By Grace Van Berkum, R.H.N.
Always an honour to be a part of awesome Sweat Equity Magazine,
Issue Jan/Feb 2013, page 44:
The skin plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and impurities. Dry skin brushing is one of the best techniques to open up the pores of the skin, and to stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system. Skin brushing, a technique that goes back thousands of years, may be one the best ways to treat your skin today. It is done by gently brushing dry skin and is used to clean, stimulate and exfoliate the skin. Instead of the standard cup of coffee or tea, try starting out the day as soon as you jump out of bed with an invigorating three to four minutes of dry skin brushing. Once you do it, you will be amazed at how addicting this beneficial habit can actually be!
Did you know the skin releases a pound of waste each day and will be the first organ to show symptoms of imbalance or toxicity? Few people realize that the skin is our body’s largest organ and an important avenue for oxygen and nourishment to enter the body as well as a means for the body to eliminate accumulated toxins.
If toxins are unable to escape through the skin they will either be stored in fat cells, contributing to cellulite and other fatty deposits, or they will be re-circulated back into the blood stream, overworking the kidneys, liver and other detox organs. Thus a seemingly simple and easy therapy like dry skin brushing can have a huge overall impact on your whole body health and yes, it helps to reduce cellulite!
How to Use Your Dry Skin Brush
Look for a dry brush at your local health food store. Make sure it has natural bristles (as opposed to nylon or other synthetics) and a long handle so you can reach all those hard-to-get-places on your body. You can get an inexpensive small complexion skin brush for your face, and a long handled larger brush for your entire body. You want to start off very gently for the first couple weeks until your skin gets used to it. If there are patches of eczema, skin eruptions, or any other skin condition, avoid brushing the affected areas.
Brush your dry body before you shower or bathe, preferably in the morning.
Start at your feet and always brush toward your heart. Use brisk circular motions or long, even strokes.
Brush all the way up your legs, then over your abdomen, buttocks, and back. If you have cellulite on your hips and thighs, concentrate their a little longer. To help dissolve cellulite, brush for 10 minutes daily for several months.
Brush lightly on sensitive areas like breasts and more firmly on areas like soles of the feet.
When you reach your arms, begin at your fingers and brush up your arms, toward your heart. Brush your shoulders and chest down, always toward your heart.
You can be done in as little as a few minutes. Finish with a shower to wash away dead skin cells. Now that your skin is tingly and smooth, massage natural, chemical-free plant oils into your skin such as coconut, almond, sesame, avocado, olive or cacoa butter. (see part 2, BEAUTIFUL SKIN TIPS: click here.)
It’s an invigorating way to start the day!
Benefits of dry skin brushing
stimulates the lymphatic system
cleans toxins from the lymphatic system
helps digestion
stimulates circulation
increases cell renewal
strengthens the immune system
aids blood cleansing
tightens the skin
removes dead skin layers and other debris collected in its pores
clear complexion
helps to fight cellulite by breaking down fat cells
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You are what you eat. You are what you think. ~Gracious Living Lifestyle XO
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