WHAT IS GARSHANA?
Garshana, (pronounced gar-shun-uh), is an ancient Sanskrit word which translates to ‘friction by rubbing.’ Commonly known as dry brushing, this Ayurvedic practice involves a stimulating lymphatic massage to detoxify the lymphatic system, refresh your skin and revive the mind. It has recently become rather popular to perform garshana using a dry bristle brush; however, a dry brush might be too harsh for those with sensitive skin.
As pollen starts to ride the wind’s breeze, allergies and congestion may flare up for many people. Congestion of the skin can lead to excess sebum (oil) production and even breakouts. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are just feeling a little foggy in the mind or stagnant in the body, it may be time to gently detoxify. Luckily, Ayurveda has some excellent cleansing rituals like neti & nasya, triphala, and one of our best services: garshana, which helps to revitalize the body and uplift your senses.
THE BENEFITS OF LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE
You might be thinking, “what is the lymphatic system anyways?” Well, let’s take a closer look…
The lymphatic system transports lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. In doing so, it acts as the drainage system of the body, helping to remove toxins, waste and other unwanted materials which are known as ama in Ayurveda.
Unlike the circulatory system which has the heart to initiate movement, the lymphatic system does not move on its own. Therefore, it can become inefficient or \”sluggish,\” an unfortunate side effect of today\’s modern sedentary lifestyle. To maintain proper function, the lymphatic system needs daily deep breathing, cardio exercise, yoga, and garshana or abhyanga massage.
As you can see, making time in your day for garshana self-care is one of the most beneficial things you can do for detoxification and optimal lymphatic and immune health.
Garshana has a plethora of benefits for your health and beauty:
- Detoxifies the lymphatic system
- Expels ama (toxins)
- Stimulates blood flow
- Increases circulation
- Warms the body
- Improves energy
- Promotes mental alertness
- Exfoliates the skin
- Encourages cellular renewal
- Revives skin tone + texture
- Combats cellulite
IS GARSHANA RIGHT FOR ME?
From the Ayurvedic perspective, people that are predominant in kapha dosha or are currently experiencing a kapha imbalance will benefit the most from garshana. If this is you, we recommend that you perform dry brushing daily for optimal balance. If you are predominant in pitta dosha or experiencing a pitta imbalance, we recommend performing garshana 3-5 times per week to help detoxify your system. If you are predominant in vata dosha or experiencing a vata imbalance, we recommend you do garshana 1-2 times per week to help uplift the mind in a gentle way and always remember to follow your massage ritual with abhyanga to ground the nervous system.
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1 thought on “GARSHANA: AYURVEDIC MASSAGE FOR DETOXIFICATION”
Reading your article helped me a lot and I agree with you. But I still have some doubts, can you clarify for me? I’ll keep an eye out for your answers.