The ultimate reset! Our 7-Night/8-Day deep cleanse rejuvenates the body, mind, and soul.
The ancient practices invite you to slow down and dive deeper within. They do not promise instant results but long lasting benefits. They do not give you clear skin in a day but soon enough you can have skin glowing from within.
Garshana is one such ritual. If you’ve ever felt weighed down by stagnation, whether that is physically, mentally, energetically, this subtle, tactile practice could be exactly what you are missing.
In Sanskrit, garshana translates to “friction.” At first glance, it may seem like a simple act: brushing the skin with bristles or gloves. But at its heart, garshana is about rekindling your body’s innate ability to cleanse, awaken, and circulate better. It works up the lymphatic system, and what Ayurveda describes as the flow of rasa, the vital essence that supports life inside every cell.
We’re not just brushing skin, but brushing off inertia.
Garshana isn’t just a modern self-care practice retrofitted into wellness culture. It’s an essential practice that forms part of the foundational Ayurvedic concept of dinacharya which is a daily routine that aligns your body with the rhythm of nature.
In the Ashtanga Hridayam, one of Ayurveda’s classical texts, great emphasis is placed on rituals that stimulate the subtle energy channels through which life-sustaining energy flows. While Garshana as a term isn’t isolated in every classical verse, it is deeply embedded in the larger context of morning rituals that activate circulation and eliminate ama (toxins or metabolic residue).
In particular, Kapha-type imbalances marked by lethargy, heaviness, dull skin, or mental fog, respond beautifully to stimulation through dry brushing. The practice of Garshana brings lightness (laghu), movement (chala), and warmth (ushna), to counter the cold, heavy, and static nature of Kapha.
This is not a mechanical “get-it-over-with” practice. It requires you to mindfully engage with it.
Raw silk gloves (traditionally used in Ayurveda) or a natural bristle body brush (stay away from synthetic fibers)
Morning, before your shower, ideally before sunrise if possible. In the early morning hours or Brahma Muhurta, the body is naturally in a state of detox.
1. Stand in a warm, quiet space, even in front of a mirror is fine! Get rid of all the distractions. Invite your full attention to your body.
2. Begin at the feet, brushing upward toward the heart in long, slow, sweeping strokes.
3. Use circular motions on joints: ankles, knees, hips, shoulders.
4. On the abdomen, brushing in a clockwise direction helps digestion.
5. Use gentler strokes on the chest, neck, and inner thighs.
6. Brush each area until you feel a slight warmth. Limit it to 5–7 strokes per section.
7. Step into the shower to rinse away dead skin and energetic residue.
8. After drying off, follow with the abhyanga, a self-massage using warm herbal oils.
Garshana is much more than exfoliation. It cleanses on grosser as well as subtler levels of our being.
1. Lymphatic drainage
Your lymphatic system doesn’t have a central pump to clear out lymphatic toxins. It relies on movement that is breath, muscle contraction, and subtle practices like Garshana. By brushing toward the heart in long strokes, you guide the lymph fluid to the major drainage points, supporting your body’s detoxification activity.
In Ayurveda, this process purifies Rasa dhatu, the very first tissue formed from digested food and the foundation of all nourishment in the body.
2. Renews your skin whole exfoliating gently
Yes, Garshana removes dead skin cells too. But more importantly, it unblocks channels. It wakes up skin that has grown dull from stagnation, city air, or too many hours under fluorescent lights or exposure to toxicants in your environment. People often report that their skin doesn’t just look better it feels alive again.
3. Mental Clarity and Better Mood
There’s something ceremonial about brushing the body slowly, methodically, with care. It can become a grounding practice, especially for Vata people or anyone who wakes up feeling anxious or untethered. The rhythmic strokes quiet mental chatter. You begin with chaos but end in clarity.
4. Better Circulation and Digestion- key to a long life
Garshana increases blood flow to the skin and deeper tissues, warming the body gently from the outside in. Practiced before a warm shower and abhyanga (oil massage), it kindles digestive fire (agni) and prepares the body for a day of movement and activity.
5. Support for Cellulite or Fat-Prone Areas
While not a direct cure, consistent dry brushing helps reduce fluid retention and improve the tone of the skin. It supports the body’s natural ability to metabolize and circulate, which, over time, may soften the appearance of dimpling on thighs, hips, and arms.
Not every body is the same. Ayurveda recognizes the uniqueness of your skin, your temperament, your seasonal rhythms.
If you are unaware of your dosha, do consult an Ayurvedic practitioner. Or in this vase, simply observe how your skin and energy respond.
Like all Ayurvedic practices, Garshana must be done with awareness. Skip it if:
Garshana should awaken, not overwhelm. Ayurveda is never about pushing or forcing your way through. It’s about choosing the right practice, in the right season, with the right intention.