Footprints in the sand, earth beneath my feet, waves splashing gently across my toes as I wander slowly into the warm shallow waters of my holiday beach…
…ever wondered why this is so nourishing & something we all look forward to?
Well…apparently there’s some science behind it, and it’s used to help cyclist recovery and accelerate healing on the Tour de France[1]. Some cyclists and athletes now sleep in grounding recovery bags to be cocooned in earth energy [2]. And these are techniques known to Eastern medicine, martial arts and yogic traditions for centuries.
What is Grounding?
Grounding, or earthing, is deliberately introducing the quality of earth into your routine.
There are many ways of increasing your grounding, connecting with the earth element with direct skin contact. These may include:
- Spending time in nature
- Walking barefoot on the ground
- Sleeping on grounding sheets
- Invoking earth energy with meditation, visualisation, yoga, martial arts or other modalities
Why Ground?
What Eastern traditions have known for centuries is that grounding is good for the body, and the soul.
Connecting to the earth enables free electrons to spread into the body with positive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Recent research supports this [3].
Better sleep: grounding helps improve sleep by balancing the day to night cortisol rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep and sleep deeply. Good sleep is a great antidote to stress!
Eases chronic fatigue and pain: Constant pain and tiredness can be debilitating; grounding reduces inflammation and eases both pain and fatigue for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Grounding seems to be able to shift the autonomic nervous system from parasympathetic (flight/fight/fawn/freeze) to sympathetic (rest and digest) activation.
Immunity booster: the reduction of inflammation helps boost the immune system and wound healing, resulting in accelerated healing and recovery.
Improved heart health: long-term grounding seems to reduce blood pressure levels for those with hypertension[4].
Earth Qualities
Most traditions consider there to be 4 or 5 elements. The most common are earth, water, air and fire. Qualities associated with the element of earth to consider are:
- Stability – earth offers solidity, rootedness, support, structure and consistency
- Nurturing – earth is the source of life and creativity, nourishing growth and new beginnings, it is the source of balance
- Steadfastness – earth endures, it is calm, resilient, loyal, faithful and responsible
Simple Ways of Introducing Grounding:
Spending Time in Nature
Spend time outside walking each day – get off the tube or bus a stop earlier or go for a walk in the park or the woods each week. This is a great time of year to go stomping in the forest amongst the leaves, or even hug a tree!
Walking Barefoot on the Ground
Let’s be honest…this is a summer thing…you have to be brave to be barefoot outside in autumn and winter. Maybe just walk around inside at home in bare feet?
Sleeping on Grounding Sheets
This is perhaps the simplest way to introduce grounding into your life. Simply acquire a grounding sheet, sleep on it regularly, and then notice how you feel.
Invoking Earth Energy
Martial arts, yogic, meditation and other practitioners prepare with grounding practices prior to beginning sequences, especially in preparation for longer sessions.
Here is an easy breath visualisation you can try at home:
- Begin by finding a comfortable posture, either sitting or standing, where your legs have freedom to move
- Notice your breath and establish an equal inhale and exhale. Find your own easeful pattern of breathing
- Consider the qualities of earth you would like to invoke
- Root your feet to the ground, imagine being rooted deep beneath the earth’s surface, connecting you to the qualities you would like to bring forth
- On your next inhale, inhale from your feet to your navel, inhaling the qualities of earth you’d like to cultivate
- As you exhale, exhale release and gratitude down your legs, back to earth
- Continue breathing this way until you feel settled
- Place your hands over your navel as you inhale, pressing against your hands with your belly, and exhale, gently pressing down on the belly a few times, and release.
May your exploration of grounding enable you to find more ease & rest into your life.
Next time you stroll along the beach with the wind in your hair, the waves splashing on your feet, with bare feet touching the sand, extend your awareness to soak in the qualities of earth you are drawing in.
Sources
[1] https://www.ultimatelongevity.com/earthing-grounding/videos/tour-de-france.shtml?ref=18&srsltid=AfmBOoqj3c4Kd3PXZNCKghcHniNFO5uowJDNr1owlyodKCMc_xVE7H7_
[2] https://www.groundology.co.uk/videos?show=tour-de-france
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4378297/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30982019/
Main – Photo by Daniel Watson
