May is absolutely one of my favorite months. The Kentucky Derby kicks off Spring for me. The days are always getting longer as the month heads toward its finish line. Kids culminate a long year of school work by the end of May.
Mother’s Day is a much needed recognition of all moms who never get a day off.
Memorial Day celebrates our indispensable past service men and woman and extends into a travel weekend for many.
And my twins birthday comes on the 29th and mine just two days into June.
But the real beauty about May is that it’s when most of all the rain that comes in April manifests in full blooming trees, flowers, lawns and shrubbery. Insects and birds come alive and there is a harmony to all living things. Balance.
This rebirth of the Earth as the Northern Hemisphere warms up and dormant/hibernating life returns to our lives presents an opportunity to connect with what’s outside our doorstep. It provides a sense of one with nature and a respect of all living things that make our world glorious.
I realize that might sound a bit corny, but I believe it’s true. There is a powerful synergy that surrounds us this time of year. We even tend to be much more tolerant of others and more loquacious in our meetings with each other. We gravitate toward exciting new adventures and bind with the Earth as we spend more time outdoors. Specifically, more time outdoors with our bodies open and shoes off.
Shoes off I say?
I’m not a big chick flick viewer (although I have a couple favorites and now with 4 women surrounding me that view could change to more), but Pretty Woman really hit the nail on the head when Julia Roberts’ character suggested to Richard Gere to walk around the grass without shoes and socks.
And May is the ideal month to go strolling around your backyard (or anywhere with a healthy section of grass) touching your plantar surface of your foot to the ground. Not too hot out. Not generally cold. Lots of freshly growing plants and soil to immerse your naked skin in.
Walking around on the grass is known as grounding. Why is that a “thing”?
Despite not being heavily researched, there is evidence that grounding can offer a host of benefits:
—reduced systemic inflammation
—improved cardiovascular health
—repaired muscle damage
—lowered chronic pain
—better mood
Furthermore, a good grounding practice can also mitigate chronic fatigue and restore energy levels to the body. It additionally battles anxiety and depression and boost sleep quality.
How does grounding work within our bodies? Much of modern technology such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi, radio waves, electrical appliances, radio and televisions are just a handful of the myriad of interference our bodies and brains are subjected to on a daily basis. These devices send out electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) that our bodies and brains absorb.
In short, the Earth’s surface is packed with negatively charged electrons that help to neutralize free radicals within the body. When we make contact with these ions, the body absorbs them and they help to bolster immunity by negating the free radicals roaming our bodies from the bombardment of the EMF’s we can’t get away from.
While walking in grass is the most common and easiest form to follow, walking in sand at the beach or swimming in the ocean or clear lake is a fantastic alternative. For those that are a little more daring, lying down in any of the above is a more thorough method to soak up these negative immune-boosting ions.
It takes very little time to do and it’s a good practice to adopt. The other hidden benefit of walking around barefoot is that it allows the foot to move freely and become free from the constrictions of modern foot ware. Grounding has a double effect as it enhances circulation while enabling better joint mobility.
So while Julia was simply attempting to calm business tycoon Richard Gere with some seemingly old wive’s tale, she was actually barking up a very scientific tree.
Seize this May and undertake a practice of grounding a few times a week and watch your body transform into a self healing and calibrated machine. Coupling this practice with healthy eating, fitness and quality sleep can lead to a summer of happiness and productive activity. – CT
