Grounding Isn’t Just For Hippies
We live in a fast-paced world, and chances are, you’re tired. And at the same time, there are movements of people “getting back to their roots,” in order to find health amidst the flurry. Grounding is a wonderfully simple tool to help us feel the gifts of our feelings: acceptance, increased awareness of God, connection, gladness. Our body and heart are linked in this way.
Did you know that of the 106 bones in the human body, 52 of them are in our feet? This begs for us to consider the importance of our feet getting firmly planted on the ground. Grounding is an age-old technique of getting barefoot outdoors, which used to simply be an accessible part of everyday life. Much like other methods of finding center (such as prayer, meditation, rest, and Sabbath), grounding takes a bit of intentionality, though it doesn’t require much.
It’s simple. Take your shoes off. Stand on the ground - grass, dirt, sand - for a few minutes. There is scientific evidence that a person receives much needed antioxidants and ions from the earth. If going barefoot in saltwater or on a beach with saltwater, you’ll be exposed to essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iodine.
I often encourage my clients to do this in the morning (bonus points if at sunrise, as you’ll also balance your circadian rhythm!). You can set a timer for 2 minutes, and try to increase the time spent week by week. Even if you don’t find your inner hippy awakened, you’ll come to appreciate the few minutes of taking deep breaths, and breathing in the sounds and smells of nature.
As we enter a colder, darker season, the idea of being outdoors might feel less appealing. But may I offer that awakening our bodies to the slow sunrise and the chill of a morning might also awaken our souls to the longing and hoping that come with Advent.
When we are grounded in our bodies, we can be more present to our lives, to our own hearts, and to the spirit of God within us.
Written by Beth Ann Mergens, LCSW
Read more about Beth Ann here!