How to get Grounded
This morning’s intention for my yoga practice was GROUNDING. It’s been a busy week with both kids finally back in school, meetings, and some unexpected conversations. Add in that I was aggressively tailgated on my way to the studio and I was coming in hot.
When the teacher prompted us to form an intention I realized what I needed was to be grounded. Sure I’d like ultimate bliss and unlimited happiness. But I know from experience that those feelings can’t come unless I’m grounded.
What does Being Grounded mean?
Being Grounded is a buzzy phrase. If you’re anywhere near yoga or mindfulness circles you’ll hear it a lot. But it’s one of those things that folks have a sense of but maybe can’t put words around.
For me, being grounded starts with physically feeling the ground. Depending on where I am I might feel the ground through my seat, my feet, my hands, my back, even the top of my head if I’m in a headstand. If I’m grounding myself I’m starting with a direct experience of the Earth, her gravity, and my relationship to it.
But it doesn’t stop there. My experience of being grounded also includes my attention. I bring my attention what it feels like to touch the ground. I use that attention to turn energy that has been frenetic, or moving upwards, into energy that is settled and moves up and down. In very stressful situations, (like being tailgated to yoga) I first need to move the energy down, before it can move in it’s natural up and down pulsation.
The effect of sensing the ground and of shifting my attention to bring my energy down feels like landing. It snaps my mind out of clouds of anxiety or irritation into the present moment. I look with clear eyes, my mind focuses on what’s in front of me, and my breath calms down. Like an airplane that’s been at 30,000 feet coming back to the ground. I land right here, right now. I’m grounded.
Grounded is Present
Getting Grounded is the first step in staying present for your life. If you’re up in your head, stressing about the future, regretting the past, or just daydreaming, you miss your life. Life happens, you’re just not really there for it. The gravity of the ground brings you to the here and now.
Being Here and Now is important because it is full of infinite possibilities. Whether you’re in an argument or dreaming of your next adventure, being grounded helps you stay open to those possibilities. You’ll feel your body’s responses to what’s happening. You’ll be able to make choices about what to say or do. And you won’t get so swamped by your feelings, because your energy stays settled. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel, it just means you don’t lose yourself when you’re feeling your feelings.
Try it for yourself
Grounding is simple.
First, find your physical connection to the Earth
What part of you is supporting your weight right now? Your bum, your feet, your hands (probably not since you’re reading, but who knows)
Allow your weight to settle down more towards whatever is holding you.
Second, bring your attention down
Notice the sensation of your weight on the Earth (chair, carseat…)
Intentionally drop your thoughts and sense
If you’re very sensitive or have been at this a while, you may also be able to sense your energy. If so, invite it down as well.
If you’re struggling to get grounded
Stand or walk barefoot on the Earth if you are where you can do that.
Or breathe as if you are breathing in from the ground up through your body to your lungs and out in the reverse pattern.
When you practice getting grounded you’re looking for two things: a connection to the actual ground that you can feel, and a change in your perception such that your mind feels more clear, present, and available to what’s right in front of you. Like you open your eyes and you’re HERE.
Being HERE is what we need right now.
As we head into this holiday weekend I invite you to play around with getting grounded. Instead of thinking about it, embody it. Then notice how things shift for you. I’d love to hear how it goes.