisation: Light massage or fascial release can soften adhesions and improve circulation.
• Castor Oil Packs: Applied to the abdomen, they can reduce tension and promote flow.
• Movement & Breathing: Gentle stretching, walking, and diaphragmatic breathing help the abdominal “lymph pump.”

✨ Final Thoughts

A healed scar on the outside doesn’t always mean healed lymphatics on the inside. Understanding how your C-section scar impacts your lymphatic system is the first step to reclaiming lightness, reducing swelling, and restoring balance to your body. With the right care, your lymph can flow freely again, supporting your health and vitality long after birth.

📌 This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.

09/03/2025

No 5:30 Yoga class with Danna tonight. She’ll see you next week!

08/29/2025

Slow Flow Yoga with Danna on Saturdays, 9:30am 🧘🏼 The Heart Studio (on the Square, above Kilwins)

08/26/2025

Keep those calves moving. Got dysfunction? Book a session and we’ll use Neurokinetic Therapy to get you moving properly.

You have a second heart – and it’s in your calves.

Your body has a hidden circulatory powerhouse, and it’s located in your lower legs. It's called the soleus muscle – your “second heart.” It works by pumping blood from your legs back up toward your chest, helping your real heart fight gravity and keep blood flowing smoothly.

But here's the important bit: this second heart only works when you move. If you stay still for too long – whether sitting or standing – blood can pool in your legs. This can lead to swelling, varicose veins, and even dangerous blood clots, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

The solution is simple: keep moving.

A short walk every hour is enough to activate your calf pump. Even small actions like standing up, stretching, or doing toe raises can keep things circulating. For chronic swelling, elevating your legs or using compression socks can help, but regular movement is key.

What's even more fascinating? Some scientists are investigating how movements that activate the soleus (like seated heel raises) can help regulate blood sugar and improve metabolism. That means your second heart might be doing more than just boosting circulation – it could be benefiting your overall health!

So next time you’re pacing around or lifting your heels at your desk, remember: you’re not just moving your legs – you’re keeping your second heart beating strong.

08/21/2025

We're hiring! We currently have two openings in our Central Dispatch Center for Communication Officer I positions. The jobs are located on our Dahlonega campus.

To apply, go to ung.edu/jobs and search for job ID 289412.

We hire both students and non-students!

If you have any questions, contact Captain Paul Bennett at paul.bennett@ung.edu

08/19/2025

Struggling with being able to take deep breaths? Check your posture.
Having a hard time with tired, sore muscles that create poor posture? Book an appointment and let’s get you breathing better.

Most people never connect their posture to their lungs. Yet the way your head sits on your body can literally decide how much oxygen you take in with every breath.

When your head drifts forward, your rib cage collapses.

The lungs cannot expand fully, your diaphragm fights for space, and your body lives in a constant state of tension.

You feel tight shoulders, a heavy neck, and that unexplained fatigue that follows you all day.

Poor head posture doesn’t just change your appearance.

It suffocates your lungs.

Breathing becomes shallow.

Oxygen drops.

Stress hormones rise.

Your body works harder than it should just to keep you upright and alive.

No stretch or foam roller can fix that, because the root cause is mechanical.

Aligned posture opens the chest.

The rib cage lifts.

The lungs expand.

The diaphragm works as it should.

Suddenly, your breathing feels effortless.

Your energy rises.

Your body stops fighting itself and begins performing the way it was designed.

This shift doesn’t take years. With the right method, the change can happen in minutes.

And that is why we created the Five Minute Posture Fix, a simple method you can use anywhere to reset alignment and unlock effortless breathing in just minutes (link in bio)

08/14/2025

Why are hip flexors ‘tight’? I use Neurokinetic Therapy to find out The Why. And then we move onto to strengthening the pattern. Fix your Pattern, Fix your Pain.
(Also, focus on the ‘4 corners’ of the feet, not the Triangle 😉)

08/13/2025

Come and Unwind with Danna Foster Wednesdays, 5:30pm
All levels of yoga practitioner.
Drop-in or pre-register.

07/30/2025

It’s alllll connected 🙏🏽

Most people don’t realize your jaw and pelvis are linked. Not just through posture or movement habits, but through your developmental blueprint.

Around day 15 of embryonic development, two critical areas begin to form: the oropharyngeal membrane, which becomes the mouth, and the cloacal membrane, which becomes the openings of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.

The spine grows between them establishing a physical and neurological connection that lasts your entire life.
This connection continues through fascia and the central nervous system. The dural tube, which surrounds and protects the spinal cord, creates a continuous communication pathway from your jaw down to your sacrum.

When there’s tension or misalignment in the jaw whether from clenching, TMJ dysfunction, or altered bite it changes head posture. Your body compensates to keep balance, often by tilting the pelvis or shifting your weight.

Over time, these small changes can show up as chronic hip pain, pelvic instability, or forward head posture.
There’s also a functional link: the jaw and pelvic floor are both involved in how your body stabilizes the spine. They’re part of your core system.

If your jaw is clenched, chances are your pelvic floor is either overactive or not firing properly. This affects posture, breath control, and how your nervous system regulates tension.

Posture isn’t just a matter of standing tall. It’s a full-body coordination between systems that started forming before you were even born.

Read our full blog jaw and body are connected, link in bio ☝🏻




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07/16/2025

Lumpkin County TSPLOST alert!! ⚠️ ⛔️ If coming to the Office or Shala, make time to be delayed 😜😆

06/02/2025

June Goals:
Also, Yoga with Danna resumes this Wednesday! 🥳

05/23/2025

Please allow for extra time to get to your appointments during the road construction.

Caution ⚠️

Road Closure at Ben Higgins and Crooked Creek Drive due to down power lines. Please use caution when traveling this direction and plan to use alternate routes.