7 Grounding Practices
Root Chakra, Muladhara, is our energy center for keeping us grounded, centered and calm. It’s most in balance when we feel secure, safe and stable. Ultimately, it’s our need to have a level of certainty in our lives.
In the the Chakra Tune-In, one of the root chakra tune-in exercises is to do something grounding. What is grounding? Anything that helps ease anxiety, bring you back to your center, and calm your nervous system. Self care in all of its forms is good grounding, as is making sure your essentials for a happy, healthy and safe life are taken care of. Like having a safe and comfortable home, making sure your bills are paid on time, and that there is food on the table.
Here are some ideas on how to find your center and feel more grounded:
Eat a heavy, but nutritious meal. Think stews, soups, and (healthy) carbs.
Literally put your feet on the Earth. Walk barefoot in the grass, or if you’re somewhere cold right now like I am, get outside in nature and try to feel the ground beneath your feet, even if you’re wearing boots.
Lay beneath a weighted blanket for some rest. Don’t have one? Try a well supported restorative yoga posture.
Give yourself a nurturing daily routine. Bookend each day with a regular wake and sleep time. Then make sure you have a simple routine to start and end your day that you can count on. (simple counts here – expecting you’ll do too much self care every day may leave you doing none!)
Reorganize your closets. Get rid of anything you don’t need, and make sure that you can find your possessions easily so that you aren’t frustrated when you need them.
Exercise! Any movement can be grounding, but if you’re specifically managing anxiety, you may want to try some slower, gentler exercises that can help calm your nervous system. Like Yin Yoga for Anxiety.
Meditate. Being lost in the thoughts of the mind is the opposite of being grounded. It has energy and focus living up high on the energy channel. Try focusing your attention on your breath, and the connection of your body to the support beneath your body (the floor, the chair etc).
Why not try something grounding today? Whatever you do, bring a sense of mindfulness to it. Set an intention to find your center and focus your attention on all the details of the activity. Taste each bite, notice each breath, and feel all the sensations with sensitivity.
Have some other ideas on practices that can promote a sense of grounding? Share them in the comments below!
