Grounding refers to a more conscientious approach to people’s connection with earth and nature. Children are probably the best at grounding because they are regularly experiencing physical touch with the Earth’s surface, like building with sand at the beach, swimming in the ocean, playing with the dirt in the garden, and running through the grass. It is a significant part of living naturally and easy to do if we tap into our childlike instincts. Here are some of the benefits of grounding for your health.
The Definition of Grounding
Let’s start by becoming more familiar with a commonly understood definition of grounding.
According to a medically reviewedHealthlinearticle, grounding “is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the Earth.”
Ground therapy requires your connection with the Earth; therefore, this practice is otherwise known as earthing.
Walking barefoot in the grass is just one of the more common connections studied, although the palms of your hand can also provide realignment to your body’s electrical energy.
Ground therapy results from any time your skin touches the Earth. Conscious connection to the Earth is a fantastic way to relax, reduce anxiety, reduce stress, and improve other essential body systems.
The Benefits of Earthing
Scientific research for the specific benefits of grounding is still widely understudied. For those already-conducted test cases, evidence has shed light on the following benefits:
- Overall stabilization in physiology
- Anxiety relief
- Reduction in inflammation
- Pain and stress management
- Better moods
- Clarity of thought
- Improved circulation and blood flow
- Relaxed and deeper sleep
- Hormonal regulation
- Slows aging
- Promotes faster immune response
- Improvements in balance, footing, and strength
- Greater well-being
The best part is that earthing is easy to do and often achieves rapid results, particularly for individuals with chronic health disorders. In addition,clinical observationsrecognize earthing as a “primordial electric connection to the Earth lost over time because of human lifestyle.”
Easy Ways to Add Grounding Therapy to Your Life
Incorporating the benefits of earthing or grounding into your daily life is much easier than you think.
Ditch your shoes whenever you come across a safe patch of grass, dirt, or sand. Then, when you’re home, you can include easy habits like sitting in your yard, walking out to check your mailbox barefoot, or sitting outside to do your work (I am currently writing this article to you barefoot as I sit in a plush grass field near a nature park).
Another fantastic way to practice earthing techniques is to submerge yourself in natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, or oceans.
For those so inclined, gardening is yet another recognized form of grounding in which you create a connection with the Earth — this time through the palms of your hands (no gloves allowed!).
Takeaway
Naturally, our bodies crave that special dirt-to-body connection that our lives have seemed to wander so far away from. So it is time to re-engage in daily practices that stimulate a negative charge in our body’s electrical fields.
Even with just a daily commitment of ten minutes, you will begin to see and feel the numerous benefits of grounding. As you continue your earthing journey, you should ideally extend the time to at least 30-60 minutes per day.