Level 1 Face Neck + Full Body Lymphatic Drainage

Certification Training for Professionals

Description

At the Toronto Lymphatic Academy (TLA), we’re passionate about teaching practitioners how to support their clients through the power of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). In this training, you’ll learn both the theory and practical techniques to effectively drain the face, neck, and full body—unlocking transformative health outcomes for your clients.

Why is this so impactful? Imagine helping someone with concussions, brain fog, or sinusitis find relief through effective lymphatic drainage. By optimizing fluid pressure, MLD moves stagnant fluids carrying toxins, pathogens, and waste while delivering essential nutrients, hormones, and healing compounds to tissues. The results? A healthier terrain and often significant symptom improvement.

This skill set is invaluable for clients dealing with autoimmune conditions, IBS, skin issues, infertility, or those recovering from chronic stress. MLD combines the calming effects of parasympathetic activation with the powerful physical benefits of fluid movement, giving clients the support they need as they work on improving their overall lifestyle.

Through this course, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the TLA philosophy, exploring the connections between the cardiovascular, lymphatic, and nervous systems. You’ll also learn essential techniques for working with post-op and pregnant clients, and we’ll dive into important conversations about common pathologies, the medical benefits of MLD, and how to educate your community.

We’ll even guide you on finding your niche and positioning yourself as an expert, so you can confidently serve the unique needs of those who walk through your clinic doors. Join us to diversify your skills and make a meaningful difference in your clients' lives. Our friends at Impact Kitchen provide lunch on both days. There are plenty of gluten and dairy-free options to choose from.

Dates

We offer trainings throughout the year. Our upcoming dates are February 15–16, 2025, and April 19–20, 2025.

Duration

Our trainings run over two days, from 10 AM to 5 PM each day, typically scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays.

Content Delivery

In person at our headquarters, Longév Clinic.

Modules

Module 1: The TLA Philosophy

Explore the deep connection between the autonomic nervous system and metabolic function. When working with clients whose goals are to improve regulation, detoxification, and repair, understanding how to nurture their nervous systems and bodies to best support positive health outcomes is a skill we dive into refining. Enjoy this scientific, yet deeply heart-centred conversation and expand your confidence in regulating your clinic environment to best support your clients’ ability to fully engage with optimizing visceral organ function and genetic expression.

Module 2 + 3: The Circulatory and Cardiovascular Systems

Discover the intricacies of the circulatory system, a vital network composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body. This sophisticated system facilitates crucial functions like maintaining homeostasis and regulating body temperature and includes the lymphatic system, which is essential for returning excess fluid to the bloodstream. With the heart as its central pump and a variety of blood vessels — arteries, veins, and capillaries — working in harmony, the cardiovascular system ensures that every cell receives the sustenance it needs to thrive.

Module 4: The Nervous System

At the Toronto Lymphatic Academy, we provide in-depth training on how the nervous and lymphatic systems work together, and how environmental triggers and stress can impact metabolic function and the body’s ability to heal. Many of our clients face unresolved trauma, chronic stress, and a nervous system often stuck in a fight-or-flight state. This sympathetic dominance can make it difficult for the body to shift into its parasympathetic self-healing mode.

As manual lymphatic practitioners, we have a unique opportunity to create a safe, regulated environment that encourages healing and restoration. Our approach equips you with the knowledge of both the nervous and lymphatic systems and provides you with the tools to help clients understand how this holistic method can support their recovery journey.

Module 5: The Lymphatic System + Watersheds

The lymphatic system is a complex network of tissues and organs that play a crucial role in the body’s immune system and fluid balance. In this module, you will learn the anatomy of the lymphatic system, how it connects to the circulatory system, how disease presents when fluids are stagnant, its role in the emulsification of fats, and where lymph goes when it is drained.

What makes lymphatic drainage different than other styles of massage is the sequence and direction of massage strokes. Learn the laws of watersheds, meaning how to approach the pressure, rhythm and direction of specific pathways to facilitate lymphatic drainage.

Module 6: Benefits + Contraindications

Manual lymphatic drainage has several benefits. In this module students learn which conditions are supported by MLD, how it promotes healing, reduces pain, supports immunity and transports key nutrients to tissues around the body. Although this modality is very safe, you will learn the absolute and relative contraindications.

Module 7: Practicum

In the practical part of the training, students are first shown the steps of face, neck and full body drainage by the instructors. After, each student will have a chance to both receive and give the massage to learn the appropriate pressure, movements and sequence. One-on-one guidance is offered on both days 1 and 2 by your instructors.

Bonus

At the Toronto Lymphatic Academy, we understand that mastering any skill takes practice and support. That’s why we offer lifetime access to future training sessions at no additional cost to our students. We’re also here to answer your questions—whether about refining your technique (send us videos, we love to help!), marketing your services, setting your pricing, or anything else you need.

Graduation is just the beginning. Our commitment to you doesn’t end when the course does. We're dedicated to supporting you as you launch and grow your career in manual lymphatic drainage, ensuring you have the confidence and resources to succeed.

Sample Schedule

Day 1

10 AM - 12 PM - Theory

12 PM - 1 PM - Lunch

1 PM - 4 PM - Teacher demonstration of steps

4 PM - 5 PM - Q+ A

Day 2

10 AM - 11 AM - Review

11 AM - 12 PM - Students practice on models

12 PM - 1 PM - Lunch

1 PM - 5 PM - Students take turns practicing on each other

Instructor Bios

Thais is a highly accomplished manual lymphatic drainage specialist who began her journey in lymphatics in 2018 in her home country of Brazil. Her training started with the renowned Renata França, where she mastered lymphatic drainage and sculpting techniques. She further expanded her expertise by completing certifications with Joana Medrado and Nany Mota, leaders in post-operative and fibrosis techniques. Thais also studied at Dr. Vodder’s International School of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and the Academy of Lymphatic Studies (ACOLS) for advanced post-op care. Most recently, she has deepened her knowledge under the mentorship of Dr. Perry Nicholston through his Lymph Mojo training programs.

Thais believes in the transformative power of touch, emphasizing that hands do more than massage—they communicate with the body, understanding its needs and responding with care. Her work focuses on supporting the parasympathetic nervous system to manage stress and anxiety, enhance fertility and pregnancy, improve brain health, and promote body detoxification. Thais’s passion for teaching empowers her students to approach lymphatic drainage holistically, equipping them with the confidence to address their clients' health with compassion and precision.

Cassandra’s passion for metabolic health began in her teenage years as an avid kickboxer. At 15, chronic hip and back injuries as well as severe IBS and depression led her to investigate the root causes of pain, inflammation, and immune dysfunction. She discovered a genetic predisposition to poor methylation and detoxification which drove her chronic inflammatory symptoms. This ignited a lifelong dedication to researching functional approaches to detoxification and metabolic health. Over the past 15 years, Cassandra has worked as a functional health coach, specializing in somatic drainage, women’s metabolic health, and modalities such as holistic nutrition, personal training, fascial stretch therapy, and colon hydrotherapy.

Her primary focus is the gut-brain connection, and she is passionate about working with chronic illness and neurodivergent communities. Cassandra’s approach integrates nervous system regulation and safe, effective detox strategies. As a dedicated teacher, she simplifies complex body systems, ensuring her students feel confident in applying their knowledge to their practices. Cassandra’s mission is to help others understand and optimize the connections between safely cleansing body systems and long-term health and vitality.