Lisa Levitt Gainsley is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She holds a double certification in Lymphedema Therapy.  Lisa utilizes her 25 years of vast knowledge of the lymphatic system to address the specific needs of her clientele, whether they are interested in maintaining health,  reducing inflammation in their body, at risk for lymphedema, or recovering from an injury or surgery.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lisa is an innovator in her field. Her unique life experience has driven her to become an accomplished and multi-faceted practitioner. When Lisa was 10 years old, her mother was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. She and her family spent the next few years educating themselves about the disease and working with doctors and top specialists across the country to support her mother's treatment. At a young age, was exposed to the concept of complimentary medicine. Lisa helped her mom as she transformed her diet to become macrobiotic. The family learned guided meditation techniques to help alleviate the side effects of the cancer treatment. Lisa was 13 years old when her mother died. The deep impact of the loss inspired her to pursue a lifelong commitment to helping others.

After college, in the early 90's, Lisa enrolled at the Institute of Conscious Bodywork, a massage school in Marin County, where she felt an immediate connection to her Lymphatic courses.

"I loved the way a lymphatic treatment felt. I had never experienced anything like it before. The rhythm and cadence of the strokes felt like the undulating ocean. With multiple treatments, my digestive issues improved, my bloating reduced. The more I learned about the intricate patterns of the lymphatic system, how the strokes are grounded in science and physiology, the more I was hooked! The treatment has a calming effect on the nervous system which allows healing to occur. Once I understood the direct connection between the lymphatic system and the immune system, and that manual lymph drainage can benefit side effects from cancer treatment, I knew I had found my life's work."

Lisa has studied passionately and incessantly - from meditation to yoga and massage. Since being introduced to the Silva method of meditation with her family in 1980, Lisa has gone on to learn Zen meditation, Vipassana, Pranayama, Tai Chi and Chi Gong. She learned Canial-Sacral Therapy with David Weinstock of NeuroKinetic Therapy. She studied Chi Nei Tsang in Berkeley, CA. Lisa has traveled to Thailand to deepen her knowledge of Chi Nei Tsang with master Mantak Chia. She studied Breema bodywork in Berkeley, CA. In Chang Mai, Lisa became a certified Thai massage therapist. Her training continued in India where she studied Ayurvedic principals and Iyengar Yoga, and then to Bali to learn from a Balinese master. 

Lisa believes that the individual’s ability to relax stems from the comfort and clear-mindedness of the practitioner. Her work is a moving meditation and understands that healing occurs when both the practitioner and the patient are present and set the intention for healing to occur.

  • Manual Lymphatic Drainage - Institute of Conscious Bodywork, 1993-1998

  • Certification in Lymphedema Therapy - Academy of Lymphatic Studies, 1999

  • Certification in Lymphedema Therapy - The Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy, 2007

  • Certification, Yoga Instructor - Yoga Works, 1999

  • Member of the National Lymphedema Network

  • Member of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network

  • Lisa has worked at UCLA Medical Center, TAG Physical Therapy and Plumbline Pilates & Physical Therapy

  • Private practice since 2000 in Los Angeles, California

  • Since 1998, Lisa has specialized in working with cancer patients

  • Lisa remains dedicated to helping people before disease manifests in the body