Grounding is a term often used to describe reconnecting with the present moment. It embraces many simple techniques that reduce stress to leave you feeling stable and calm. These include deep breathing, focusing on your senses, counting, better sleep practices, being in nature and even eating nuts and certain types of chocolate. These and other techniques all help reduce the effects of stress. Find more about that type of grounding here.  

But today I’m talking about the specific form of grounding that is also known as earthing. This is a practice where you connect physically with the Earth to anchor and balance your physical, mental and spiritual energy. It’s sometimes simply called barefoot walking.

Many of us practice grounding without even thinking about it. You can probably recall a time when you were immersed in nature, feeling relaxed and refreshed. Remember how that feeling of rejuvenation persisted even when you were back in your busy life. This is due to the physiological effects of grounding.

These beautiful warm, still days of Autumn are perfect to get your shoes off and do some grounding. When you connect with the Earth through the soles of your feet, through your skin, you also connect with the free electrons that flow through the earth’s surface. This is excellent when it comes to improving your health because these electrons help rebalance you physically, mentally and even spiritually. Not only do they leave you feeling calmer, they also have an impact on health issues.

By improving physiological processes Grounding helps reduce or reverse many health issues that lead to chronic disease. These include lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, repaired muscles, reduced pain, improved sleep, reduced anxiety and depression, enhanced mood, clear mind and even help with varicose veins.

What Is Grounding

Grounding is an ancient therapeutic technique that’s essential for our wellness In our modern world our bodies are constantly surrounded and impacted by a wide range of many toxins. These include pesticide residue on fresh produce, hormones in meat and dairy foods, chemicals in furnishings and cleaning products, toxins in our personal care products including shampoo, cosmetics and toothpaste, heavy metal residues, air pollution and one we often don’t consider, electronic pollution. 

This cocktail of toxins which we’re exposed to every single day, impacts our body and our health causing inflammation and free radicals which leads to chronic illness and disease.

How to Connect With the Earth and Ground Yourself

Essentially, all it takes is to go barefoot outdoors.

Most of us spend time outdoors. But usually that’s doing something, such as a sporting activity or walking. While this is healthy in many ways it doesn’t give us the full benefits of grounding. For that we need to actually connect our skin to the Earth by taking off our shoes or sitting on the grass or the beach. This connection between our skin and the ground allows the harmful pent-up electrical charge coming from our environment and stored in our body to discharge directly into the earth.

Some Grounders prefer to stroll on a beach or in a park. But most recommend simply standing outdoors with bare feet. Personally I like to take my shoes off, sit on the ground and lean against a tree trunk. The benefits of grounding begin immediately and after several minutes, you should start to feel refreshed

You’ll reap all the benefits when you stand on dirt, grass, sand, rock, concrete, or even in water which enhances the effect. But keep off the asphalt or Astroturf as they act as a block to the electron exchange with the Earth.

If you don’t like being bare foot footwear with leather soles also works. But watch for any synthetic components like insoles which block the exchange.

Signs You Are Ungrounded

There are clear signs that your physical or emotional state is not balanced, which indicates that you are ungrounded.

Some telltale signs are:

• Feeling fearful or angry
• Being unfocused, scattered and easily distracted
• Jumping from one thing to the next but unable to complete anything
• Difficulty concentrating
• Getting stuck on certain thoughts and over-thinking
• Feeling restless and discontented
• Forgetfulness
• Constant worrying and feeling anxious
• Feeling tired, irritated and impatient
• Lightheadedness or feeling ‘spaced out’
• Your mind races but you can’t focus on anything
• You feel both tired and wired at the same time
• Problems sleeping
• Clumsiness
• Slow healing wounds

Health Benefits of Grounding

Regularly grounding yourself connecting directly with the earth though bare feet affects you instantaneously. You get immediate benefits from grounding and the improvements continue over the following minutes, hours and even days. 

And it’s simple!

Ditch your shoes and walk to the mailbox, touch one leaf, step outside to see the moon, drink your coffee outside, sit on the grass to eat your lunch.  Those few minutes can make all the difference!

How Regular Grounding Benefits You

As well as leaving you feeling more stable physically and emotionally, regular grounding connects you with the natural world.

Here are some of the ways grounding changes you over time:

Immediatley:

• Muscle tension releases
• Brain waves slow down
• Pain levels reduce

After a Few Minutes

• Organ function is affected
• Vascular (blood viscosity) and circulatory system
• Blood glucose stabilises

Hours Later

• Osteoporosis markers are affected
• Improved mineral levels in cells
• Thyroid function is boosted
• Cortisol levels are reduced

After Days

• You’ll feel more resilient and adaptable to life’s stress and demands
• Less pain
• Able to recover from stress better
• Life becomes easier to navigate
• Inflammation in the cells decreases
• Cortisol levels are even lower

There’s no time spent grounding that’s too short, and no time too long.

Isn’t it time to connect with the Earth to become balanced and centred? Make time to ground yourself and upgrade your health.