6 Ways To Reconnect With the Earth During the Pandemic

Being ungrounded has become a worldwide pandemic, this Pandemic is so deep-rooted that a few of us don’t even recognize it is a problem. Do you get distracted easily? or do you find yourself over-thinking? Or experience anxiety? You might probably be disconnected from our Mother Earth.

Last long weekend I went camping by a lake in B.C. with my boyfriend and a couple of friends, our plan was mostly to chill and get away from the city. We brought kayaks and got into the water to enjoy the good weather. Once we got to the middle of the lake we realized on the other side was a beautiful waterfall so we paddled and paddled until we got there. None of us were prepared to do a hike and explore this magnificent waterfall. I decided to remove my sandals and hike barefoot, the trail was extremely muddy.

I always thought that being in direct touch with nature is very good for health but I never heard about the word “Earthing” until my friend asked me if I knew what it meant. I got so curious that I started reading about this incredible topic and I learned that it makes so much sense!

What is Earthing?

Earthing (also known as grounding) is when our body makes contact with the Earth’s surface electrons via activities such as walking barefoot outside, sitting on the grass, sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems, all with surfaces that transfer the energy from the ground into our body. Our body operates electrically. All of your cells transmit multiple frequencies that run throughout; for example, your heart, muscles, nervous system, and immune system because everything is connected.

Society Nowadays

Nowadays people rarely go barefoot and walk around outside to allow our bodies to absorb the ground’s energy. For many decades, society has increasingly been wearing rubber and plastic-soled shoes that block the Earth’s energy, insulating them from electrical contact with the Earth. In addition, most of the people today don’t even sleep on the ground anymore like how our ancestors did throughout history.

“We live and work above the ground, even far above the ground in high-rises”

You can be unground and disconnected if you are not in touch with the Earth. This disconnection can be an overlooked factor in the increase in illnesses like

inflammation poor sleep, chronic pain, fatigue, and poor circulation.

7 Signs of Being Ungrounded
Get distracted easily

Over-thinking

Engage in personal drama

Experience anxiety

You could also be ungrounded if you are:
Possessed by a desire for material things

Easily deceived by yourself or others

Obsessed with your personal image

Top 6 Ways To Get Reconnected With The Earth

1. Go Outside!

When you go outside, try to walk barefoot (where it is safe), sit or lie down as much as you can on surfaces such as soil, grass, sand, or concrete. Furthermore, walking on rocks not only helps you to reconnect with the earth, but it also stimulates reflexology and acupressure points on your feet! According to the Institute for Integrative Health Care

Acupuncture Meridian Theory, the kidney channel begins on the sole of your foot. Stimulation of this area, known as Kidney 1 or “Gushing Spring,” is said to bring excess energy down from your head. This has the physiological effect of lowering blood pressure! If you are wondering where can you walk barefoot safely in Vancouver, Lang Park park features a proper reflexology path that is open 24 hours a day.

You can also get foot reflexology by the experts with one of our signature services, the Thai Foot Reflexology to stimulate the reflexology and acupressure points on the feet!

2. Go Camping

Camping is one of the best ways to reconnect with the earth because you are 100% surrounded by mother nature. When camping, try sleeping on the ground (inside your tend), and avoid the plastic floating mattress. Run your hands through the rivers or lakes nearby. Walk barefoot on the ground and go skinny dipping in the morning. This is your chance to disconnect from the world and enjoy the moment away from your cellphone, the internet, and social media! Turn off the music and enjoy the sound of nature: the rain falling, the wind passing by, the birds chirping, or the sound of your campfire as you sit nearby to enjoy smores with your friends or to just appreciate the silence.

3. Go Hiking

If you don’t want to sleep in the forest, hiking is another great option to reconnect with the earth. When you’re hiking, not only are you surrounded by nature, but you also get the bonus of a physical exercise. Did you know that an average 160 lbs adult can burn between 430 to 440 of calories per hour of hiking? This makes hiking not only an opportunity to reconnect with the earth but to also stay fit and healthy! While hiking, try taking a break and take off your shoes and lay your feet on the ground for a chance to reconnect with the earth. Taking off your shoes during your hike will also allow your feet to breathe after a long walk and to relax the muscles. If you’re lucky and happen to be near a river or lake, dip your feet in the water for that extra boost of a refreshing experience.

4. Stay Aware

Where do you sleep? Where do you work? Where do you spend most of your time? Stay conscious of the materials you are in touch with throughout the day to ensure you are still connected to the earth. You can do this by choosing the right materials for when you sleep, sit, or wear! For instance, you can sit on a metal material such as copper, which is a very good conductive. You can also wear clothes made of cotton, wool, or any natural fibre, which are great at grounding and the passing of energy. Avoid surfaces such as pavement, plastic rubber, synthetic material, or insulated materials such as foam, glass, or porcelain which have little to no ability of grounding.

5. Nourish

Food is another way for us to reconnect with the earth. Nourish your body from the inside out with natural organic produces grown directly from your own soil! What is a better way to reconnect with the earth than to eat food that’s produced from it? Did you know that certain foods can help us stay present and tethered to the earth whereas some foods can make us feel the opposite?

Here are some top grounding foods that you can incorporate in your ground diet:

Mushrooms

Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Coconuts, etc)

Seeds (Chia, Flax, Quinoa, etc)

Legumes

Beans

Nut Butters (Peanut butter or Almond butter)

Root Vegetables (Potatoes, Yams, Carrots, Ginger, etc)

Turmeric

Red Fruits and Veggies

Squash

Oats

Pumpkin

Whole Grains

Warm Spices

Fermented Foods

Room temperature or hot liquids such as water or tea

6. Use Grounding Skincare Products

You can even incorporate grounding skincare products into your daily routine such as the earth-based products from Sabai Essentials. I highly recommend using a clay mask like the wonderful Mineral Mask from Clear Skin Collection made of Kaolin Clay, which is found in the mineral kaolinite. This mask feels great on the skin and is great for reducing excess oil, helps with deep cleaning and removing impurities from the skin. It also helps to reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling.

 

Resources:

Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity-a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Delany RM.J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Feb;19(2):102-10. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0820.

5. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Sokal K, Sokal P.J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:291541. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541. Review.

6. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. Ghaly M, Teplitz D.J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5):767-76.