Date of the last update: 14.01.2025
Spring! A warmer wind is blowing! – as the classic Polish song goes.
Spring is a time of rebirth. Spring nature inspires us to act, to wake up to life, to plan and to start new projects. It is also a time when we are more willing to be outside. In spring, it is particularly important to have contact with the earth, which at this time gives birth to new plants, growing from seeds. Ideally, this contact should be direct, i.e. with bare feet, during which we experience so-called grounding.
Have you ever wondered why we feel so good after a walk in the forest without shoes or a picnic in the park? Among other things, the aforementioned grounding is responsible for this positive effect.
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An ancient connection
Humans as a species have only very recently started wearing shoes, and very recently (en masse since the 1960s) they have become rubber or plastic sole shoes. It is interesting to note that since then there has been a significant increase in autoimmune diseases as well as allergies in the USA. Some scientists have concluded that one of the causes may be the so-called ‘detachment syndrome’, i.e. the loss of contact between our bodies and the earth.
The practice of grounding can be found across different cultures. In India, some people slept on copper beds that were connected by a cable to a rod driven into the ground. The rod was located outside the house. For the Chinese, on the other hand, so-called ‘Qi’, energy from the earth, was very important. Its collection was supposed to be aided by a ‘root’ running right through the human foot.
Why grounding?
The earth’s surface is charged with an infinite number of electrons, which are continuously ‘delivered’ by sunlight and lightning strikes. By walking on the ground, we absorb these electrons. What benefits does our body feel from this? First of all, laying barefoot has an anti-inflammatory effect on our body. Free radicals, which cause inflammation, have a positive charge, electrons, on the other hand, have a negative charge, so the action of electrons cancels out the action of free radicals. Unfortunately, the modern man often struggles with chronic inflammation, which can cause heart disease, autoimmune diseases, diabetes or the development of cancer cells. Studies prove that when we acquire an injury in the body, negative charges are transferred to the affected area in order to reduce the effect of inflammatory foci.
In addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, another very important grounding action should be mentioned. It is the reduction of stress and a deepening of the feeling of relaxation. This is because during barefoot walking, our heart rate is lowered, the sympathetic nervous system responsible for stress processes is quietened and the parasympathetic system responsible for regeneration is stimulated. During grounding, there is also a reduction in stress hormones, as well as an improvement in the efficiency of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Grounding can also help in the treatment of chronic pain.
A very important benefit of the practice of ‘grounding’ is that it contributes to lowering blood pressure and reducing so-called blood viscosity, which is closely related to blood pressure.
How can you ground yourself?
Walking barefoot on the ground is a simple, no-cost and effective way to experience the salutary effects of this process. Lying on the ground is also great. How about having the opportunity to spend a warm summer night (or that cooler spring night, too) outdoors or in a tent? Nothing is as good for getting back to mental and physical well-being as spending a night in nature in the fashion of our ancestors.
Walking barefoot strengthens immunity, so you can start this practice now, when the ground is not yet warm. Start with a few tens of seconds of standing on the ground or a short walk. Increase your grounding time as you practice (and as you are able). We recommend you experiment with different surfaces: walking barefoot on grass is different from walking barefoot on bare ground or snow, and walking in the woods is different from walking on the beach (whether rocky or sandy). Just putting our bare feet on the ground gives us a range of new experiences; especially if it is a place we are familiar with, such as a nearby park. We can then get to know the path we have walked dozens of times from a completely different angle.
It is a great way to diversify your relationship with nature, with your surroundings. You may notice that by walking barefoot, we automatically slow down. This is a good thing. What you may find strange at first, will soon, with systematic practice, become the most natural way to stay connected. Our feet will certainly thank us for it! Make sure there are no sharp stones, glass or debris on your trail. Be careful to plan ahead and include weather conditions as one of the important factors to consider. Diabetes is a contraindication to this practice, as it can cause nerve damage and therefore lack of feeling in the feet. Then it is not difficult to get an injury. In this case, we can use so-called earthing mats. Such mats can be used at night or while sitting.
Summary
We encourage you to use this free practice as often as possible. Let us remember that nature heals, waits for us and wants to help us. And taking off your shoes and touching it with your bare foot is a very important step towards strengthening your contact with it.
Sources:
Forest therapy in research and practice. Catherine Simonienko
Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity – a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease. Gaétan Chevalier, Stephen T. Sinatra, James L. Oschman, and Richard M. Delany.
www.terrapia.pl, as of 15 March 2022
