Dry brushing. You may have heard about it through your homeopathic loving friends or have
seen ads pop up as you scroll through your Instagram feed. It is an amazing ritual that can easily
fit into your self-care routine!
Dry brushing has a multitude of benefits including immediate exfoliation of your skin, reduction
of bloating, improvement in digestion, better kidney function and it helps the body detox by
stimulating the lymphatic system. “The lymphatic system collects and transports waste to the
blood.”
With dry brushing, you feel invigorated because it increases circulation in the body. This
is something that as an athlete, is extremely important to me. I feel that dry brushing has
helped to ease muscle soreness as well (especially in my calves). Because of its’ invigorating
qualities, most recommend dry brushing during the daytime, but let’s be real, it is great for you,
so fit it in whenever it works with your schedule! I tend to dry brush after my nightly bath.
To brush before or after bathing? That is the question. If you are going to dry brush before
bathing, you want to do so without using a body oil. Just moisturize after. If you choose to dry
brush after your bath or shower, you want to choose a high quality non-gmo body oil. I use
sweet almond oil by Now Solutions (this can be purchased at Whole Foods). I love the way my
skin feels after I dry brush with oil and with living in the Las Vegas desert, any added moisture is
a must in my beauty routine!
How to Dry Brush:
I am someone who loves to create experiences. So, the first step for me is to light some candles
and put on some tunes that make you feel ALL the vibes. Then I hop into my shower.
Begin your dry brush routine at your feet and brush upward, toward your heart. I spend a good
amount of time on the tops of my feet since they are usually sore from my workouts. Go all the
way up your calf, knee (including the back), thigh and bikini area. Then switch legs. Once you
reach your abdomen, brush in a counterclockwise direction (this is best for digestion health).
And don’t forget about that booty! Dry brushing can also help with cellulite (Halleluiah!) and a
long-handled brush makes brushing your back easy (and it feels great too!) Have a gentler
stroke on sensitive areas such as the breasts and chest area. For your arms, begin at your hands
and make your way up to your shoulder. And armpits! Armpit love! Your armpits have more
than 20 lymph nodes so pay extra attention to them as they are essential when looking to detox
your bod.
Start dry brushing with a gentle stroke and increase pressure as your body gets used to the
technique. However, make sure that your “brush bristles are not too hard, and never break the
skin.” The dry brush I use is from Earth Therapeutics (purchased at Whole Foods).
After dry brushing, make sure to drink a glass of water to help with digestion.
Try to dry brush for 3-5 minutes at least 3 times a week for maximum benefits.
Brush on!
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