Three Simple Ways to Feel More Grounded

We are now in Libra season, can you feel it in the air?

Autumn is the season of change, and Libra energy is all about finding balance. This does not necessarily mean that we will feel a strong sense of balance during this time; in fact, it can mean quite the opposite. Libra energy challenges us to find balance amidst the chaos.

The Autumn season and Libra zodiac are also associated with the air element. When this element is out of balance, it can make us feel flighty, indecisive and ungrounded, kind of like a leaf blowing in the wind. Especially if you're an airy person to begin with, like me (primary Dosha being Vata, and I'm a Libra) this time of year can make us feel a little out of sorts and off-centre. That's why I love these three simple grounding practices. 

1.Connect to Mother Earth (AKA Earthing)

Walking and standing barefoot on the earth provides a direct connection to vital, healing energy. It is one of the most simple yet profound ways to ground. Studies have shown that standing and walking barefoot on the earth sends electrons through the body, providing countless benefits. Some of these include boosting the immune system, increasing antioxidant activity, increasing energy and reducing anxiety (to name a few). 

Even without walking barefoot, just being in nature or getting outside provides similar effects to Earthing. Just think of feeling the sun on your face, the breeze on your skin and fresh air in your lungs, these three little blessings of life can bring such a sense of balance and peace within us. Nature recharges us, and Mama Earth absorbs energy that is no longer serving us, a balancing act within itself. There is a tremendous amount we can learn just by sitting with nature and observing.

2. Breathe

Yep breathing! Simply taking big ole belly breaths can do wonders at bringing us out of our heads and back into our bodies. Just taking five minutes a day to connect to your breath can help to reduce anxiety and help you feel more grounded. A great practice is to check in with how you're breathing throughout the day, take notice when your breathing changes. Maybe it gets shorter while you're driving or when you're at work, perhaps you even find yourself holding your breath at times throughout the day. Whenever you observe this happening, consciously take a few deep belly breaths. The more you breathe from your belly, the easier it will become to spot when you're not!

Try this simple practice to centre yourself whenever you feel you need to come back down to earth.

Close your eyes, place one hand on your belly and take a deep, slow breath. Feeing your belly rise on the inhale and fall on the exhale. 

If you're a visual person, you can visualize a golden or red light (or whatever colour you associate with earth) flowing up from the earth's core, into the souls of your feet, rippling throughout your body and finally wrapping all around you.

3. Eat Grounding Foods

Last but certainly not least, certain foods provide a grounding effect, many of them being seasonal autumn vegetables, as nature knows best! Root vegetables (especially downward growing) have a powerful grounding energy; some of these include radish, beets, carrots and turnip. But that's not all, foods that are naturally red, warming spices, nuts, seeds, legumes, pastured-raised and wild-caught animal protein, along with vegetables that grow low to the ground such as squash, pumpkin and zucchini, are also excellent grounding options.

There you have it, three simple grounding practices, pretty much anyone can do!