A few weeks back I talked about how I was employing dry brushing as a part of my getting summer ready routine. It such a regular part of my life that I sometimes forget not everyone knows the benefits of this beautiful practice, so today I want to take you through Dry Brushing 101. Hopefully, when we’re done you’ll be ready to get your own dry brush and give it a try.
Full disclosure, while there are a ton of benefits of dry brushing my main, and completely vain, motivation at the moment is cellulite reduction. Look, I love that my body has been through the gauntlet and came out the other side baring three amazing, strong, healthy babies. But at the end of the day, I’m still a woman who once rocked the body of a competitive athlete. These days I am very much… not. Having babies… changes things. Some of those changes are permanent. But some we can actually do something about and dry brushing helps me to feel like I’m doing something about this one tiny area that I’d like to improve.
But if you’re not as vain as me, let me tell you all about dry brushing and why you should probably be doing it too… even if you’re still rocking a bomb body without it.
FYI- This vegan dry brush was gifted by the Aubrey, over at the Green Goddess Shop.
What is Dry Brushing and how does it work
Dry brushing is a technique that uses a dry, natural bristle brush to gently exfoliate our dead skin cells.
If you’re a believer in Ayurveda, of which I am, then you’ve heard about the many benefits of dry brushing. Our skin is regenerative, we have a cellular turnover of millions of skin cells daily. Dry brushing helps our body with this process by sloughing off the dead cells remaining on the surface. This helps to unclog our skin’s pores, which leaves skin looking more supple, soft and glowy.
The Lymphatic System
In addition to helping with the look and texture of our skin, dry brushing stimulates your lymphatic system and helps with circulation. In order to truly understand why so many people believe in the power of dry brushing, you have to understand two things: the main function of our lymphatic system, and it’s relationship to our immune system.
Our lymphatic system’s main function is to rid our bodies of unwanted toxins and cellular waste. It is comprised of a complex system of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymph itself (a colorless liquid made of white blood cells). Unlike the circulatory system, however, the lymphatic system is not closed system; meaning it provides a mechanism for circulating extracellular fluid/blood. In addition to this circulatory role, the lymphatic system defends our immune system.
Stimulating the Lymphatic System
When the lymphatic system is compromised, and lymph is stagnant, it can lead to a build-up of toxins which can cause swelling, bloating, and, over time, other signs of disease. This is important because lymph is only circulating through the lymphatic vessel network in two ways, either by intrinsic contractions of the lymphatic passages or by extrinsic compression of the lymphatic vessels via external forces; like massage or dry brushing.
Basically, the act of dry brushing manually stimulates your lymphatic and circulatory system and gently encourages increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage. This aids your body in waste removal, cellular turnover, and increases energy.
Benefits of Dry Brushing
Another claim is that dry brushing reduces the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is a build up of fat beneath the skin and it gives the skin that bumpy look we all know and hate. While dry brushing cannot cure cellulite, it can help reduce the appearance of those stubborn bumps. Dry brushing helps to soften the skin and redistribute the fat cells that are beneath the surface of the slightly sagging skin. This stimulation also helps with tightening the skin. This can result in smoother, less dimpled skin.
It important to note that dry brushing is not a magic cure. In fact, those who are obsessed with dry brushing do it first and foremost because it feels good. The benefit of helping your body function better, and maybe even improving the look of our thighs is just icing on the cake.
How to Dry Brush
There are only a few rules of dry brushing. The first of which is always dry brush towards your heart. The second rule, if you can call it that, is use long upward strokes. After that, do what feels good. I like to start at my toes, moving up towards my knees, thighs, and butt. Then I start at my fingers and follow the same wrist bone is connected to the elbow bone pattern. For my back, I like to brush up towards my head, and I like smaller circular strokes on my stomach; where I have some stretch marks I like to pay special attention.
After finishing, which should only take about 5 minutes, I hop in the shower to rinse away all of the dead skin cells.
Incorporating Dry Brushing into your Routine
You really don’t need to dry brush every day, which is fantastic, because I have small children who consistently remind me that they have no intention of letting me be great. So, a few times a week, if I can find the time, I like to throw in dry brushing so that my skin can live it’s best life.
- Dry Brush, brush it up
- Shower it off, add a bit of Osea’s Undaria Body Polish to slough off dead skin.
- Shake it dry, I tend to like body oils post-shower, so leave your skin a bit wet for the emulsion.
- Slather it on, for summer I’m all about the One Love Organics Vitamin C Body Oil
- Pretend I’m away at the spa.
Have you tried Dry Brushing? What are your thoughts?
Xo, Kimberly Fe'Lix
