Being in nature helps my body, mind and spirit.  How about you?  I also have felt the difference in my stress levels as I sink my feet into the sand at the beach and just smell the salt air.  Is it vacation that does this or is it Earthing?

Earthing (also called Grounding) refers to simply connecting the body to the electrical energy of Mother Earth.  Over the last decades, humans are benefiting from the Industrial Revolution but also experiencing things such as exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).  While these EMFs help provide technology that allows us to communicate with the world, we need to consider methods to keep us rooted and grounded.  Exposure to unhealthy lifestyle choices such as environmental pollution, alcohol and tobacco intake, poor food choices and EMFs help increase the production of free radicals.  Free radicals damage our healthy cells and increase inflammation in the body.  As research has shown, there is a strong correlation between chronic inflammation and disease.

As a past scientist, I remember my physics classes fondly (yes, I’m a nerd).  The message was that everything is energy – positive, negative, or neutral.  The Earth has an endless supply of negative electrons.  When a person makes physical contact with the ground, the Earth has this magical method of moving the free electrons into our bodies and they act as antioxidants and help eliminate free radicals.  Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects it has on sleep and reestablishing the circadian rhythm (even if you’re jet lagged).  It’s also shown to assist in reducing stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing pain and improving overall mood.  For more information on the scientific benefits, visit this link.

I’m a yogi and even before that, you would find me barefoot at any opportunity.  Maybe my body intuitively knew.  Earthing is easy and can be done anytime.  Some people prefer to do this activity at dusk to drop all the negative energy that has developed during the day.  It’s your choice but notice how you feel if you practice it a few days in a row.  Here are some simple tips.

• Take off your shoes and find a non-chemically treated yard or grassy area.
• Walk on the sand at the beach.
• Connect your hands to the Earth as you garden
• Sit in the grass and enjoy your surroundings.
• Roll around on the Earth with your pups, children, _________.
• Sit under the stars and camp out (I used to beg my Dad to do this in our yard when I was a little girl…best nights ever after the family roasted marshmallows).
• Swim in the ocean.
• Love Mother Earth.

Happy Earth Month!