Have you ever wondered why your pup loves to run over and lay, or even roll around, on the ground? Other than trying to hide their scent in other dog’s doo-doo, there is a much bigger, more magnetic reason at play – It’s called grounding, also known as earthing. Keep reading to learn all about what it is exactly, and why it’s so good for us (and for your pup too!).
What is Grounding?
Grounding -or earthing- is a technique that energetically connects you with the ions in the earth’s terrain via your bare skin on the soles of your feet. Sounds hokey, we know! But, there’s a reason we were born with over 7,000 nerve endings down there. Why would our feet have so much sensation if they weren’t designed to feel the earth and the terrain below? Well, here’s what the science says:
One article from Science Direct speaks on “the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth's natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being.” Sounds pretty cool, if you ask us!
Basically, grounding is a way for your physical body to connect with the earth’s energetic field. Day in and day out we are quite removed from our old ways of walking barefoot through the dirt and foliage – Now, we’ve got concrete building floors, socks, sneakers, sandals, you name it, that disconnects us from the ground itself.
Why Should You Practice It?
Well, you read the science-y quote up above. But for keeping things short, connecting with the earth in this way helps us with fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, wound healing, sleep disorders, and even cardiovascular disease!
Ways to Incorporate Grounding into Your Routine
One of the easiest ways to include grounding into your daily habitual is to kick off your shoes in the grass. Head over to Tom Slick Park or Wheeler Park with your four-legged friend and slip off your shoes. You and your buddy can catch some much-needed one-on-one time with mother earth.
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