After my colonic hydrotherapy treatment with Raaul Cohen at Dynamic Detox Mallorca, I was given further advice on a multitude of other ways I can assist my body to detoxify at home, and support all the goodness his treatment had done for me. One of these pearls of wisdom was dry body brushing. To be honest I had picked up this habit plenty of times over the past few years only to eventually forget about it and go back to my old, non-dry body brushing ways. But this time was going to be different. Why? Because Raaul bothered to give me extensive information on why this daily practice is so darn beneficial, and suddenly my resolve was strengthened.

What is a dry body brush?

A dry body brush basically looks like any old long handled body brush you would use in the shower, but with a few notable differences. Firstly, as the name suggests, you use the brush on dry skin. No water is involved. The brush must also be made of natural bristles – nylon and synthetic fibres won’t do, as they create static in the body. Ideally it will have a detachable handle so that it’s easy to use on all areas of the body.

How do you do it?

 Start at the soles of your feet and work your way up. For areas below the heart brush upwards towards the heart, and for areas above brush downwards. Be fairly firm on the legs and thighs, brushing towards the groin where the lymph glands are. Be gentle over the abdomen brushing in clockwise circles, and avoid the genital area and nipples altogether. Brush upwards over the hands and arms, and use downwards strokes on the neck and chest. Now whip the long handle in, and do the shoulders, upper back, and then down to your lower back and buttocks. You can even brush your scalp to stimulate hair growth if you’re so inclined (I am!). All in all this should be about a five-minute process. Please note that you should never brush irritated or damaged skin, or over varicose veins. Also do not use the brush on your face.

What next?

Once you’ve finished your dry brushing routine it’s time to jump in the shower and remove the dead skin cells. Raaul suggests to have a hot shower for a few minutes, and then follow with a cold burst for twenty seconds (if you can handle it!). Repeat a few times finishing at the back of the skull as a method of hydrotherapy to alkalise the blood, and give a boost to the glandular system.

When and how often?

Dry body brushing is best performed first thing in the morning – the stimulation too late in the evening may affect your sleep. Practice it every day for a few months, then reduce to just two or three times a week. Don’t forget to clean your brush weekly, using a natural soap and water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

The benefits

• Stimulates circulation and assists blood flow to the organs
• Stimulates lymph and adrenal glands
• Has a powerful rejuvenating effect on the nervous system because of the hundreds of nerve endings in the skin
• Reduces the appearance of cellulite
• Removes layers of dead skin and other impurities
• Unclogs the pores improving the eliminative capacity of the skin
• Helps build up healthy muscle tone, and stimulates better distribution of fat deposits

Whew – that’s a hefty list of pros! Have you been convinced to implement dry body brushing into your morning routine?

Written by Ché Miller

About the author Ché has always had a passion for hospitality having completed a conjoint Bachelors Degree in International Business and Hospitality Management. She has spent the last 15 years working in the hospitality industry. This passion led her to working in a premier health retreat in Australia in her twenties. There she found the knowledge she gained there inspired her to start living a healthier life. Now Ché loves to combine her two favourite things, hospitality and wellbeing. She scours the island for the best nourishing restaurants, products and services. Ché has been living in Mallorca since early 2017, having moved from her home in New Zealand. She absolutely loves the energy of the island and everything it has to offer. Ché’s other interests include ashtanga yoga, boxing, reading, writing, and really good coffee.