Grounding Yourself In Winter
Written By Kim Deschamps | January 8, 2023
Winter is tough for us in so many ways. Fewer hours of daylight can have serious impacts on our mood. The cold means we can’t swim in the lake, grow vegetables in our garden, or barbeque at a pool party. The ice and snow can make it difficult to even leave the house sometimes. On top of all that, it can disrupt our grounding practice.
What Is Grounding?
Grounding is a therapeutic practice that uses the Earth’s electrical charges to enhance our wellness. You may have also heard it referred to as ‘earthing’. This is an under-researched area, scientifically speaking, but people who practice grounding report reductions in pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, along with better and higher-quality sleep.
Grounding simply means connecting with the Earth in a literal way, and there are many ways to do it. Walking barefoot so that your feet touch the ground; lying on the earth – in the grass, on a flat rock, or in the sand; or even swimming in a natural water source, like a lake or a quiet river.
But in the winter, a lot of those tried-and-true grounding exercises might be either inaccessible or unpleasant. What can we do, and how can we stay connected to the planet that nurtures us?
Grounding In Winter
We might need to be a little more creative this time of year, or perhaps just more mindful and intentional about how we spend our time. Here are a few of my favorite ways to invite the Earth’s vibrations into my body, soul, and spirit this time of year.
Seek warmth like a cat: We all want to be cozy in winter. But instead of hiding under a pile of blankets, seek out natural and earthy sources of heat. Find the brightest patch of sunlight in your home or office and soak it up. Make use of the fireplace if you have one, or seek one out at a friend’s house, a restaurant, or hotel lounge, or if it’s not too terrible out, try the firepit in your backyard.
Meditation basics: Build grounding into your daily meditation or mindfulness work. Deep breathing is a part of that space already, so you might want to think about where that air came from – up on a mountain, over an ocean, traveling around the world. Then put your feet flat on the floor and search for the Earth’s vibration underneath. Experiment to see if barefoot or comfy socks made out of natural fibers work better for you. Grounding mats are also available for those looking to bring a little of the Earth inside.
Bring the outside in: If it’s true that we are what we eat, you can ground yourself in winter by eating and drinking things that come from deep within the Earth. It makes sense when you think about all the soups and stews made this time of year from root vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, and parsnips. Enjoy their warmth and appreciate the grounding they provide. Teas like chamomile and ginger can have a similar effect.
Keep moving: I don’t want to go barefoot outside in January, but I do try to walk outside every day if I can, just to breathe in the fresh air and wake my body up. But I know not everyone is into that. Yoga is a great way to find the benefits of grounding. A sun salutation is as awakening as being in the sunlight. Earthy poses like vrksasana (tree pose) and tadasana (mountain pose) can connect you to the gravitational pull of our planet.
With PhysioYoga and Lifestyle Medicine, Kim Deschamps (Founder/Clinic Owner, Physiotherapist, Pelvic Health Therapist, Professional Yoga Therapist) explores resistant patterns that are holding you up from feeling your best. Kim is a root cause detective when it comes to listening to your health story and finding patterns with your signs and symptoms. Once uncovered, the root causes are addressed with a holistic health approach that may involve simultaneous work on the body, mind, and spirit.
Kim Deschamps
MPT, BKin, PYT, BDN