Last year I read an eye opening book by Clinton Ober called “Earthing“.
Clinton’s book is full of all the latest research and the huge benefits that can be had from Earthing or Grounding yourself.
Earthing has been proven to produce such amazing results for recovery that many of the cyclists in the “Tour de France” last year were embracing it.
Research is also highlighting many other benefits of Earthing or Grounding yourself including:
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Reducing stress by Activating your Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Thinning the Blood by Reducing Blood Viscosity
- Improving Sleep by Normalising Cortisol Levels
- Acting as a Powerful Antioxidant
- Speeding up Healing Times from Exercise or Injury
What is Earthing or Grounding?
Earthing is quite simply the act of touching your skin to the Earth to take advantage of the never ending supply of negative ions on the Earths surface.
The moment your skin makes contact with the Earth your body absorbs trillions of these negative ions and they act as a nutrient to the body.
Here’s what Clinton had to say in his own words:
“Your body becomes suffused with negative charged free electrons abundantly present on the surface of the earth. Your body immediately equalises to the same electric energy level, or potential, as the earth.”
Why Should We Care About Earthing?
Think about your regular day.
You wake up, walk around on your insulated floor, put on your insulated shoes, drive to work in your insulated car, sit at your desk, drive home, watch TV, go to bed.
For most people your skin rarely makes contact with the Earth.
This is very different from our evolutionary ancestors who spent more time outside working and touching the Earth on a daily basis.
Now think about how great it feels when you take off your shoes and walk on the grass. How about walking barefoot along a beach? What about how great it feels after a day of gardening, camping, swimming in the sea or paddling in a stream?
There is something intuitive and instinctive about our connection with the earth that when embraced it pays us back in dividends.
It is also worth noting that both Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine have both been using Earthing for 1000’s of years.
How it Works?
The voltage of the surface of the earth is zero.
The body is made up of over 70% water along with lots of other minerals making your body highly conductive.
When you make contact with the earth your body is Grounded or Earthed and becomes a zero voltage.
Our super conductivity can also work against us by absorbing Electro Magnetic Fields from all our electrical appliances and mobile phones. Earthing helps to neutralise these Electro Magnetic Fields.
How to start Earthing?
In a modern world Earthing is not as easy as it used to be but research from Clinton Ober and many others have shown that regular Earthing or Grounding can have great health benefits.
My simple advice would be to make the most of the good weather and get outside into nature more often.
Spend more time walking barefoot. Make contact with the Earth more often by touching nature.
In short, be instinctive and live like a child again.
There is a reason why kids love water and walking around without shoes on, it goes back millions of years!
For more on this topic visit Clinton’s website www.earthing.com
Beware of grounding shoes . Not a good idea to walk in built up areas in these kind of shoes because there is too much cabling etc under the pavement and your body voltage would go to high and fluctuate too much ok to ware these types of shoes in countryside though !
Greg
Earthing is HUGE for personal trainers. I would be interested to know your experience with Earthing. Contact me at info@earthinginstitute.net
And yes, sitting, standing, exercising in one own’s lawn is a great way to receive the Earth’s healing, nurturing, and strengthening energy. I’ve had some powerlifters say they can lift more when they ground themselves. Recovery time for elite athletes and peak performers is accelerated….as is recovery from injuries.
Cheers
Martin Zucker, co-author of the Earthing book
Hi Martin, yes I recommend Earthing to all my clients and I’m a big proponent of it myself. I particularly like exercising outside without shoes to harness the earths energy, seems so natural to me. I’ll continue to spread the word!
Great post! I started sleeping grounded 6 months ago after reading Earthing. As someone who had a very difficult time sleeping in the past, I was willing to try anything! I have seen a drastic improvement in my overall sleep, and have found I have much more energy throughout my day. I just purchased a pair of Groundals from Get Grounded Footwear so I can stay grounded while on the go. I highly recommend grounding to everyone. It makes so much sense and it is so simple.
Great to hear it Jan, there are so many skeptics out there who seem to forget where we came from. Thanks for the feedback and great to hear that Earthing is helping.
Hi Greg,
I find this really interesting but have to say it sounds like make believe! Although, I would be willing to try it.
I guess this only works when you are on natural earth (grass/soil) and not just walking through a city centre?
Would it work if I stood on my lawn?
Thanks,
Sean
Hi Greg,
I find this really interesting but have to say it sounds like make believe! Although, I would be willing to try it.
I guess this only works when you are on natural earth (grass/soil) and not just walking through a city centre?
Would it work if I stood on my lawn?
Thanks,
Sean
Hi Sean, yes your skin needs to touch the earth. So sitting or walking barefoot on your lawn is a good start. The more often you can take your shoes off the better! Enjoy.