Elements Holistic Health

12/24/2025

12/24/2025

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🌿 The Lymphatic System of a Griever — 9/30
When You Are the One Who Holds Everything Together
By Bianca Botha, CLT | RLD | MLDT & CDS

There is a specific kind of grief that lives in the bodies of those who have always been “the strong one.”
The one who carries the weight.
The one who shows up.
The one who arranges, organises, fixes, comforts, rescues, pays, drives, manages, negotiates…
And the one who never gets to fall apart.

It is the grief of being the person everyone turns to —
while secretly wishing, even just once,
there was someone who could turn to you.

💔 The Hidden Burden of Being “The Responsible One”

When you are the go-to person, you become the backbone of the family.
Not because you asked for it,
but because life quietly placed the responsibility in your hands.

You became:
• The financial anchor
• The emotional stabiliser
• The logistics coordinator
• The medical advisor
• The crisis negotiator
• The caretaker everyone depends on

And while you were being strong for everyone else,
you tucked your own pain into the corners of your body —
places where no one could see.

But your lymphatic system did.

Our biology does not lie.
It remembers every unspoken emotion, every swallowed tear, every moment you held your breath and carried on.

🧠 When You Are the Fixer, You Don’t Get to Grieve Like Others Do

Grief changes shape when you are responsible for others.
You don’t get to collapse.
You don’t get to pause your world.
You don’t get to hand your weight to someone else.

You are expected to:
• Show up on time
• Make the phone calls
• Pay the bills
• Manage the chaos
• Comfort everyone
• Hold the family together

Meanwhile… your own heart aches quietly in the background —
like a song no one else hears.

And if you’re honest,
the deepest part of your grief isn’t only about what you lost.
It’s about what you never had.

The safe person.
The one who could carry you.
The one who could say, “Rest. I’ve got you.”
The one who would take your burdens for a while.

🌬️ The Body of the Strong One Eventually Speaks

When you spend your life being “the one who holds everything,”
your lymphatic system absorbs the emotional overflow.

Because when you don’t have space to cry,
your body cries for you.

When you don’t have time to rest,
your tissues hold the exhaustion.

When you don’t have permission to be vulnerable,
your vagus nerve shuts down.

When you don’t have someone to lean on,
your shoulders become your scaffolding.

This is why the strong ones often experience:
• Neck tightness
• Shoulder tension
• Lymph congestion
• Chest heaviness
• Deep fatigue
• Bloating
• Restless sleep
• Waves of unexplainable sadness

It is not weakness.
It is evidence of a heart that has carried more than its share.

🌱 The Grief of Not Having “Your Person”

There is a quiet heartbreak in realising that while you catch everyone else…
no one is standing behind you.

You are the first phone call when things go wrong.
You are the emergency plan.
You are the decision-maker, the negotiator, the strong voice, the emotionally stable one.

But when you need support,
the room becomes quiet.

This grief is not loud.
It is lonely.

It’s the grief of longing for:
• Someone to plan for you
• Someone to hold you
• Someone to say, “I’ll take care of it”
• Someone who knows your story without you explaining
• Someone who sees the weight on your shoulders
• Someone who reminds you that you’re allowed to be human

🩷 To the Ones Who Carry the World: This Is Your Permission

You are allowed to grieve the fact that you do not have someone who does for you what you do for others.

You are allowed to wish for support.
You are allowed to long for a soft place to land.
You are allowed to want a partner in responsibility.
You are allowed to be tired.
You are allowed to be human.

And most importantly —
you are allowed to rest.

Your lymphatic system does not need you to be perfect.
It needs you to pause.
To breathe.
To let something go.
To be held — even if it’s just by your own kindness for now.

Because even the strongest pillars need somewhere to lean.

12/24/2025

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Why Surgery Changes the Lymphatic System (And Why Your Body Feels Different After)

This is an article many people didn’t know they needed —
until they read it and quietly say, “This explains everything.”

Surgery can be life-saving.
It can be necessary.
It can be the reason you are still here.

But what is rarely explained is how surgery changes the lymphatic system — sometimes permanently — and why the body may never feel the same afterward unless it’s supported correctly.

🌿 Surgery doesn’t only cut skin — it interrupts flow

The lymphatic system is made up of delicate vessels, valves, and nodes that run just beneath the skin and through connective tissue.

During surgery:
• Lymph vessels are cut or cauterised
• Nodes may be disturbed or removed
• Fascia is incised and heals with restriction
• Nerve communication is altered

Unlike blood vessels, lymph vessels are not always repaired or reconnected.

The body adapts — but adaptation is not the same as optimal flow.

🌿 Scar tissue changes drainage pathways

Scar tissue is not just a surface issue.

Internally, scars can:
• Pull on fascia
• Compress lymph vessels
• Create directional blockages
• Force lymph to reroute inefficiently

This is why swelling often appears above, below, or far away from the scar, not only at the surgical site.

The body isn’t confused — it’s compensating.

