Have you ever realized the difference between walking on grass barefoot and walking on grass with shoes? I strongly suggest you give it a try. The experience is soothing. I’m reminded of when I was a child and did not care about getting my feet dirty. As adults, we assume that getting our feet dirty is a child-like behaviour we can’t do anymore.

Well that could not be farthest from the truth. I recently came across this grounding article from Dr. Mercola, which provided great insight to the health benefits of grounding, also known as earthing.

“It is well established, though not widely known, that the surface of the earth possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons as a consequence of a global atmospheric electron circuit. Wearing shoes with insulating soles and/or sleeping in beds that are isolated from the electrical ground plane of the earth have disconnected most people from the earth’s electrical rhythms and free electrons.

… A previous study demonstrated that connecting the human body to the earth during sleep (earthing) normalizes the daily cortisol rhythm and improves sleep. A variety of other benefits were reported, including reductions in pain and inflammation. Subsequent studies have confirmed these earlier findings and documented virtually immediate physiologic and clinical effects of grounding or earthing the body.” (Dr. Mercola, June 14, 2013).

Recently, I had a headache and a Reiki healer told me to try grounding—plant my bare feet on the grass. Within 15 minutes, my headache disappeared. Further research is still required to better understand the link between grounding and our overall health. However, earthing may be a calming exercise that works for you. For your next headache episode or to reconnect with your surrounding environment, consider grounding!