Dry brushing the skin really is as simple as it sounds—a firm, bristled brush is swept across the skin, from feet to head. I do this as my morning ritual to get my day started off with its energizing qualities. Ayurveda dry brushing is said to help your body release toxins.
While dry brushing is a relatively new trend today, it has its roots in ancient times. It’s common in Ayurvedic medicine, but many cultures, including the ancient Greeks and Japanese, have used skin brushing to cleanse and beautify the skin.
1. Improves Circulation.
By dry brushing your skin, you increase circulation and promote blood flow so that skin cells can turn over and renew. Improved blood circulation also helps support whole-body health by promoting the flow of oxygen-rich blood. From our head to our toes.
2. Rejuvenates Nervous System
Our nervous system plays a major role in the functioning of our entire body, and most of our nerve ending are near the skin. These nerve endings are responsible for communicating senses to the brain
3. Lymphatic Support
When you dry brush your skin, you’re removing dead skin cells and unclogging blocked pores. This allows your skin to breathe better also streamlines its ability to effectively eliminate toxins. The health of our skin, as our largest organ, largely influences the health of our entire body. It’s the first line of defense against preventing bacteria from entering our system.
4. Improves Muscle Tone
Ayurveda dry brushing activates the nervous system, in turn helps to improve muscle tone, circulation, promoting the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to muscles.
5. Ayurveda Dry Brushing Exfoliates Your Skin
Ayurveda dry brushing exfoliates the skin much like the more commonly used body scrubs do, via physical exfoliation. The bristles of the brush manually sweep away dull, rough, flaky skin cells.
How To Perform Ayurveda Dry Brushing
First you will need to select the right brush some experts suggest natural bristle brush
In Ayurveda dry brushing, the skin is typically brushed toward the heart, starting at the feet and hands and brushing toward the chest. Ayurveda suggests doing your dry brushing in the morning.
- To begin, standing anywhere you’re comfortable and won’t slip is fine.
- Starting at the feet, brush upward toward the body with light, smooth strokes. I would suggest dry brush the entirety of each leg, working up to the upper thighs, then to the buttock area.
- Move on to the arms, starting at the backs of the hands and work upwards to the shoulders, again using light, smooth strokes.
- The stomach and chest are more sensitive, so lighten your touch a bit .
- You can continue with upward strokes here, or circular ones, depending on which is more comfortable to you. Don’t brush over breasts or nipples (for everybody).
- After your dry brushing session, shower or bathe, then finish with an application of lotion or body oil.
For optimal results I recommend applying a quality lotion/cream such as SPARITUAL Body Creme
How to Clean Your Dry Brush
Now let’s discuss how to clean your brush
It’s important to keep your dry brush clean to reduce the risk of infection. Don’t share your brush and keep your brush sanitary you can wash the bristles with gentle soap, rinse well, and set the brush out to dry. (And don’t let your brush sit in wet or damp conditions—always ensure it has a chance to dry out after use.) Another option is to dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and rub it over the bristles.
Stay tuned for next week’s pro-tips
Thanks, Connie
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