Grounding
Nowadays, we often hear the word “grounding”. What exactly is it and do we need it that much?
The history of grounding is an eternal history, dating back to the beginning of humanity. Humans have always had an intuitive sense that contact with Earth can bring benefits to health and well-being. This practice, known as “earthing” or “grounding,” has its roots in various cultures and traditions that have long appreciated the power of earthly energy.
However, the modern history of grounding dates back to the 1990s, when scientists began to explore the scientific basis of the practice. The research focused on the relationship between direct contact with the earth and reducing inflammation, improving sleep, reducing pain, and overall improving health.
From the moment humanity began to wear shoes, which is a relatively new phenomenon in the history of our species, the choice of footwear mainly comes down to rubber shoes or those made of plastic. This coincides with the period since the 1960s, when a significant increase in autoimmune diseases and allergies has been recorded in the United States. There is a hypothesis that one of the causes of this phenomenon may be the loss of contact with Earth, known as “detachment syndrome”.
The results of the study clearly showed that regular contact with the Earth can help stabilize the electrical balance of the body, regulate heart rhythm, reduce oxidative stress and improve sleep quality. People have started to implement grounding practices into their daily lives, either walking barefoot on the Earth, or spending time at the beach.
With growing interest and more and more scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of grounding, this healthy lifestyle practice has grown in popularity around the world. Today, grounding is widely used as a natural method to support physical, emotional and mental health, being an integral part of movement for a better quality of life.
The Earth’s surface is rich in electrons, which are constantly supplied by solar radiation and lightning strikes. When we walk barefoot on Earth, we absorb these electrons, which benefits our body. One of the main benefits of this process is its anti-inflammatory effect. The electrons have a negative charge that neutralizes the effects of free radicals, known to cause inflammation. Modern lifestyles often lead to chronic inflammation, which can contribute to various diseases such as heart disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes or the development of cancer.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, grounding also has a relaxing and stress-reducing effect. When walking barefoot, the heart rate decreases, and the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for stress reactions, is suppressed, while the parasympathetic system, which is responsible for regeneration, is stimulated. In addition, grounding leads to a reduction in stress hormones and improves the efficiency of the circulatory and respiratory systems. It can also provide relief from chronic pain.
One of the significant benefits of grounding practice is also the reduction of blood pressure and blood viscosity, which is important for heart health.
There is a variety of grounding methods, but the essence remains the same: focusing on reconnecting with the Earth. We can achieve this through direct contact with the natural substrate or its indirect form. It is worth starting right away, because you don’t need much to achieve a state of relaxation.
Walking barefoot – this is the easiest way to ground yourself. Have you ever felt the need to run barefoot on the grass while outside on a warm summer day? This means that your body has been demanding contact with the Earth.
Lying on the ground – by lying on the ground, we can increase the contact between the body and its surface. We can do it on the grass in the park or on the sand on the beach. It doesn’t matter where we do it, the important thing is that we feel at ease and safe.
Immersion in water – according to grounding advocates, contact with living water can have the same benefits as walking barefoot. Swimming or ice swimming also provides energy that has a positive effect on our health.
Grounding meditation – grounding meditation is one of the simpler methods that can be used to ground yourself. Most often these are short, guided meditations/relaxations. On my YouTube channel you can find a short grounding meditation that I heartily recommend to you.
Outdoor exercises such as Qi Gong or Tai chi – these types of exercises make us connected to the whole here and now, so they are perfect for grounding.
Remember, no matter which method we choose, we must be aware of what we are doing. That is, walking barefoot on the ground or lying down, let’s feel this connection with the Earth. Let’s stand for a moment and feel its temperature, let’s be with our feelings for a moment. Let’s not think about everything and nothing during this time. Let’s just be connected to Earth here and now.
Grounding Meditation:
