When was the last time you walked barefoot outside? When was the last time you felt the sand beneath your toes or the grass on the soles of your feet? How often a month, a week, a day do you connect to the earth?
Simple questions but food for thought. In the cooler months, especially, we wear shoes, everywhere, most days. We create a barrier between our body and the earth. We ran around with our bodies completely wrapped and often with our minds wrapped up too. It’s easy to forget to take time to connect to our world. Grounding, or earthing, is the practice of connecting to the earth and is as simple as ditching the shoes in favour of going barefoot and connecting our body to the earth.
The most recent scientific research has explored grounding for inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, chronic pain, and mood. The central theory is that grounding affects the living matrix, which is the central connector between living cells. Electrical conductivity exists within the matrix that functions as an immune system defence, similar to antioxidants. It is believed that through grounding, the natural defences of the body can be restored. Studies have found that through this system grounding improves sleep, normalises the day–night cortisol rhythm, reduces stress and helps the body to heal.
How do you ground? Well the thing is, it’s really very simple. Walk on the ground barefoot, place you palms on the ground, lie on the ground or submerse yourself in the ocean or a lake. Do it everyday or as often as you can.
Simple questions but food for thought. In the cooler months, especially, we wear shoes, everywhere, most days. We create a barrier between our body and the earth. We ran around with our bodies completely wrapped and often with our minds wrapped up too. It’s easy to forget to take time to connect to our world. Grounding, or earthing, is the practice of connecting to the earth and is as simple as ditching the shoes in favour of going barefoot and connecting our body to the earth.
The most recent scientific research has explored grounding for inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, chronic pain, and mood. The central theory is that grounding affects the living matrix, which is the central connector between living cells. Electrical conductivity exists within the matrix that functions as an immune system defence, similar to antioxidants. It is believed that through grounding, the natural defences of the body can be restored. Studies have found that through this system grounding improves sleep, normalises the day–night cortisol rhythm, reduces stress and helps the body to heal.
How do you ground? Well the thing is, it’s really very simple. Walk on the ground barefoot, place you palms on the ground, lie on the ground or submerse yourself in the ocean or a lake. Do it everyday or as often as you can.
The more time we spend in nature, the more times we touch and connect with our natural world, the healthier we will be in mind and body. Whether from a scientific perspective or simply because spending time in the fresh air and nature is good for the soul, kicking the shoes, going barefoot and grounding into the earth can only be a good thing.