Garshana – The Ancient Ayurvedic Practice of Dry Brushing

Jeannine Love
Feb 16
2 min read

Dry brushing tools like cream-colored brushes and a pair of white gloves on a light surface. Dried plants add a natural touch to the serene setting.

Garshana, or dry brushing, is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has been used for centuries. This invigorating and restorative technique helps to rejuvenate, heal, and revitalize the body.

What is Garshana or Dry Brushing?

Unlike Abhyanga, which is a relaxing Ayurvedic massage with oil, Garshana is an Ayurvedic dry massage technique that uses raw silk, linen gloves, or natural bristle body brushes to vigorously massage the body. It increases circulation and energy, stimulates the lymphatic system in aiding the body to release toxins, which then strengthens the immune system, increases muscle tone, exfoliates the skin, and helps to break down cellulite.

Who Should do Dry Brushing?

Because Garshana is stimulating and invigorating to the body’s systems, it’s ideal for Kapha dosha individuals. People with a predominance of Kapha dosha tend to have sluggish digestion and metabolism, weight gain, water retention, and lethargy. These individuals can benefit from daily Garshana practice. Pitta and Vata predominant individuals may benefit from dry brushing a few times a week.

However, avoid dry brushing where there is an open wound or infection, for skin conditions like rashes, psoriasis or eczema, during an acute illness, or on extremely sensitive skin.

When to do Dry Brushing

Perform dry brushing in the morning before you apply oil or lotion to your skin. Also, morning is preferred over night time because this is a stimulating practice.

Although you can practice Garshana any time of year, Kapha season, which is late-winter through spring, is an ideal time because our bodies are trying to loosen up and release excess fat and congestion.

Close-up of white cherry blossom with buds on a branch, set against a snowy landscape with bare trees and a setting sun in the background. — Late winter scene with snow and white buds blooming

How to do Dry Brushing

Stand on a bathmat or towel, or you can stand in the shower with the water off, so the dead skin cells fall into your shower and not on your bathroom floor.
Begin with the feet and vigorously brush the skin up towards the heart. Use circular strokes around the joints and long strokes on the muscles. Continue up the legs.
Move to the hands and arms and again, brush in a circular motion around the joints and long strokes on the muscles. Work towards the armpit.
Gentle circular motions on the abdomen and chest.
Brush up the back (that’s why I like a brush with a long handle), around the shoulders and neck.