Earthing

January can present itself with a whole new world of wonder, but at the very same time countless people struggle with the post-holiday blues, financial strain, stress, anxiety and depression. This isn’t supposed to make you feel worse, we just wanted to give you a little New-Year gift - a surefire way to lift the spirits and re-centre you for the year ahead. This is something you can do every day, it is completely free, and only takes about twenty minutes of your time. 

The brain-fog associated with the New Year is widespread, we may have notions of grand resolutions but we may also be struggling with the motivation to get them started or the reality of all the obstacles our typical daily life has to offer. In short, life is full and it isn’t always easy to find a path or orderly way of managing it. One way we can help ourselves to clear that fog is to practice what is commonly known as mindfulness. For some this can sound frivolous or a waste of time, but actually it is well proven that being mindful can help us achieve focus, concentration and improve performance. But I am not here to convert you all into gurus, I am just offering a small yet delightful way to de-cobweb yourself and give you the ammunition to face each day like you mean it - interested? Read on…

We all feel energy, it is a real thing, it runs through us alongside the blood that pumps through our veins, it is in every single cell. It is also all around us in everything that exists, including the ground we walk on. To really get in touch with the ground is to connect ourselves with the world and everything that is natural. ‘Earthing’ is a concept whereby we do exactly that, get in touch with the world beneath our feet. The earth has an endless supply of energy which, if we connect with it, we can allow to be absorbed by our own bodies.

How does that help anyone? Well, if you consider that all electrical circuits need to be earthed in order to neutralise the electrical potential running through them, then why wouldn’t the earth have the same effect on us? Well, countless researchers are in agreement that it does. However, there is a big protocol when it comes to accessing that power, and that comes in the form of being barefoot. We need to remove those protective layers that we call shoes and socks in order to tap into the natural energy that runs beneath us; thus allowing ourselves to become conductors.

The science bit…

“Our innate immune systems use white blood cells (known as neutrophils) to release reactive oxygen molecules (commonly known as free radicals) to oxidise and destroy pathogens and damaged cells. Free radicals have an electron imbalance that makes them electrically charged—in their quest to find a free electron and neutralise, they can attach to, or steal an electron, from a healthy cell, damaging it in the process. The damaged cell then needs to be removed, and the immune system sends another neutrophil to process it, starting the entire cycle over again.

This is how chronic inflammation (which causes chronic pain and promotes many health disorders) is set in motion. This entire response is compounded by the fact that free radical-generating substances are present all around us: in fried food, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, air pollutants, and even the sun’s rays.

The earth has an infinite supply of free electrons, so when a person is grounded, those electrons naturally flow between the earth and the body, reducing free radicals and eliminating any static electrical charge. The reason grounding is so powerful is it reduces and prevents inflammation from occurring in the body, which in turn prevents inflammation-related health disorders”, says Clint Ober, an earthing specialist who has dedicated the past seventeen years unearthing the power of grounding on the human body.

If you understood or managed to get through all that then you may have an idea of what I am getting at! Basically we are embracing a connection with our earth, and using it to pass energy between it and our own little human being. We are often neglectful to recognise our position on this earth, and that we are a part of something far bigger and greater than being in a human race. Letting those electrons flow between us and the earth can have some major (or subtle) effects on us that we may not even realise are possible. For example; the easing of chronic pain, reduction of symptoms of inflammation-related issues, improvement in sleep quality, boosting of energy, reduction of stress and anxiety, improvement in blood flow, relief of tension, easing of muscle aches, regulation of hormones, improvement in recovery time from injury.

Sound good? Well it couldn’t be easier or simpler to achieve…

How do we go about ‘earthing’? It is as straightforward as finding a natural surface; a sandy or pebbly beach, natural earth, grass, stone, or anything that is not man-made or purposely-placed by humans, taking off our shoes and walk around barefoot on it (or stand still if you prefer) for about twenty minutes a day. I prefer to do this first thing in the morning, before work, before commencing the battle of the day. I grab a cup of take-away tea and stroll along the beach with my feet in the water (the more elements the better) and literally clear the clutter of the mind, allowing thoughts to flow in and out until I get a moment when it is just quiet and I can focus on the natural stuff; the air, the wind, the sea, the sun, the sky, the ground, the water; all these natural elements that are literally surrounding me and are full to the brim with energy. I tap into that and take some for myself, thank you very much planet earth and mother nature, I think I have enough to complete this day with gumption, and see you tomorrow for some more. Endless energy on tap, it’s yours for the taking! 

Any time spent connected with the earth is positive time that can make you feel more balanced and centred as well as motivated, uplifted, and inspired. One study specifically suggests that earthing with a particular goal is a great way to monitor the results; start your session with something in mind such as any difficulties you may be experiencing or stress or tension you may be feeling that you would like to relieve, and, once you’ve completed your earthing practice, check in as to whether you feel any relief. 

If you struggle to find the time for this and your daily exercise, why not combine the two? A good old stretch on the grass can combine a short yoga practice with your mental rebalancing and physical energising for the day. 

So why not give it a go? Get those toes back in nature and let the electrons flow!