What is grounding, and can it really help your body?

There’s so many wellness trends out there at the moment, it’s difficult to know exactly what you should be grounding giving a try. From aerial yoga to calisthenics, there’s tonnes of workouts out there too, but self-care regimes needn’t be high octane to be beneficial.

Enter grounding, or ‘earthing’ – the practise of ‘reconnecting with the Earth’ in order to promote healing with your body.

How do I ground myself?
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or some sort of (clean) outdoor space, walking around barefoot on pavement, grass or sand is thought to help with grounding.

But there is also specialised equipment that helps with grounding. You can find a variety of grounding mats which are understood to conduct the earth’s “natural” energy through an electric outlet. The idea is to replicate the physical connectivity one might make by walking barefoot on the ground.

How long should I practise grounding for?
Again, there’s no hard and fast rule for grounding, but generally relatively short bursts seem to prove effective, according to practitioners.

“To get the most out of grounding, it’s best to practice it between 20-30 minutes a day,” explains Abbie Watkins, personal trainer at OriGym. “However, many people notice the difference from practicing for just a few minutes. Remember consistency is more important than duration here.”

What does grounding do to your body?

“Some research suggests that grounding mats may help reduce inflammation in the body,” explains Fitness First personal trainer James Barr. “Inflammation is linked to various chronic diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.”

A 2017 study examined the role of grounding on post-exercise muscle damage. Researchers used both grounding patches and mats and measured creatine kinase, white blood cell count, and pain levels before and after grounding. Blood tests suggest that grounding reduced muscle damage and pain in participants, which indicates grounding may influence healing abilities.

“By connecting to the Earth’s surface, grounding mats may help neutralise free radicals and decrease inflammation, thereby potentially reducing the risk of these diseases.”

Can grounding help with sleep?
Some people using grounding mats have claimed to find their sleep has improved. A recent 2022 study in the journal Healthcare revealed that grounding was also beneficial for improving sleep quality in patients with dementia. Some experts believe that this is because grounding and spending time outside keeps our cortisol levels in check, aiding quality sleep.

“The Earth’s natural electromagnetic field may help regulate circadian rhythms and promote deeper, more restful sleep,” explains Barr. “By using a grounding mat, individuals may experience better sleep patterns, decreased nighttime awakenings, and overall improved sleep quality.”

Another alleged benefit of grounding is that it helps reduce stress levels and improves mental health.

“Grounding mats have been associated with stress reduction and relaxation,” says Barr. “Connecting to the Earth’s energy may help balance the body’s electrical systems, promote relaxation, and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Some users of grounding mats report feeling calmer, more centered, and less tense after using them regularly.”