It’s Time We Reconnect Our Bodies With Mother Earth

My feet were sore from having cycled for the last two hours in shoes meant for looking good.

It was the first time I had stepped out of my house to meet a friend after five months of a nationwide lockdown. After being cooped up indoors for so long, I was ready to try anything to make me feel alive again — even if it involved a spontaneous decision to cycle in an expensive blouse, tight jeans, and heels. Anything to get the blood flowing.

Two hours later, I stood on the paved pathway, my hair a mess, clothes soaked in sweat, and feet covered in blisters. Every step I took made me wince in pain till I removed my fancy heels and walked tentatively onto the slightly damp soil.

With each step, the pain eased, making way for a soothing sensation every time I felt the grass graze my skin and the cool water droplets covered my feet.

It felt gratifying. A sense of well-being.

I realized I hadn’t walked barefoot on the ground in a very long time.

I had heard of the concept before — connecting your body to the earth. I didn’t think a simple act often overlooked would spark immense joy and satisfaction.

Earthing or grounding

The ground beneath your feet has the power to heal you. It’s as simple as that.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. We already know nature is full of vibrant energy designed to sustain life.

Earthing or grounding means putting your body in direct uninterrupted contact with the earth. This means your skin — your feet mostly — touches the soil or water.

Earthing has been around for many millennia but has recently gained popularity. Connecting to nature is rarely a priority, and we are suffering from a lack of nature’s energy.

Remember a time when you stood by the ocean, the waves crashing against your legs as the sand under your feet slowly slipped away. What did it feel like? Were you relaxed, at ease, and grounded?

That soothing sensation is Mother Earth casting her magic on your body.

Your body needs to be recharged for optimal performance.

I am not a big fan of physics-y stuff, so here’s the simplest explanation I can give on how earthing works.

Our body operates electrically. The brain, heart, and neurotransmitter activity rely on electrical signals. When these signals are off-balance, so is our health.

The earth’s surface has a mild negative charge to it. Our skin can absorb these electrical charges by acting as a conductor.

We rarely walk barefoot outside. I wear slippers in the house too. Rubber soles act as an insulator, creating a barrier between the body and earth. Not only do we not walk barefoot, we no longer sleep on the floor. Our life happens above ground, from work to living in high-rise buildings.

Over time, this disconnect causes a buildup of positive charges and free radicals within our bodies.

As the Journal of Environmental and Public Health states:

It is an established, though not widely appreciated fact, that the Earth’s surface possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons. The Earth’s negative charges can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems, which may be important for setting the biological clock, regulating circadian rhythms and balancing cortisol levels.

A study examining the effect of grounding while sleeping observed a significant reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) levels. There was an improvement in sleep and a decrease in pain and stress.

All you have to do is take off your slippers and dig your feet into the mud.

Connect your body to the strongest battery source available to you. Recharge for free.