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Quote of the day:

“Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

– Albert Einstein

Dry Brushing

What is it?

Dry brushing is a technique that involves using a dry brush to gently brush the skin in circular and upward motions. Dry brushing is used to stimulate the lymphatic system and promote the movement of lymph fluid. Dry brushing is a helpful tool to remove waste and toxins from the body.

Dry brushing got its start in Ayurvedic medicine, a holistic healing system that’s been practiced in India for over 3,000 years. In Ayurveda, dry brushing is considered a form of self-massage to promote overall well-being.

Dry brushing has many benefits:

1. Stimulation of the lymphatic system: Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which helps remove waste and toxins from the body.

2. Improved circulation: Dry brushing increases blood flow and circulation, which improves skin health and reduces cellulite.

3. Exfoliation: Dry brushing helps to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improves skin texture.

4. Stress relief: Dry brushing provides an invigorating sensation, which can help reduce stress.

5. Improved digestion: Dry brushing can stimulate and improve digestion.

Why does it matter?

Lymph and blood are two important fluid systems in the human body that play distinct roles in maintaining good health.

1. Blood circulates through the body's vessels, supplying cells with oxygen and nutrients, and carrying away waste. It is crucial for maintaining the body's fluid balance.

2. Lymph is a clear fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system and helps eliminate waste, toxins, and excess fluids from the body. It also plays a role in the body's defense against diseases and infections. Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, lymph does not have its own pump and instead relies on physical movement and breathing to circulate.

Dry Brushing comes into play given the lack of automatic flow of our lymphs to help pump and remove toxins from the body, all while supporting the immune system.

How to add into your daily routine?

It is important to take care of the lymphatic system to help maintain overall health and well-being and dry brushing is a great way to do this at home.

Dry brushing has many benefits and is really easy to do. The best part is that you don’t need any expensive products or a ton of time to achieve results — just grab a dry brush and start incorporating it into your daily self-care routine.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to dry brush at home:

1. Choose a brush: Select a natural-bristled brush with firm bristles. Linked to the one I use off Amazon (it comes with 2 - I keep the long one by my shower at home and the small one for when I travel).

2. Pump the lymphs: Pump the lymphs a few times before dry brushing to enhance the benefits of the lymphatic drainage (behind the knees, groin, crease of the arm, armpit)

3. Start from the feet: Begin at the soles of your feet and brush upward towards your heart in long, smooth strokes.

4. Brush the legs: Then brush the legs, using the same upward strokes.

5. Brush the arms: Move on to brushing the arms, starting from the hands and brushing upwards towards the heart.

6. Brush the torso: End by brushing the torso in a circular motion, starting from the lower abdomen and working your way up towards the heart and then in a downward motion.

7. Shower: After dry brushing, take a warm shower to rinse away any dead skin cells. It is not mandatory to shower after if it doesn’t fit into your schedule.

Be gentle when starting out but as you do it more often it will get more comfortable to do. I do it everyday that I have time, or remember, right before I shower and it takes only a few minutes! I aim for 4-5 days a week.

Melissa Wood Tepperberg & Gwyneth Paltrow have step by step How-To videos on their pages to check out too!

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