Connecting With Yourself Through Grounding
Since I was a young child, I have been inclined to kick off my shoes and walk barefoot outdoors, given the opportunity. As an adult, I have been given full permission to invest in this activity to my heart’s content—and it even fits in the realm of self-care and wellness. We identify this as “grounding” or “earthing.” Still, as a young child who grew up in a household where technology was limited to weekends in the hopes of focusing on academics or outdoor adventures, I just knew that when I chose outdoors, I was overcome with a peace that to this day, I cannot explain.
It is not surprising that connecting to the Earth’s surface would create a connection that benefits our mind, body and soul, but it is deeper than that. There are actual benefits to our skin in connecting with the Earth.
- Grounding creates electrons that are negatively charged to our bodies and have been known to help our cells function overall.
- A small study conducted on several participants who participated in grounding reported that “earthing therapy” helped reduce their stress and depression, and everyday fatigue.
- Grounding can help to strengthen your immune system and decrease inflammation.
- The biggest takeaway that I have experienced is that it allows me to feel good and creates balance whenever I feel uneasy.
How to Practice Grounding
Now that we have covered the why, let’s take a look at the how, shall we?
Kick Off Your Shoes: One of the most common ways to practice grounding is simply walking barefoot and physically connecting with the Earth.
Connecting with Water: When you wade in the water and fully embrace the moment, this is also considered to be a grounding practice. Water is a natural element that can connect us with ourselves and bring balance.
Connecting with the Earth with a Full Body Lay: If you want to get an even deeper connection, it can be beneficial to lay your entire body on the ground. Ideally, I take this approach at the beach or in a park and find myself getting lost in it all.
Buy the Tools: If connecting with Mother Nature directly doesn’t resonate with you, you can always purchase tools that create a grounding experience. You can choose from grounding mats, grounding sheets and blankets, as well as grounding socks.
When we take care of the Earth, we ultimately take care of ourselves, so the more we connect to the Earth, the more we are connecting with ourselves, embracing stillness, and looking within. This can lead us to embracing a more sustainable lifestyle, helping us try a more plant-based approach to eating, encouraging us to turn to more natural ways of living, and being more intentional about what we put in and on our bodies.
Next time you feel a bit unbalanced or want to connect more deeply within, try kicking off your shoes and connecting with Mother Nature.
Brittany Giles
NeoraFit™ Ambassador Brittany Giles began her mission to share her fitness journey with the world three years ago. That journey drastically changed the way she viewed fitness. Fun workouts, her favorite fitness events, and nutrition tips are the foundation of FitXBrit, while she also focuses on the mind viewing “fitness” from a mental and spiritual aspect as well. Brittany believes “our bodies are easy to train and it just takes focus and commitment; however, our mindset can be a bit more challenging when we are looking at overall health.” Ultimately, Brittany’s goal is to share all of herself: the educator, fitness and nutrition enthusiast, the mom, and the woman on a journey to achieve peace.
No Comments