Grounding: What is it and how can it help me?
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Grounding is essential for our well-being
In yoga and meditation classes, we’re often asked to have the intention of grounding or are cued to ground ourselves. Most of us, correctly, hear those as an invitation to connect more deeply to the earth. What exactly does that mean? Why might grounding be helpful or important? In my work as a clinical-level practitioner of Eden Energy Medicine, I look at grounding as an energetic process that is essential for our well-being and one that we can support in simple, low-tech ways.
If you are unfamiliar with energy work, you can begin with the idea that we are energetic beings. If you are unsure or skeptical about this concept, consider this question:
What does a doctor do if you arrive at the ER and your heart rhythm is dangerously fast or irregular?
First, medical staff will likely use an EKG (electrocardiogram) to measure the electrical impulses of your heart. Then they might use an electrical shock to help the rhythm return to normal. Electrical energy is one type of energy, and though it gets more complex because there are different kinds of energy, science shows us that our bodies have energy. Once you understand this, it’s easy to see why grounding is helpful and maybe even necessary.
Grounding rods in houses and other buildings provide a path for an electrical charge that builds up to discharge safely into the ground. If a building isn’t properly grounded, it can be dangerous and create the risk of electrical shock or even fire. Could this mean something similar for humans and our well-being? Though research is still limited, there are studies that suggest that grounding for people, also called earthing (more on this below), may improve sleep, reduce stress, reduce pain, and support faster wound healing[TN1] . What I have observed for myself and with clients is this: When someone’s energies aren’t grounded, they tend to feel more stressed, overwhelmed, and less able to deal with life’s challenges.
Arguably the most well-known proponent of grounding, or what he calls “Earthing”, is Clint Ober. After a successful career in the cable-TV industry and facing some serious health challenges, Ober became interested in the question of whether grounding might be beneficial for health. He used his knowledge of grounding-cable systems to explore potential benefits for humans and was excited to see positive effects on his own health. Ober pushed for research to validate his findings, and since then, he says 22 peer-reviewed studies support his work[TN2] . According to Ober, the best way for us to ground is to be outdoors with bare feet in direct contact with the earth, though he recognizes that this may not be realistic for many of us in modern life. As a result, he’s developed various products to support grounding. They are relatively expensive and not necessarily practical for everyone.
In Eden Energy Medicine, we look for ways to support grounding with simple techniques. One of the main areas we focus on is the meridian system. Meridians are energetic pathways that run through the body and have been recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. The meridians begin or end on your feet and are the crucial ones for grounding. When the meridians that end on our feet are flowing freely, they allow us to discharge excess energy into the earth. In effect, they’re our personal grounding rods. If the meridians that begin on our feet are open, we’re also able to draw up supportive energy from the earth. This is a basic definition of grounding from an energy perspective.
How do we know if this is happening, and, if not, what can we do? In my practice, I use energy testing (muscle testing) to determine if a client’s energies are grounded. The reality is that the stressors of modern life prevent most people from being as grounded as they could be. Because of this, I advise all of my clients to work on grounding with some simple techniques.
Start with the breath. Breathing is energy work, so even if you can’t do anything else, a few good breaths can support grounding. Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth with a longer exhale. Imagine the breath going all the way down through your feet to open up the meridian pathways.
Getting your bare feet on the earth is incredibly helpful. Even standing barefoot in the grass for just a few breaths can make a difference, or sit on a chair with your bare feet on the ground. Of course, winter in Minnesota doesn’t lend itself to bare feet on the ground, but Eden Energy has a great alternative: a spoon! It’s possibly the oddest grounding tool around, but it’s inexpensive, low-tech, and it really makes a difference.
Simply take a cheap spoon and rub the back of it all over the bottom of your feet for at least 60 seconds. Breathe deeply as you do this. When clients first do this, I ask them to do just one foot, then pause and notice both feet. Do they feel the same or different? Inevitably, they notice differences. Often, the foot they used the spoon on feels lighter or tingles. I recommend doing this at least once a day. Many people find it helpful for sleep issues. Try doing it before bed or if you wake up during the night.
I have a plethora of techniques that I use myself or with my clients, yetI almost always start with this one because better grounding supports everything else. Yes, spooning your feet may seem a little wacky at first - give it a try and see what you notice. Maybe you’ll feel a bit calmer, or lighter, or just more connected. If so, you know it’s working.
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