Last January I wrote a post about dry brushing. Just recently I was asked again about it so I thought it would be beneficial to revisit the topic (see the original post below).
Be Sweet! ;)
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Yesterday I read a tweet from a fellow tweeter where she explained she liked the exfoliating benefits of dry brushing. I responded by saying that I wish more people knew about the health benefits of dry brushing. After that exchange, another tweeter asked, "what is dry brushing?" Well...here you go...
I first read about dry brushing when I was seeking ways to help my body heal after surgery. My lymphatic system needed a little encouragement to work effectively so I started researching ways to help my circulation. One way that helps tremendously is to exercise. Exercise not only helps tone our body and help our heart, exercise also helps our lymphatic system circulate properly so that toxins are not stored in our body. The second method is message. You may have heard of stimulating messages or lymphatic drainage messages and what is done is pressure and message applied in certain areas of your body to help drain or circulate the lymphatic system. Lastly is dry brushing. When you take a body brush or loofah and rub and message your skin in the direction of your heart, you help stimulate circulation in your body similar to exercise and message.
Dry brushing helps clean the lymph system of toxins that are stored in our body that are collected in our lymph glands. When you dry brush your skin, you improve surface circulation on the skin and keep the pores open in order to encourage the discharge of your body's metobolic wastes.
Benefits of Dry Brushing Include:
Tightened Skin,
Helps with Digestion,
Helps to remove Cellulite,
Stimulates Circulation,
Increases Cell Renewal,
Cleans Lymphatic System,
Removes Dead Skin Layers,
Strengthens Immune System, and
Stimulates the Glands which helps all our Body Systems to perform at their best!
How To Dry Skin Brush:
Buy a NATURAL, NOT synthetic, bristle brush, since it does NOT SCRATCH the surface of your skin.
Buy a brush with a LONG handle, so that you're ABLE to get to the areas of your body, that are NOT EASY to reach, when doing your own Skin Brushing.
Skin Brush, before showering or bathing, at least ONCE per day, and TWICE, if possible.
Do NOT wet your skin, since it will NOT have the SAME Effect, because this stretches your skin.
Do LIGHTER Strokes over and around your breasts, but do NOT brush the nipples.
Brush each part of your Body several times VIGOROUSLY, COMPLETELY brushing your WHOLE body.
Brush the soles of your feet FIRST, because the nerve endings there affect your WHOLE body, next Brush your ankles, calves, and thighs, then brush across your stomach and your buttocks and lastly brush your hands to your arms.
ALWAYS skin brush towards the heart.
Do circular counter-clockwise strokes on your abdomen.
Take a WARM bath or shower, which should always be followed by a COOL rinse at the end to INVIGORATE blood circulation and STIMULATE surface warmth.
Wash your brush every few weeks in water and allow it DRY.
Take care of yourself and Be Sweet! ;)
