You know how when the weather changes, and your skin gets drab, ashy and flaky?
Do you know why that happens? 
General wisdom says it’s because that air forced through the vents is dry. Dry air moving across the skin dries it in the same way that air moving across a lake causes evaporation.
Makes sense, right? It did to me until I started studying alternative health care like Ayurveda and nutrition. The explanation is true, at least partially.
There is a more colorful story than that…
According to Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, our bodies move in concert with nature. Like it or not, our bodies experience weather changes, changes with the moon and sun cycles and changes of the seasons.
Take a moment, think about how stiff you felt last time there was a dramatic change in temperature or the restless energy you had on that sleepless full moon night.
That was your body responding to the cycles and shifts of nature. Your body is it’s own ecosystem within the greater ecosystem of nature.
To get a better idea of what is happening, let’s take a basic look at what nature does as she swings, shifts and slides from season to season. (science geek warning – this is a major over simplification!)
As summer becomes autumn, nature begins to let go of her green. The leaves dry and fall away.
Autumn’s wind blows the leaves until they blanket the ground spreading future nourishment.
Winter’s cold, damp days break down the leaves creating new soil.
Spring pulls the nutrients up to create buds, flowers, and seeds.
Spring blossoms float away to reveal summer’s supple bounty of fruits and vegetables.
Start to think of your body as an ecosystem with rhythms that flow in harmony with nature.
Think of it this way, if the atmosphere is the biggest organ of nature, then your skin is the largest organ of your personal ecosystem.
The big difference is that we tend to protect ourselves, our skin, from the elements of blowing wind, bitter cold and intense heat. The trick, then, is for us to stay in harmony with the cycles of nature so we can enjoy optimal health or even regain lost health.
The flaky, dry, and ashy skin needs to be sloughed off. The longer we experience life, the less we our skin naturally releases the dried dead skin cells.
This one, simple, and ancient tip will help your skin look more radiant, luscious. It will boost your immunity and cellular turnover, perhaps even help get rid of cellulite.
Dry (Skin) Brushing
Skin brush for supple healthy skin.
Your lymph system lives under the surface of your skin. It is responsible for cleaning the body of toxins and transporting white blood cells. You have more lymph fluid in your body than blood, but it doesn’t have a pump.
Because your lymph channels are thinner than a hair, to manipulate your lymph system, use a gentle touch and a soft brush.
Though it may sound weird, skin brushing is an ancient technique, used in many cultures for hygiene and optimal health.
Here’s how…
First, get a skin brush. I use the brushes in the picture. I took the handles off the softest back brushes I could find. You don’t need two brushes, I just like having one in each hand, one brush is all you need.
- Remember that your lymph channels are very thin, use a light, soft touch.
- Using a dry brush on dry skin, start at the top of your body, the neck.
- Brush the palms of your hands, the inside and outside of your arms.
- Be sure to brush your arm pits as well, (lots of luscious lymph nodes there).
- You can gently brush your breasts in circular direction, but be sure to avoid the nipples.
- Always brush towards your heart. Brush every bit of skin you can reach, remembering to move towards the heart.
- When you get below the heart, move the brush in an upwards direction.
- On your belly, move in a clockwise direction.
- Spend a little extra time on those areas that look stagnate or have a bit more cellulite.
- Then take a wonderful shower or detox bath.
- Drink lots of water!
How often and when to Dry Brush?
At the minimum, with every change of season.
At the beginning, middle, and end of every cleanse or detox.
If you want to boost your immunity, at least once a month. Choose to do it around the moon cycles, like every full or new moon.
If you want more radiant, supple skin, once a week.
Benefits my clients see…
- Increased immunity. (oo-la-la! healthy is the new sexy!)
- Decreased appearance of cellulite. (who doesn’t want that)
- Increase appreciation for your body beautiful, your soul house. (what you appreciate, appreciates)
- Decreased stress. (you can be radically radiant)
- Supple younger looking skin. (without toxic chemical creams)
My personal tip…
I learned from Nadine Artemis, holistic natural skin guru, to put a drop of essential oil in the palm of my hand and run the brush through it before starting.
This takes the dry skin brushing in the realms of an artful self care ritual.
I like to use, Lavender and Frankincense primarily, but will sometimes use Sandalwood, Bergomot or Ylang Ylang depending on my mood.
Tell me…
What is your favorite skin care ritual?