🌿 Common surgeries that impact lymph flow

Many people are surprised by how common this is:
• C-sections
• Appendectomy
• Gallbladder surgery
• Abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Breast surgery
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Brain or spinal surgery

Even surgeries done years or decades ago can influence today’s lymphatic patterns.

Time does not automatically restore flow.

🌿 “I healed… but I was never the same”

This is one of the most common phrases we hear.

After surgery, people may notice:
• A swollen or heavy abdomen
• An apron belly that won’t shift
• One-sided swelling
• Chronic inflammation
• Fluid retention
• Increased sensitivity to stress

This does not mean the surgery failed.

It means the lymphatic system was never fully supported afterward.

🌿 The nervous system remembers surgery

Surgery is a physical and neurological event.

The nervous system may remain in a protective state long after healing appears complete. When this happens:
• Lymph vessels remain constricted
• Drainage slows
• Inflammation lingers

The body must feel safe again before it will release.

This is why gentle, calming, rhythmical therapies are often far more effective than aggressive approaches post-surgery.

🌿 The good news — flow can be improved

While scars cannot be erased, function can be restored.

Supportive approaches may include:
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Scar mobilisation
• Fascia-focused work
• Breath-based techniques
• Nervous system regulation
• Gentle, consistent movement

Healing after surgery is not about pushing harder —
it’s about restoring communication and flow.

💚 A message your body wants you to hear

Your body didn’t betray you.
Your body adapted to survive.

And with the right support, it can learn to flow again.

If you’ve ever felt:
“I healed… but something changed”
This article is for you.

Written with care by Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT, CDS
Founder of Lymphatica – Lymphatic Therapy & Body Detox Facility

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 health regimen.

12/23/2025

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12/21/2025

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Thankful for all of you this Holiday season!!! We have a handful of appts left for lashes and hair, get in while you can!

12/13/2025

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Only a week away!!

12/02/2025

Highly recommend this class! Get scheduled now to secure a spot!

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Exciting News!! Metamorphic Breathwork with Aubrey is back!! Space is limited for this special event so book early to secure your spot! Below is a description of the class and it is LIVE on Vagaro. No refunds on this class and studio packages can not be used for this special event.
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Metamorphic Breathwork Class Description:
Life offers us many opportunities for change and transformation. Just like the stages a butterfly goes through, we also move through our own cycles of growth and renewal. This breathwork class is designed to support that process—using conscious, connected breathing as a tool to release, reset, and reconnect with yourself on a deeper level.

Aubrey, a certified breathwork and yoga instructor, will guide you through this session using a three-part breath technique that has played a key role in her own path of healing and self-discovery. Her approach is rooted in the belief that everyone has the capacity to heal and deserves the space and support to do so.

Breathwork can help move stagnant energy, release stored emotions, and support the processing of past experiences. Some of what we carry—emotionally or energetically—may even have origins in generational patterns passed down through family systems. Research in fields like epigenetics suggests that we can hold the effects of ancestral stress in our biology. Breathwork can offer a space to start unwinding those patterns.

This practice also supports the body in more tangible ways—it can help oxygenate the blood, regulate the nervous system, and boost immune function. Aubrey’s intention is that you leave feeling clearer, more grounded, and more connected to your authentic self.

What to Expect:
We’ll begin with a short guided meditation.

You’ll then be guided into a 45-minute conscious connected breath session.

We’ll close with a calming meditation and reflection period.

Please note: This practice is not recommended for those with unmedicated heart or neurological conditions. If you have a medical concern but would still like to participate, please contact Aubrey ahead of time to discuss safe modifications.

About Your Facilitator – Aubrey
Hi, I’m Aubrey—a certified breathwork and yoga instructor with a passion for holding space for deep personal transformation. My journey with breathwork began in 2019, and it quickly became much more than a practice—it was the gateway that led me into meditation, self-inquiry, and learning to trust myself on a deeper, more intuitive level.

I’ve been teaching breathwork both virtually and in person since 2020, supporting individuals in tuning into their bodies, releasing stored emotion, and reconnecting with their inner clarity. Whether I’m guiding a group session or working one-on-one, my approach is grounded, supportive, and centered on creating a safe space for people to show up exactly as they are.

I welcome people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels—whether you’ve never meditated or done yoga before, or you’ve been on this path for years. Breathwork is for absolutely everyone, and this practice is beginner-friendly. You don’t need any special skills—just a willingness to show up and breathe.

I’m originally from Waverly and now live in Los Angeles, CA. I love working with people from all walks of life and believe that breathwork can be a powerful entry point to healing—especially for those who are ready to slow down, listen inward, and meet themselves with honesty and compassion.

Outside of breathwork and yoga, I’m a curious human always learning and exploring—whether through movement, nature, traveling, or community. My hope is that every session I offer helps others feel a little more connected to themselves, their bodies, and their path.

12/02/2025

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11/28/2025

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11/27/2025

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Shop the best clean beauty brands curated from around the world, while supporting your local hair salon. Shop non-toxic, holistic hair care, skincare and styling products from Oway, Areté, O&M and more. Subscribe & Save on all orders! Stylists, get paid 30% affiliate commission!