What on Earth is Grounding?

Next time you’re walking along a warm sandy beach, or lying on the ground enjoying a sunny day at the park while the kids play – take notice of a comforting feeling of warmth from your feet, or a tingling sensation from the saltwater. You’re experiencing the magic of Grounding or Earthing, one of Mother Nature’s many gifts to us.

A sister practice to nature immersion or forest bathing, Grounding is an essential practice that has been forgotten as humankind migrates to cities, high-rises and infrastructure. 

What is Grounding? 

Grounding (also known as Earthing) refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth’s natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels. You see, Earth carries a strong negative charge- emitting negative ions and electrons like a battery. Everything in the electrical world is connected to the ground for safety – hence the term ‘Grounding’. The human body is electrically conductive also, and when in contact with the Earth, we are able to balance our positive charges with the negative ions of the Earth, creating balance.

Throughout history, humans mostly walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins, and slept on the ground. Through this, every part of the body could equilibrate or realign with the electrical potential of the Earth, stabilizing the electrical environment of all organs, tissues, and cells. Cool, huh? Although now a distant thought for many in the modern world.

Why should I practice Grounding?

Not only is it an effortless and cost-free lifestyle integration (just pop your shoes off!) Grounding may help:

• Calm the nervous system
• Improve circulation
• Protect us from Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)
• Eases chronic pain and inflammation 
• Relax tense or sore muscles
• Recover from jet lag
• Shorten recovery time from injuries and promotes healing in the body
• Balance emotions, reduces stress and anxiety
• Boost energy
• Improve mental clarity and decision-making abilities
• Deepen our sense of connection with nature
• Align chakras and meridians

How do I practice Grounding?

To practice Grounding, you must connect your skin to the Earth’s surface. Do this with bare feet and walk, sit or lie down in the grass in gentle sunshine, near a tree or in your own backyard for half an hour or so, daily. A second option is water immersion from natural sources such as rivers, the beach, lakes and waterfalls. 

Practice remaining present while Grounding, you may choose to do a body scan meditation and absorb all of the beautiful sensory experiences whilst Grounding, or even just be aware of how the Earth feels under your feet. This can be especially soothing whilst walking on sand at the beach. 

There is also evidence of Grounding benefits for newborns, particularly premature babies. Babes may experience more sense of calm and develop a better resilience to stress whilst in their Mother’s arms as they receive the Earth’s conductive energy through touch. 

Reconnecting ourselves with nature at this baseline level is almost too easy, and the benefits are worth it. If the Earth is like a battery, what better way to recharge?