Learn the Foundations of MLD with our Introductory Manual Lymphatic Drainage Course

At the Toronto Lymphatic Academy (TLA), we teach practitioners how to support their clients with manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD). In this training, you’ll learn the theory and the hands-on techniques for draining the face and the full body.

The lymphatic system moves excess fluid and waste out of the tissues and back toward circulation, and MLD helps that fluid move (what we call lymphatic flow). The state of the nervous system matters too, because it changes how tissue responds to treatment. That’s why clients come to lymphatic work for so many reasons, from swelling after surgery to sinus congestion to recovery after a concussion.

Most massage, health, and wellness programs give the lymphatic system very little time. TLA’s Level 1 Foundation MLD Training is an introduction to manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). It starts with how the system works and then moves to hands-on technique. Once the two days are over, you can start treating clients as soon as you feel sure of the steps.

Yes. On day two, each instructor works with you one-on-one, checks your progress, and corrects your technique. Most students treat about three people before they feel sure of the steps. After that, you can offer MLD to clients in a clinical or wellness setting, and the mentorship group is there to support you with the questions that come up.

Level 1 certifies you in foundational MLD, and it’s also the first of four levels. Add Functional Lymphatics, Peri-Op & Fascial Care, and Glymphatics, and you’ll earn the Lymphatic Drainage Specialist Certificate, which covers the complete LINFA™ Method.

No. You can attend whether you’re an RMT, an aesthetician, or someone from elsewhere in the spa and wellness industry. We teach the medical side of lymphatic drainage and use technical language, so a background in anatomy and physiology will help you get the most from the course. Students often add lymphatic therapy to services they already offer.

The LINFA™ Method is our own approach to lymphatic drainage. Our founders developed it through years of clinical work and research, combining Brazilian technique with anatomy-based clinical reasoning and trauma-informed pacing. It puts nervous system regulation first and treats safety, tissue integrity, and long-term metabolic health as more important than intensity or short-term aesthetic results. It guides all of our programs and the treatments in our own clinic.

Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid, developed the technique in the 1930s, and the Vodder technique remains the right training for lymphedema care. We built the LINFA™ Method for the clients most practitioners see outside that work, such as people recovering from surgery or living with chronic inflammation. It regulates the nervous system before any hands-on work begins. Pressure is matched to the tissue, firm enough for clients to feel the treatment and gentle on your own hands. Our co-founder Thaís trained at Dr. Vodder’s International School and in Brazil, and the method draws on both traditions.

Edema is swelling from excess fluid in the tissue, more than the lymphatic system can clear at the time. MLD is used to help reduce post-surgical edema and post-traumatic edema, the swelling after an injury like a sprain. Moving that fluid can ease pressure and support tissue health while the body heals. Clients who are sore after surgery often find it soothing. Level 1 covers how to adapt your techniques for post-op clients. The Peri-Op & Fascial Care course goes further into surgical recovery.

No. Lymphedema is long-term swelling that needs medical management, often after cancer treatment that has removed or damaged lymph nodes. It’s different from the short-term swelling of post-surgical or post-traumatic edema. Lymphedema therapy is a separate qualification. Specialized lymphedema programs teach it, including several in Canada.

Level 1 is for the wellness, post-surgical, and chronic inflammation clients most practitioners see. What you learn here about the lymphatic system and the nervous system is useful groundwork if you later decide to train in lymphedema care.

We teach Level 1 face to face in Toronto. Online and hybrid programs are common in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) training, and they work best with hands-on practice built in. We teach every class in a room with an instructor, because pressure, pacing, and positioning are easiest to learn when someone can watch your hands and correct them. If you’d like an introduction to our teaching first, the free 15-Minute Lymphatic Movement Framework is online.

Our two founders teach every Level 1 class together. Thaís R. Álvs began her lymphatic training in Brazil in 2018 and later trained at Dr. Vodder’s International School and the Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Her work with patients includes oncology, fertility, pregnancy, and surgical recovery. Cassandra Hope is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Lymphatic Specialist with more than twenty years in practice, focused on gut health, brain health, and post-concussive care. Each instructor keeps a private practice at Longév, the Academy’s home.

Each college or association sets its own rules for continuing education credits, so check with yours before you register to see whether Level 1 qualifies as a CEU for you. You’ll get a certificate when you finish the course.

A great course teaches why each of the techniques works as well as how to do it. Compare programs by instructor credentials and by how comprehensive each curriculum is. Check how much supervised practice you’ll get, too, since that’s where you learn safe technique.

Rates for lymphatic drainage massage vary across the wellness industry and from one neighborhood to the next. We recommend researching what colleagues near you charge and setting your fee from there. Level 1 also covers how to position and price lymphatic therapy within your existing services.

Brush up on what you’ve learned about human anatomy and physiology, especially the nervous system. If you don’t get to that review, you should still be fine, because your instructors can explain any terms you need a refresher on. If you have long nails, please trim them before class.

Hotel Victoria is at 56 Yonge Street, less than a 10-minute walk from Union Station, so it’s easy to reach by train or GO Transit. The subway is steps away. If you’re driving, there are several paid lots and some street parking nearby. We recommend arriving 15 to 20 minutes early to find a spot.

Yes. There’s a one-hour lunch break each day, and Hotel Victoria provides a healthy meal. You can tell us about any dietary restrictions when you register.

Wear workout clothes or anything comfortable to class. You’ll be practicing on classmates and being treated by them in turn.

Many students travel from across Ontario and Canada for Level 1. If you’re one of them, you may be eligible for a preferred student rate at Hotel Victoria, our training venue, instead of the public rate at the time of booking. We’ll email registered students the booking details.