Kick off your shoes and go earthing

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On the weekend, I taught an outdoor yoga workshop in a lavender field.

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The sun was shining, the breeze was refreshing and we connected with the elements while doing a yoga class. Part of the class was a walking meditation. Students were encouraged to take off their shoes and socks and enjoy a mindful walk through the rows of lavender fields, barefoot.

A couple of the students exclaimed how wonderful it felt to go barefoot. Another agreed, saying when they were younger they always ran around barefoot and it felt so good.

I asked them if they knew it was actually good for their health?

Earthing is term used for walking barefoot on the earth and is considered good “energy” for your health and happiness It’s based in real, measurable science, and it’s super easy and free to try and you can do it in your own back yard if you wanted! We did it as kids for sure, but often in our modern society we no longer sleep on the ground or walk barefoot everywhere we go, like our ancestors did.

But maybe we should.

In a world where we have an over-exposure of EMF (electromagnetic field), grounding ourselves should be a priority. Now, when we talk about “energy” from the Earth, we’re not referring to anything metaphysical, spiritual or supernatural. We’re talking about literal, measurable energy. There’s no scientific debate that this energy exists.

Our bodies are electrical beings. In fact, it’s because our bodies are electrical that humans are so vulnerable to damage from even very low levels of EMF energy. Our body transmits and receives electrical signals in our nervous system to regulate each of our functions – they are critical to our health. The nervous and cardiovascular systems are two perfect examples of this.

The earth, too, is electromagnetic. There is a current flowing through our planet, and it has its own electromagnetic field. This is referred to as the Schumann Resonance. We as humans are bioelectrical beings that evolved to live with exposure to the earth’s natural electrical fields.

Letting your skin get exposure to the sun’s rays increases your body’s vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is directly related to your immune system. When you have optimal levels of vitamin D, your body’s immune system is improved, and you will be better equipped to ward off viruses, including the common cold and flu. So, go lay outside commando or with minimal clothing, on your private balcony or in your yard or even inside in a window that lets the sunshine in.

As an exposed, breathable organ, our skin needs air to breathe. Covering yourself in tight clothing can weaken your skin, because your skin reabsorbs the toxins, which come out when you sweat, says Dr. Satish Bhatia, dermatologist. Keeping your skin uncovered will help your skin to respire by eliminating the toxins from your body.

Try just going with naked feet. Removing your socks and shoes and walking barefoot has its health benefits too.   Barefoot walking or running helps in vital stimulation of our brain. Dr. Sunesara, general physician from Mumbai says, “the stimulation, which is created in the sole of the foot encourages our brain to boost more neuron connections.”

Kicking off your shoes and letting your feet connect with the ground or Earth has many documented health benefits. It helps to normalize cortisol levels (our stress hormone), which improves sleep, relieves pain and reduces stress.   Earthing can combat positively charged free radicals generated by inflammatory factors as they respond to injury, infection, trauma or stress. Going barefoot on the ground can also improve circulation and cardiovascular health, by reducing red blood cell clumping.

So, get to the beach, walk on the grass, sit under a tree, get close to the earth and get those amazing negative ions. Good for your health and your happiness!