Feel Good Friday: Dry Brushing



Photo credit: christinebullock.com

Have you ever heard of dry brushing? I first came across this technique, also known as garshana, as a recommendation from an Ayurvedic practitioner. At the time, I didn’t adopt it into my already crowded daily routine. To be honest, my mind just wasn’t open to natural, holistic practices at the time. A couple years later, however, I ran across it as a possible treatment for cellulite, and this time, I sat up and took notice. I did a little more research, and by all accounts, dry brushing seemed like a panacea for all my body beauty woes.

According to MindBodyGreen, dry brushing:

• Increases circulation to the skin to possibly reduce the appearance of cellulite, a toxic material accumulated in your body’s fat cells
• Helps shed dead skin cells (and encourages new cell renewal), which results in smoother and brighter skin, and also reduces ingrown hairs
• Assists in improving vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. By releasing toxins, it encourages the body’s discharge of metabolic wastes so the body is able to run more effectively.
• Rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin
• Helps with muscle tone and gives you a more even distribution of fat deposits
• Helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. 

Of course, some of these claims are dubious (I’m looking at you, cellulite reduction!), but honestly, dry brushing before my shower is such a pleasant experience that I would do it even if they were all completely bogus. It’s like a mini-massage, right in the comfort of my own home :)

I’ve only been dry brushing for about two weeks now, so I can’t definitively say if I’ve experienced any of the purported benefits, but I can add one of my own: increased energy! I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect from doing something nice for myself or my body working so much more efficiently, but I find that I am much more enthusiastic about tackling my to-do lists on the days I dry brush. As a matter of fact, one day I did it at night, and stayed awake a full three hours past my bedtime, and this was after a long day of work and a vigorous workout that left me exhausted. Won’t make that mistake again!

How to Dry Brush

Do you plan to try dry brushing? I hope so! To start, you’ll need a body brush with natural bristles, preferably plant-based – I found this bamboo Bass brush at my local Marshall’s for under $10, and I really like it. Now, get to brushing:

1. Start at your feet, making long sweeps, avoiding scrubbing or circular motions.  You should always brush towards the heart – this is the direction the lymph flows.
2. Brush up the legs on each side, then work from the arms toward your chest.
3. On your stomach, direct the brush counterclockwise.
4. Don't brush too hard: Skin should be stimulated and invigorated but not irritated or red.  Pink, however, is perfectly fine, and indicates that you’re applying the right amount of pressure.

You’re done! The whole process should take 5-15 minutes. If you’re more of a visual learner, check out the following video:

Are you planning to try dry brushing or already a fan? Let us know!