Grounding is Grrreat: Quick Tips and Why We Want Them
Why is ground so great? What does it even mean? When you ground your energy it means that you’re deliberately creating a stronger current of energy through your body. It’s like cleaning the ends of a battery so that there’s a better charge. For you, this means; more vitality; better memory; clarity of thought; less distracted; easier to focus; more emotionally stable; calmer; more in tuned with knowing what your body needs; more naturally intuitive; more naturally self-aware. Every system of your body has access with which it can perform its essential functions. Instead of over charging you, it allows your system to naturally discharge the excess energy it doesn’t need, energy that’s is actually causing an imbalance.
Depending on what’s going on (emergency situation, lots of mental processing or even exciting wonderfulness) you might need to ground yourself many times throughout the day. Depending upon your astrology sign (in Ayurveda, your Prakruti), or your age, you might need to do it more often as well. But even for those who are overly grounded (imbalanced in their earth element) these will help to balance that out too and allow them to feel grounded without being ‘stuck’.
*Please note: Before doing any of the suggested physical exercises, it’s recommended that you check with your physician to make sure there are no contraindications. If at any time you find yourself experiencing physical pain or emotional distress, please stop and seek the appropriate medical help.
Lovely Lulu. © Lynn Walden, 2024.
Drink water.
Urinate.
Walk barefoot on wood or earth or grass.
Wet your feet, run them under water or have a foot bath. Adding some salt is good. Walking in the ocean is, naturally, ideal.
Place the palms of your hands together and walk on the spot in bare feet.
Imagine that you are a tree and that your legs are turning into roots that are growing into the earth, getting stronger and bigger as they grow deeper.
Imagine walking in the forest with bare feet or being on a beach.
Work with modeling clay, plasticine or paper mache.
Dance. Shake your hips.
Sit in a chair with your feet on the ground or on something so that your feet are flat. Now imagine that you’re a dog with a tail and you’re wagging it.
Chant or sing in a very low tone, as low as you can comfortably reach and feel the vibrations through your body.
Beat on a drum or something that makes a percussive sound. Plastic containers, pots, pans, your kitchen table. Just get into a rhythm.
Listen to music that is rhythmic, Latin, disco, African, Arabic
Wear or carry a stone that has grounding properties. There are many to choose from such as red jasper, garnet, black tourmaline and obsidian.
Pick up any old rock that looks and feels good. Remember that it is of the earth and remember that you are too. You’re made of the same elements, just take a minute to honor that fact.
Tend to your plants if you have any.
Dust your furniture, slowly and/or wash your dishes slowly, noticing your movements as you do so.
Check out your diet. If your glycemic index is on the high side (irregular meals, lots of carbs, sugar, processed food etc, or lack of protein, not enough water, too much caffeine at the wrong time) this can seriously ‘unground you’. Consider making the changes you can within the context of what’s best in your particular health situation.
Go for a walk, preferably in a green space or at least where you can see trees.
Meditate.
Do some conscious breathing (yes, could be fancy yoga breathing but it CAN also be just being conscious of how you’re breathing and seeing if that can work.
Online Chi Gong. I like the 8 brocades, but there are many free options.
Tap your legs and arms with a soft fist, moving up and down the outside and inside of each limb. Pay attention to your hips and make sure you also do the buttocks area.
Place your one hand over the other, resting gently on your lower abdomen (thumbs at navel level) and gently rock forward and back to center, with small movements. Repeat as many times as is comfortable.
In a seated position, gently tap your feet on the ground and notice how it makes them feel.
Rub your neck. Run your fingertips down from the top of your skull down the length of your neck.
Grab the muscles that run along the top of your shoulder and connect into the neck (your superior trapezius). Squeeze them between your fingers and the heel of your hand.
Massage your ears. You can find sensitive points in the ear and use your thumb and forefinger to make little circles, first counterclockwise and then clockwise. You can also just stretch and unfold them, starting nearest the hole and extending out to the edge.
Sing something, with as much volume as is comfortable for you (and your cat).
Pet your cat. Or dog, Or other furry, feathery or scaly friend. Be with an animal or watch a documentary or video clip of one, something uplifting and funny.
Laugh. Really laugh.
Gently rest your hands so that the palms of your hands are resting gently along the side of your throat from the bottom of your ear, down to your collarbone. In case you want to investigate it, that is a calming move for the vagus nerve which is very linked to the relaxing response in the nervous system.
Stop and notice what your physical senses are picking up. What is standing out visually. How are you positioned in time and space (day, location, furniture). Is your skin feeling a draft? What do you smell? Is there a taste in your mouth?