Self-Care: Dry-Brushing
You could drink all of the green juices and eat all of the superfoods in the world, but if you don’t take the time to love yourself then none of it will matter. Showing your body love and gratitude daily is essential to a happy and healthy life. Whether that means taking 10 minutes a day to meditate, read a good book, go on a walk in nature, or enjoy a bubble bath after a long day at work. Even fueling ourselves with nutrient dense foods that make our bodies sing is a form of self-care. No matter what it is, I dare you to do at least one thing every day that is for you and only you!
In this new wellness series, I'm talking all about my favorite self-care techniques. Starting with my all time favorite: dry brushing! There are many benefits of dry brushing, including the activation and cleansing of the lymphatic system, promoting circulation, improved digestion, reduced muscle tension, calming of the mind, the removal of dead skin, clearer pores, improved skin elasticity, and of course, the reduction of (ahem!) cellulite.
Although there are many wonderful reasons to dry brush daily, the most important reason is definitely lymphatic cleansing. This is because lymph collects toxins from cells and moves them to areas where they can be eliminated or drained. The “drainage” has to happen through smooth muscle movement around those vessels and skeletal muscles so that’s why we use a dry brush.
You can do this any time of day but I choose to do it before taking a shower. Starting at your feet and moving towards the heart, make long sweeps with the dry brush up all sides of the legs, then starting from your hands and moving up your arms. Once you reach your neck, go downwards towards your chest. On your stomach, use a counterclockwise motion. And don't forget your backside! Brush the back of the thighs, booty, lower and upper back in an upward movement.
You can purchase a dry brush at your local health food store, or some of my favorite online buys are this Purest Palm Brush, and Natural Body Brush! Also pictured in this post is Beautycounter's Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass, Body Oil in Citrus Rosemary, and Soothing Face Oil.
xo Natalie