By Sara Czubeck
If I asked, do you feel grounded, what would you say? A question we don’t often get asked, but one we need to reflect on. I’ve recently listened to a podcast that highlighted why we do things that are often impressive over important. We become warped in and overwhelmed through periods of the year. It’s important to be mindful in the ways we distribute our energy.
You have probably heard the phrase of someone being ‘grounded’. I know many of us would remember this statement during our rebellious, teenage years, but I’m not referring to the form of punishment. Earthing and grounding is a philosophy and practice of connecting electronically with the Earth. It’s important to balance out the business with some calm and peace to stay sane. We are having less and less opportunity to ‘de-charge’ and have a natural, electrical connection with the earth. Ironic in our electronically connected society, hey. We spend most of our time indoors, and when we’re out and about, we wear rubber soles and insulated footwear that prevent us from absorbing the Earth’s natural healing energy. Our constant connection to technology and their electromagnetic fields further disturb our wellbeing. We used to do it all the time as children, running around the yard without shoes, no care for the bindies (you Aussie kids know what I’m talking about).
Why grounding is important?
The Earth is one massive reservoir of negatively charged free electrons, and without any connection with the earth, the cells in our body are unable to balance out our positive charge. This leaves us with electron-deficient free radicals. All this might sound a bit much, but in seriousness, without connecting to the Earth’s ground, we cannot absorb the Earth’s healing energy. The build-up and excess of positive ions in the blood creates cells that clump together. These clusters create chronic inflammation and the free radicals further damage cell membranes and DNA. When we Earth, the free electrons on the Earth’s surface transcend all over our body, balancing out the excess of positive ions, bringing us back into equilibrium. There are evident effects on our psychology and health, especially the body’s inflammatory response when grounding, one of the biggest contributors to our society’s health problems. Grounding increases circulation, which subsequently delivers more oxygen to the tissues within the body allowing for better blood flow to the brain, reducing cortisol and other stress hormones. The body resynchronizes the secretion of cortisol hormone, creating a more aligned 24 hour circadian rhythm profile, allowing for better sleep patterns. Try grounding for a few days and see how much your sleep improves.
How to ground?
Grounding is simply reconnecting with the Earth, so all you have to do is get outside, take off your shoes and just put your hands and feet on the bare Earth. Totally free, no prescriptions, no pills, no time limits. If you can’t find any natural elements to walk on, I know it’s sometimes hard to find in bigger cities, take a drive and try swimming in the ocean or a mineral rich lake. By submerging your body in conductive water you’ll gain the same effects as grounding outside. You might like to incorporate other elements while you ground, like focusing on the breath, the basic inhale and exhale of fresh air. Get outside, experience the nature around you.
What are the benefits?
- Reduces inflammation
- Reduces blood viscosity (thickness)
- Improves circulation
- Reduces stress
- Elevates mood
- Improves immune system
Change things up and experience a different connection with the Earth each day. Walk on the sand, the rocks, the grass, the soil or go for a swim in the ocean. With the busyness of everyday life, we need to remain balanced and not allow stress to govern us. Grounding is simple enough to incorporate into your daily routine and can be done regularly with little effort. Strong. Centered. Calm. Balanced. All words you’ll be able to answer with next time we ask you if you feel grounded.
