This week’s Cohort Spotlight is Rachel Merriman of Lymph Flow Movement. At the heart of Lymph Flow Movement is personalized lymphatic enhancement therapy (LET), using specialized technology to support your body’s natural lymphatic processes.
What inspired you to start your own business?
The idea for my business really grew organically from my work as a yoga teacher. I took an online training about the lymphatic system and how lymphatic support could be incorporated into yoga and movement, and I immediately became fascinated by it. I started bringing what I was learning into my yoga classes and eventually developed a workshop focused on the lymphatic system. I taught the workshop at the different studios where I was teaching at the time, and the response was incredible. People were genuinely interested in learning more about their lymphatic health and in simple ways they could support their bodies through movement, breath, and other practices. That response made me realize I wanted to take what I was doing further. I continued my education and became a certified lymphatic technician, which eventually led to creating Lymph Flow Movement. Starting my own business also felt very natural to me. I’ve always worked for myself and have loved the freedom to create my own schedule and build something in a way that feels authentic to me. More than anything, though, I’ve always loved helping people. I love being able to give someone tools that help them feel better in their body and understand it a little more deeply. Lymph Flow Movement became a way for me to bring all of those things together—my love of yoga and movement, my fascination with the lymphatic system, my desire to help people, and my love of creating something of my own.
What’s your background? Could you tell us how each of these disciplines emerged in your work?
I’ve been teaching yoga for over 20 years, so movement, breath, and helping people feel more connected to their bodies have been a big part of my life for a long time. Over the years, my teaching naturally became less about simply practicing yoga poses and more about understanding how movement can support the body as a whole. My interest in the lymphatic system began through a training that explored how lymphatic health could be supported through yoga and movement. I loved how closely it connected with so many things I was already teaching—breath, mobility, muscle movement, relaxation, and nervous system regulation. That initial training led me to want to learn much more. I continued my education with additional training in the lymphatic system and lymphedema, and three years ago I became a certified lymphatic technician. Today, the two disciplines really complement one another in my work. My yoga background influences the way I approach lymphatic care, and my lymphatic education has completely changed the way I think about movement and the body. I’m able to incorporate breathwork, gentle movement, mobility, and nervous system support alongside hands-on lymphatic work, while also teaching my clients simple ways they can support their lymphatic health in their everyday lives. It feels less like two separate disciplines and more like one approach that has continued to evolve over the years.
What led you to take your work from an idea to pursuing it as a business?
In all honesty, it was a combination of wanting to do something more and needing more financial stability. I loved teaching yoga, and it had been such a big part of my life for many years, but I was ready to expand beyond teaching classes and create something that could grow into a more sustainable business. As my interest and education in the lymphatic system grew, and I saw how strongly people responded to the workshops I was teaching, I realized there was a real need for this kind of work. I also saw an opportunity to take everything I had learned through years of teaching movement and combine it with my lymphatic training in a way that felt uniquely mine. I wanted to build something that allowed me to continue helping people and doing work I genuinely cared about, while also creating more financial stability and flexibility for myself. That combination is really what gave me the push to turn the idea into a business.
How did you find your brand identity?
I think my brand identity developed pretty organically as I figured out what I wanted my work to feel like. I knew I didn’t want it to feel overly clinical, because my background has always been rooted in yoga, movement, breath, and helping people feel more connected to their bodies. That’s really where Lymph Flow Movement came from. I wanted the name and the brand to reflect that lymphatic health isn’t just about a treatment you receive—it’s also something we can support through movement, breathing, mobility, and simple practices in our everyday lives. As the business has grown, the brand has continued to become clearer. I want it to feel calming, approachable, educational, and grounded, while still being backed by the training and knowledge I’ve gained in lymphatic health and lymphedema. Ultimately, I want people to feel like they’re learning how to better understand and support their own bodies, not just coming in for a service.
Do you have a personal and/or professional motto or mantra that you call upon during tough times? What is it and what does it mean to you?
I don’t know that I’ve ever had one official mantra, but something I come back to often is, “Trust the process.” For me, it’s a reminder that I don’t have to have everything figured out at once. Some of the best things in my life and in my business have developed gradually by following what interested me, continuing to learn, and being willing to let things evolve. There are always moments of uncertainty when you work for yourself, and it can be easy to question whether you’re doing enough or moving in the right direction. Trusting the process reminds me to keep showing up, stay open to where the work leads me, and remember that growth doesn’t always happen on the timeline we expect.
How do you pick back up on moving your business forward when perhaps feeling uninspired?
I think this goes back to trusting the process. I’ve learned that I’m not going to feel inspired or motivated all the time, especially when I’m running a business on my own. When I feel stuck, I try not to force it. Sometimes I give myself a little space, and other times I focus on one small thing I can do to keep moving forward. I also try to reconnect with why I started in the first place. Working with my clients, continuing to learn, or even having a conversation with someone about the lymphatic system can spark a new idea and remind me how much I genuinely love this work. I think I’ve learned that moving forward doesn’t always have to mean making a big move. Sometimes it’s just staying curious, doing the next small thing, and trusting that the inspiration will come back.
What have you gained so far from being a part of the Accelerator cohort?
Being part of the Accelerator cohort has helped me become much more intentional about how I think about my business. I’ve learned practical things like identifying my ideal customer, creating a business plan, and really thinking through where I want my business to go rather than simply focusing on the day-to-day work. But I think one of the things I’ve enjoyed most has been being surrounded by other women who are also building and growing their own businesses. Hearing their ideas, challenges, and successes has been incredibly inspiring. There’s something really motivating about being in a room with women who are all at different stages but are working toward similar goals. It’s helped me look at my own business with fresh eyes, think bigger about what it could become, and feel more confident about taking the next steps.
