Is massaging your body with a dry, stiff-bristled brush really an advisable thing to do? Yes, according to many medical experts. And some of the bristly benefits it provides include:

• Exfoliating Dry Skin

• Increasing Blood Circulation

• Promoting Lymph Flow and Drainage

• Stimulating the Nervous System

• Helping to Detoxify the Body

Ready to let the brushing begin? Here’s how.

The best time to dry brush is just before a shower. Use a natural stiff-bristled shower brush, preferably one with a long handle that will help you reach your back. (Or a smaller fit-in-your-palm type if you’re traveling.) Start from your feet and work your way upward in long fluid strokes on your limbs, and circular motions on your torso and back. Lighten up pressure on your more sensitive areas. The process should be gentle, and should never break the skin. Dry brush 3-5 minutes several times a week, and see if you don’t find yourself embracing brushing.