Our modern lifestyles have disconnected us from nature and the healing benefits of being barefoot in natural settings. Science has now uncovered the joyful practice of “earthing” or walking barefoot on grass and soils – called gorasnana in Sanskrit – offers great therapeutic value.

Connecting the body with the stable electromagnetic field of the Earth has remarkable effects on health, mood and wellbeing. Let us explore some of the multiple advantages of making barefoot walks on grass a part of our daily wellness routine.

The Healing Effects of Grounding

When bare skin, especially feet, come in contact with the Earth’s surface, the grass transfers free electrons to the body. This neutralizes free radicals and inflammation in the tissues. Some key benefits of earthing the body are:

1. Reduces Inflammation: The surface of the Earth has a net negative electrical charge. Contacting this charge provides electrons to neutralize excessive positive charge leading to inflammation and disease. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects boosts immunity.
2. Improves Sleep: Walking barefoot synchronizes our electrical rhythms to that of the Earth’s, just like the cycles of night and day. This enhances melatonin secretion for faster, deeper and uninterrupted sleep.
3. Relieves Pain: Movement of electrons from the ground into the body has an analgesic effect by soothing irritated nerves. This reduces inflammation causing arthritis aches, headaches and other chronic pains.
4. Lowers Cortisol: The cooling, negatively charged energy from the Earth calms an overstimulated nervous system and lowers anxiety-inducing hormones like cortisol. This instills a sense of peace and emotional stability.
5. Detoxifies the Body: Grounding facilitates transfer of free radicals and toxins like heavy metals from the tissues into the Earth which can absorb them, allowing cleansing at a cellular level.
6. Boosts Energy: Walking barefoot on grass enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and clears blockages in energy pathways. This provides an invigorating surge of prana or vital life force.
7. Improves Circulation: The flow of free electrons from the ground equalizes electrical potential helping blood cells move efficiently and improving circulation.
8. Enhances Immunity: Earthing reduces red blood cell clumping thereby boosting blood flow, oxygenation and immune function throughout the body.
9. Stimulates Vagal Tone: Increased vagal tone activates the parasympathetic system linked to better heart-rate variability and digestive function.
10. Improves Mood: Being grounded mitigates emotional stress, anxiety, sadness and depression by balancing electrical systems and neurotransmitters in the brain.

Also, Watch Our Video on “Health Benefits of Walking Barefoot On Grass.”

Ideal Ways to Practice Earthing

Here are some great ways to enjoy the benefits of barefoot grounding:

• Take leisurely walks on grass, ground or beach for at least 30 minutes daily.
• Sit, meditate or do yoga poses on the bare ground.
• Stand barefoot on soil while gardening.
• Walk on fresh grass after light rain or morning dew for moist conductivity.
• Try grounding indoors on natural conductive surfaces like ceramic tiles.
• Children intuitively love to play barefoot outdoors. Allow nature immersion.
• Walking barefoot on forest trails connects us to primal energy.

Precautions for Safe Grounding

It is best to take certain precautions when earthing barefoot outdoors:

• Check for sharp stones, thorns or cutting grass blades.
• Avoid areas treated with pesticides, chemicals or near sewage pipes.
• Prevent puncture wounds and tetanus with proper wound care.
• Wash feet after grounding on urban or polluted terrain.
• Start gradually if you have very sensitive feet.
• Ground in parks, gardens and natural settings.
• Avoid earthing where animals congregate to prevent parasite exposure.
• Practice in daytime as you learn to adapt to grounding.
• Drink adequate water to flush out released toxins post-grounding.

How Shoes Impact Our Bodies?

While the positive effects of barefoot grounding are immense, wearing shoes for most of the day has far-reaching detrimental effects:

• It blocks the healing flow of electrons from the Earth disrupting the natural electrical rhythms and equilibrium of the body.
• It forces an unnatural gait causing postural imbalances that lead to back, hip and knee pains.
• The elevated heels alter the biomechanics of natural walking resulting in joint pains.
• Rubbing and pressure from shoes reduces blood supply to feet and peripheral circulation.
• Toxins get trapped within the body without the vehicle of free electron transfer from the ground.
• The plastic in shoes generates static charge that disturbs the stable electromagnetic field of the body.

Final words

The simple act of walking barefoot outdoors offers us a profoundly effective preventive and curative therapy straight from Nature’s pharmacy. Human beings evolved wearing minimal footwear and had constant skin contact with the Earth’s surface. Incorporating daily grounding into our routines helps restore electrical balance within the body. Tuning ourselves with natural cycles enhances overall health, vitality and a sense of wellbeing. It is time to rediscover the therapeutic powers of simply walking barefoot upon the grass website.