Dinacharya Series: How to Practice Garshana

Dinacharya Series: How to Practice Garshana

In this video, I am going to be showing you how to perform the Dinacharya practice of Garshana or dry-brushing. The first step in the Ayurvedic Body Care practice is Garshana or dry-brushing. Garshana is an ancient Ayurvedic practice of lymphatic massage using raw silk gloves called Garshana gloves. These can be found easily online for purchase. You can also use exfoliating gloves you find at the drugstore or even a dry-brush with soft bristles. Garshana is most beneficial for Kapha predominant people, but it can be practiced by all dosha. For my Vata and Pitta people, make sure to use soft gloves or a soft-bristled brush. This is especially true for Pitta-predominant people since they have the most sensitive skin of all the dosha. You should practice Garshana before you shower on dry skin, so make sure you haven’t already applied oil or lotion to the skin. With your Garshana gloves, exfoliating gloves or dry-brush you will massage the body. Use circular strokes on the joints like the shoulders and wrists. And use long strokes down the front of the long limbs and up the back of the limbs. Long limbs include the arms and legs. Starting at your fingers, move up to the shoulders, using circular strokes on the wrists, elbows and shoulders and long strokes on the upper and lower arm. Then use clockwise circular strokes on your stomach, heart and buttocks. Then move to the legs. Using circular strokes on the hips and knee joints and long strokes on the thighs. Then use circular strokes on the ankles and feet and long strokes on the calves. Your Garshana practice shouldn’t be aggressive or cause any discomfort, so practice these strokes gently. Now press play on the video and follow along as you are led through the Ayurvedic Dinacharya practice of Garshana.

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