Daily Ritual: Dry Brushing
Dry-brushing is a powerful practice to give your body a boost
WHAT IS DRY BRUSHING?
In Ayurveda, dry-brushing is called garshana (pronounced gar-shun-uh) and it’s a ritual that promotes lymphatic drainage and is also a powerful way to support the removal of ama (waste products) from the body.
This daily self-care ritual is recommended for people who have chronic signs of ama in the body (think accumulation of toxins in the body) like fatigue, sluggishness, brain fog, constipation, and an impaired immune system.
Because dry-brushing can be stimulating for the body, people who are predominantly Kapha in their constitution will benefit from practicing garshana every day. Those who are predominantly Pitta can do this practice 4–5 times per week, and those with more Vata would benefit from doing this practice only 2–4 times per week.
If your skin is on the dryer side or if you are prone to experience anxiety (imbalanced Vata), it is highly recommended you perform abhyanga (Ayurvedic self-massage) with oil after dry brushing to lubricate the skin. This will help to bring the Vata dosha back into balance by calming the nervous system.
Dry-brushing is done in the morning (before taking a shower) on dry skin using a wooden brush with stiff bristles that is gently but firmly brushed against the skin to help exfoliate dead cells from the skin’s surface and enhance blood flow. The “dry” part of dry-brushing refers to the fact that neither the brush nor your skin should be damp while you do it.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DRY BRUSHING?
Boosts circulation: If you've noticed that your skin is red after dry-brushing, it's not just irritation. The redness is the result of increased circulation in the areas you've been dry-brushing.
Aids with lymphatic drainage: Aside from leaving you with glowing skin, dry-brushing can encourage lymphatic drainage. All blood carries lymph fluid which filters through the lymph nodes. Dry-brushing speeds up the rate of blood pumping, which helps get the lymph through the body, therefore removing toxins and pathogens more efficiently and quickly.
Exfoliates dead skin: As with all methods of exfoliating, dry-brushing gets rid of the oil as well as dead skin cells. The result is increased cell turnover and more radiant, smooth skin.
Depending on your dosha (as mentioned above) dry-brushing can be done as a daily ritual and is an amazing way to get your body ready for the day! It will leave you energized and glowing from the inside out. On the other hand, people with specific skin or health conditions like very sensitive skin, a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema an open wound, inflamed skin due to sunburn or an allergy, and any serious illness should avoid garshana or consult a health practitioner if in doubt.
HOW TO DRY-BRUSH
Dry-brushing is best done in the morning before bathing, on dry skin that is free from lotion or oil.
Stand in the bathtub/shower or on a towel to avoid getting flaky skin on the floor
Using silk gloves or a brush, massage vigorously to stimulate the skin and lymph
Keep the direction of the stroke moving towards the heart
Use circular strokes on the stomach and joints (shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, hips, and ankles), and long sweeping strokes on the arms and legs (toward the heart)
Massage from the feet upward, continuing up the torso and on the neck
Massage from the hands to the shoulders
Apply a light pressure where the skin is thin or sensitive and a firmer pressure on thicker areas like the bottoms of the feet. Remember that the brush should never break the skin and it shouldn’t hurt too much. We want to stimulate the blood flow; it will feel as if your skin is tingling, but the sensation should always be bearable. Once you’re done, take a shower and apply oil or moisturizer of your choice.