5 Reasons to practice Garshana Dry Body Brushing

When it comes to skincare, many of us focus primarily on the face, but our body also deserves attention and care. After all, our skin is the largest organ, and it plays a crucial role in protecting us from harmful elements like bacteria, pollution, and the sun. Just as you nourish your face with specific products and routines, your body too can benefit from regular skincare love!

Any good skincare routine begins with some form of exfoliation. Removing dull, dead skin prior to applying treatments and moisturisers allows your leave-on products to actually absorb into the skin where their active ingredients can get to work. The same applies to the skin on your body. 

While the thought of starting a whole new skincare routine for your body may seem time consuming, you’ll be relieved to learn that Garshana Dry Body Brushing can be completed in as little as 5 minutes per day and easily incorporated into your daily shower or bath routine.

What is Garshana Dry Body Brushing?

Garshana dry body brushing (pronounced gar-sha-nuh) originates from ancient India and the Ayurvedic tradition, where it was used widely as a cleansing and healing practice to detoxify the body. This Ayurvedic Dry Body Brushing practice involves using a dry, natural-bristle brush to gently exfoliate and massage the skin. It’s usually done in the morning before bathing, and it’s more than just a beauty treatment—it’s a full-body reset. 

Along with pore cleansing and skin rejuvenation, Garshana Dry Body Brushing stimulates cellular regeneration, which leaves skin clearer, firmer and naturally glowing. When used consistently, the brush can give you a healthy, bright and smooth complexion. Deeper down, this method aids in increasing circulation and focus, relieving tension, and reducing puffiness, giving the body a feeling of warmth and vitality.

What are the Benefits of Dry Body Brushing?

Let’s take a closer look at the many benefits that Garshana Dry Body Brushing can bring to your skin and overall health.

1. Improves lymphatic drainage

Unlike our circulatory system, which flows on its own, our lymphatic system can easily become sluggish which is why regular exercise and daily Garshana dry body brushing can be so helpful. Because of the physical nature of Garshana, using firm, fluid strokes in the direction of your heart, works with your body’s natural flow of lymph and promotes improved detoxification.

When practised daily, Garshana dry body brushing is one of the best ways to improve lymphatic drainage and given that our lymphatic system is one of our body’s key channels of detoxification—it’s a practice with many rewards. As part of our immune system, our lymphatic system is a complex network of ducts, nodes and vessels that collects and circulates fluid—also known as ‘lymph’—through virtually all the tissues in our body. With three key functions—helping to maintain optimal fluid balance in the body, assisting with the absorption of fat in the intestines and supporting immune function by ensuring our lymph nodes effectively filter any viruses and bacteria that we come into contact with (as well as producing protective antibodies to help prevent disease and infection)—it’s clear that keeping this system running smoothly is of the utmost importance to our health and wellbeing. 

2. Energises the body

Garshana dry body brushing is often picked up as a practice to help support healthy skin—but on a deeper level, the physicality of the practice itself helps to energise the body and promote warmth from head to toe. This is because with every brushstroke, you are helping to stimulate blood flow and increase circulation—moving energy through the body and further supporting detoxification channels. 

According to Ayurveda, everything in the body is interconnected. By stimulating the skin, Garshana is believed to not only energise the body, but also support the digestive system. Over time, this practice may contribute to improved digestion, a more balanced metabolism, and overall bodily function—especially when combined with other Ayurvedic practices.

3. Improves skin tone & texture

It may sound obvious, but one of Garshana’s most appealing benefits is how it can improve skin tone and texture. The gentle yet firm bristles help to exfoliate the skin, clearing debris from pores and sloughing away dead skin cells whilst helping to stimulate blood flow and bring freshly oxygenated blood to the skin’s surface. As a result, skin is left visibly smoother, clearer and brighter! 

Exfoliation is also key when it comes to encouraging collagen production. Collagen production naturally declines as we age, so incorporating daily Garshana brushing will not only smooth your skin from the outside - you’ll also be supporting collagen and elastin renewal underneath the surface.

4. Reduces puffiness

Garshana translated literally means “friction by rubbing”—and as explored above, is an excellent way of stimulating lymphatic drainage. This in turn helps to reduce puffiness by shifting and moving any excess fluid that has accumulated. Given many of us have fairly sedentary lifestyles, Garshana is one way to help stimulate movement in the body and ensure puffiness caused by fluid retention is reduced. Similarly, when firm strokes are used, dry body brushing can also help to break down fatty deposits beneath the skin, tightening the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite and textured skin.

5. Eases stress

Often, the trouble with self-care is that it feels like just one more thing to add to our already overflowing to-do lists. Not to mention the time and often the cost of indulging in body treatments! What we love about Garshana dry body brushing is that it’s a simple practice that only takes a few minutes, and can be integrated into your existing routine. Simply use the 

LAMAV Garshana Dry Body Brush on dry skin before your shower and not only will your skin thank you, but so too will your stress levels. Proven to help support healthy adrenal function and reduce cortisol, the rhythmic practice of dry body brushing is a simple way to take a moment for your mind and body.

Who should use a Garshana Dry Body Brush?

While most skin types will benefit from dry body brushing, it’s important to use a pressure that you and your skin are comfortable with to avoid irritation. It’s also best to avoid brushing over any areas containing active blemishes or broken skin. If you are pregnant you should consult with your health provider before attempting any body treatment.

How to Implement Garshana Dry Body Brushing into your daily skin routine

LAMAV’s Garshana Dry Body Brush is composed of 100% responsibly sourced bamboo and natural sisal bristles. It was created to complement your self-care regimen and is inspired by traditional Ayurvedic healing practices.

Try this daily Garshana Dry Body Brushing Routine pre shower or bath:

• On dry skin before a bath or shower, begin your Garshana practice by using firm, short strokes across the soles of the feet.

• Continue with upwards strokes to brush the legs, then circular motions around and behind the knees, before returning to long sweeping strokes up the thighs towards the buttocks.

• To brush the arms, begin at the hands, using sweeping upwards strokes up your forearms, around the elbow and up towards your armpits.

• Then, use circular clockwise motions to brush the belly in order to assist with the natural flow of digestion.

• Follow with the lower back, again using upward strokes as much as possible, before gently brushing downwards from the neck towards your heart.

• To complete your Garshana practice, follow with your daily Abhyganga massage using our Ayurvedic Body Oils and finishing with a warm shower.

Final Thoughts on Garshana Dry Body Brushing: A Holistic Mind and Body Ritual

Incorporating Garshana into your morning routine does more than exfoliate the skin. It can also help you connect with your body - giving you a sensory experience to focus on to distract your mind from its busy to-do list! The practice encourages presence, slowing down, and taking time for yourself—three things we often lack in our busy lives. As a result, dry brushing becomes more than skincare—it becomes a mindful ritual that fosters self-love and grounding.