On April 22, 2021, Earth Day will be celebrating 51 years as a holiday. Every day is a day to celebrate Mother Earth—and we do this at HARMONY783.
Our planet has been around a very long time, and we all want to keep it that way, which is why we want to be mindful, and protect our planet as much as possible. Some thoughtful holiday practices and activities during this year’s Earth Day could include making earth-friendly decisions such as planting trees or seeding a garden, cleaning up litter, or holding recycling events (or at least remembering to recycle yourself, if this isn’t already an everyday practice).
This year, why not add something different on April 22? We have a few recommendations. You can do any and all of the activities, and also add grounding to honor yourself and your connection to the earth.
So, what exactly is grounding?
The Earth’s surface holds a tremendous amount of natural energy, which are called electrons. Grounding, or earthing, is the practice of tapping into this natural energy and transferring these nourishing electrons into the body through direct skin contact.
When your bare feet or body touch the ground, you essentially receive a beneficial—albeit very subtle and often unfelt—charge from these free electrons and sync with the natural rhythms of the earth.
Centuries and years ago, in agrarian days and indigenous cultures for sure, many spent more time outdoors and had more direct contact with the earth every day. As a result, these were some of the healthiest people on the planet.
Over time, we have put more distance between our bodies and the natural world. Many factors are responsible for this, including what we wear—rubber-soled insulating shoes and layers of bulky clothing keep us from touching the earth, not to mention, urbanization.
The demands of work and family keep us from getting outside into nature consistently. The lack of green space, sunshine, and fresh air is negatively affecting our overall health. Richard Louv coined this phrase, “nature deficiency syndrome” and its effect, especially on children.
What else should you know about grounding? Let’s start with the basics.
What are some examples of grounding?
You can ground yourself essentially any time you touch the earth’s surface, whether it’s with your bare hands, legs, or feet (any body part for that matter). Some examples include:
- Walking barefoot in grass, dirt, or sand, unsealed brick, or tile.
- Submersing yourself in an ocean, lake, or stream
- Touching rocks or the bark on a tree
- Working in a garden – and YES, hugging a tree
As this article explains, the earth is like a giant battery. Its natural electrical conductivity is believed to restore the body’s natural defenses, including the immune system. Think of it as the earth literally “recharging” your body’s batteries through direct contact. Our feet are the single most conductive part of our body, so just walking barefoot can bring amazing results.
You can also try grounding shoes. HARMONY783 features a diverse selection of stylish, comfortable grounding footwear that will allow you to practice grounding wherever you go, every step of the way while outside on the ground (except on blacktop and asphalt surfaces, both oil-based surfaces).
What are the benefits of grounding yourself?
Earthing has been practiced for centuries, yet it has only been more scientifically studied and documented over the last two decades. Grounding is known to have a long list of health benefits. People living with a range of chronic conditions as well as many documented diseases can benefit and get relief from pain and discomfort.
These are just a few of the conditions shown to improve with grounding therapy:
- Chronic inflammation
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
Grounding also has been proven to improve sleep, boost one’s energy level, and calm the nervous system.
How long should you ground each day?
The simplest and most truthful response is “it depends.” However, you can never overdo it. If you could be grounded all day and all night long, that would be incredible.
Some people find relief in as little as 10 minutes of grounding; typically, 20-30 minutes a day is recommended. It also depends on what kind of grounding you are doing.
Immersing yourself in nature by way of a weeklong camping or hiking trip will be a very different experience than walking barefoot in your backyard for 45 minutes.
How long until I see results from grounding?
Once again, it depends. The effects of grounding will vary from person to person. It also has a lot to do with one’s physical state. It may take longer to find relief from chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis than something less severe like insomnia. Grounding triggers everyone’s immune response differently, so the results will vary.
As with any new wellness routine, the more you practice, the more effective it will be. Grounding is also a continuum. If we think about a gas tank…you need to keep it full. It is not cumulative, however, the more your practice grounding, the faster some find it to zone it more quickly.
Top grounding resources
Ready to give grounding a try? HARMONY783 is fortunate to be part of a tight-knit, pioneering, and supportive grounding community and we are happy to share some resources to help you get started.
- This scholarly journal article discusses one of the earliest grounding studies. As mentioned in the article, this study concluded the Earth’s surface is a “surprisingly beneficial, yet overlooked global resource for health maintenance, disease prevention, and clinical therapy”. Several more studies have been conducted since this article was published in 2012; most have found further evidence of the Earth’s natural healing properties.
- Another early study from 2011 is chronicled in this scholarly journal article by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a renowned cardiologist. He was one of the physicians conducting this scientific study. Sinatra is a pioneer in the study of earthing and one of its biggest advocates. This article mentions the growing disconnect between our bodies and the earth’s natural surface which started decades ago. Sinatra remains a well-known figure in the grounding community and has done several additional studies on the practice.
- Barefoot Wisdom: Better Health Through Grounding. This book is another must-have for anyone interested in grounding. HARMONY783 co-founder, grounding advocate, and author Sharon Whiteley literally wrote the book on grounding, coauthored with Dr. Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, and integrative energy doctor as well. Whiteley offers many simple to adopt helpful tips for getting started, staying motivated, and how to practice grounding wherever you are.
- HARMONY783 resources. HARMONY783 is more than just a footwear company. It is the company’s vision, purpose, and intention to be a trusted source of information for the grounding community—and hopefully many newcomers to this natural and health full, free benefit. We strive to educate, guide, and support anyone and everyone interested in grounding to improve their overall health and well-being. We hope you will check out our Research & Science page as well as our blog for tips and information about all things related to grounding.
Grounding is good for you and your health. It also honors the earth and our planet – a god-given resource. Let’s all do more to be better humans and kinder to the planet on Earth Day, every day.
