Grounding: the power of the earth

Who doesn't love the feeling of sand or grass or just plain ol dirt under your feet!? No one I have ever met! People just talk about how good it feels but never look further into why. Well my last post about sun gazing got me thinking about one of the other elements I failed to mention that usually accompanies it and something else that my lovely husband brought into my awareness. The healing power of removing your shoes and standing, feet planted on the earth, better known as grounding.

As we move about in life we are constantly using electricity. Everything from our muscle contractions to hormone release use electrically charged ions to work. But in the process of using all this electricity we get a build up. You know when you sometimes touch a metal post or rack and you get shocked!? This is simply sudden grounding. The build up is suddenly discharged through the metal you just touched. If we go without a way for this build up to be released we are left with the oh so dreaded effects which we all know as aging. You see as build up happens it slows and sometimes freezes our electrical systems leaving us feeling... well... old! Oh no!

The build up effects can be broken down into many various health issues. Way too many in fact to list, a few being increases of diseases of inflammation, decreased immune function and hormonal dysfunction. Eeeeek! So it's obviously important to find a way to discharge this energy.

The answer? Grounding or as some call it, earthing. The process of standing or walking on the earth barefoot allowing all that buildup to be released. Some people even use grounding mats cause of course it's not always possible or practical to stand on the earth. Grounding mats get plugged in and use the outlets grounding system the same way appliances use them, by expelling excess electrical build up. Simply stand or lay on it and bam! You are grounded!

The benefits of grounding are so incredible and wide ranged it's impressive and also pretty challenging to list them all! Some of the benefits include reduced inflammation, reduced chronic pain, increased energy, decreased stress levels and muscle tension, improved biological rhythms including the circadian rhythm and increased bodily healing. All of these things basically improve your overall health and your mood! So why not toss your shoes off and take a little strut outside!? And better yet take a look at the sun while you do it!