Try this grounding technique to feel calm and relaxed
Being quiet in nature and feeling into those natural surroundings can be very grounding. Many people report that feeling the sand between their toes and sensing that connection to earth calms their nervous system and restores their inner harmony. But if you can't get to the beach or out into nature, a grounding exercise can work in a similar way.
This type of exercise is particularly helpful when you experience a mind-body disconnect and it's playing out in your body as:
- feelings of hyper-arousal
- feelings of anxiousness
- you feel the need to keep rushing around
- you are feeling overwhelmed
- you are experiencing a sense of loftiness
- or you are just feeling 'not quite with it'.
Your mind-body connection can be interrupted for a wide range of reasons such as experiencing individual trauma, or if you have ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders), or can even happen as a result of day-to-day things such as a bad diet or spending too much time on electronic devices. Grounding works by shifting your somatic energy downwards through your body and into your legs and feet and it can bring you back into balance in just a few moments.
Although you can do this exercise when you feel out of sorts our advice would be to practise it even when you feel ok, so that it becomes effortless when you need it the most.
1️⃣ Sit in a comfortable position with the soles of both feet planted firmly on the floor. Remove your shoes if you can as this helps with the connection.
2️⃣ Press down on the floor with one foot, really paying attention to every part of your sole, heel and the back of your toes as they connect with the floor beneath you. Try engaging your thigh and buttocks as you do so and tune into the physical feelings and sensations you are having in your legs and feet.
3️⃣ Now try this with the other foot.
4️⃣ Next do this again with both feet at the same time. This time, as well as noticing sensations in your legs and feet, pay attention to the effect it is having on your spine and lower back.
5️⃣ Repeat this until you feel the sensations in your lower legs and until you feel that you have reconnected and come into yourself again.
💫Let us know how you get on in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. 🤗