“Keep your eyes on the stars, but keep your feet on the ground.”
Welcome to your mini-lesson on one of my favorite topics. Grounding.
Grounding is the art of directing our energy downwards towards the legs and feet, and down towards the earth.
Grounding keeps us connected to our physical body and to the environment, and it gives us a sense of stability and orientation in terms of time and space. It also helps us stay present and focused.
Have you heard any of these…?
“she seems so calm and grounded.”
“She seems very earthy.”
“She seems warm and down to earth.”
But why would anyone need grounding?
Energetically speaking, we need grounding when our energy is flowing upwards more than downwards.
In other words, our eyes are way up on the stars but we’ve somehow forgotten to keep our feet on the ground.
This creates a disconnection with our physical body and the world around us.
When our energy is flowing upwards more than downwards, we can say that there’s a bit of congestion of energy in our upper areas like the chest, head, and crown.
Or rather…
”too much going on in our heads.”
This tends to happen in cases of anxiety.
Therefore, grounding is a key practice for neutralizing anxiety.
On the other hand, someone with lethargy, low motivation, and depression, has more energy flowing downwards than upwards.
In this case, this person could benefit from uplifting practices that bring their energy up.
This is the opposite of grounding.
But you might be asking…
Well, how do I know if my energy is flowing upwards more than downwards?
Here are a few scenarios that indicate a need for grounding:
1. After certain meditation or breathing practices where one might feel “spacey” or “high” afterwards.
2. We are unable to focus, and/or spend too much time daydreaming.
3. We lack boundaries or unable to “stand our ground.
4. We feel unstable, unable to settle, and we find it difficult to stick to routines.
5. In cases of stress, anxiety, and restlessness.
So how do we ground ourselves?
Again, we’re in need of grounding because our energy is flowing up more than down, and to some degree, we’ve lost connection to our physical bodies and the world around us.
So when we think of grounding practices, we think in terms of waking up the physical body (especially the hips, legs, and feet), waking up our physical senses (touch, sight, hear, smell, taste), and connecting to the physical world around us.
Here are some powerful practices to keep us grounded:
- Standing yoga poses that work the legs and feet like lunges, squats, warrior poses, and hip openers.
- Hatha Yoga where the poses are held steady, which creates a sense stability and focus.
- Breathing exercises where the focus is on lengthening the exhale.
- Walking barefoot and bringing your awareness to the connection of your feet and the ground.
- Physical touch – through massage or myofascial release using foam rollers or rubber ball.
- Connecting to our senses (seeing, smelling, feeling, hearing, touching).
- Physical exercise.
- Spending time in nature.
The best part about these practices? You don’t need to hire a professional.
Well, maybe a yoga teacher or massage therapist. Other than that, it’s just a matter of stepping outside and noticing the beauty that surrounds you.
This 30-minute Grounding Hatha Yoga class is not to be underestimated. It’s packed with lots of leg work to keep you challenged and connected to the earth.
