It’s so easy these days to get caught up in the daily grind. Life can be pretty stressful, especially if you’re juggling a lot of responsibilities (and let’s face it, who isn’t?!). One of the ways yoga can help cut down on stress is by helping us to be more grounded with a stronger connection to the earth and the world around us. But what is grounding, exactly? Is it a key concept or just one of those buzzwords that tends to float around?

Well, grounding can have a couple of different meanings, and it’s actually super important in the yoga world. Keep reading for everything you need to know about grounding!

What is grounding in yoga?

Grounding in mental health terms is often used to describe a state in which you’re completely present and in tune with your body and your environment. It can be achieved by using mindfulness techniques that allow you to pay attention to your five senses and stay in the moment. This approach can be helpful for people who tend to be overwhelmed by emotions (especially if they’ve experienced anxiety or traumatic situations).

When it comes to yoga, the meaning is similar in that grounding refers to being connected with the earth, both physically and spiritually. Physically speaking, grounding can look like engaging in specific yoga practices that give you a solid base. There are poses (listed below) that help to make sure that all points of your feet are connected to the earth.

Spiritually speaking, grounding means tapping into the energy of the earth and of the universe itself. This is done through meditating, chanting mantras, and breathing exercises.

Image by rishikesh yogpeeth on Unsplash: Grounding in yoga can help you become attuned to the present moment.

Why is grounding important?

Grounding in yoga is crucial to a successful practice because it can help you achieve calm, inner peace, and balance. Someone who doesn’t use grounding techniques can struggle with the flow of yoga poses and often can’t find deeper harmony in their yoga practice. You can think of grounding as the foundation of any strong yoga practice; it can act as a touchstone to help you clear your mind and come into the moment, all while being fully present and enlightened.

What are some grounding yoga poses?

Getting grounded is actually a fairly simple process that doesn’t involve a whole lot of steps. All it takes is just a little intention and concentration. Once you’re focused on your grounding poses, it’s difficult to worry about anything else – this can create a nice centering effect, helping you block out the outside world and its stressors (something we all need to do, especially these days).

There are some poses you can easily do to help promote and foster this spiritual growth and centeredness. These poses include, but aren’t limited to:

• Tadasana (mountain pose)
• Vrksasana (tree pose)
• Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I pose)
• Savasana (corpse pose)
• Virasana (hero pose)
• Balasana (child’s pose)
• Sukhasana (easy pose)
• Trikonasana (triangle pose)

A quick Google search can help give you specific instructions on how to do these grounding poses. Many are already incorporated into most yoga classes, but feel free to ask your instructor if they have grounding poses they’d recommend in case you want to practice them on your own at home.

What is the practice of grounding?

Although grounding may sound somewhat easy, it is, in fact, a practice. We’re all pretty used to tuning out our body and our surroundings in the name of getting things done, but grounding is a really valuable tool to be able to become centered at a moment’s notice. Luckily, this becomes even easier to do with time!

Here are a few suggestions on other ways to practice grounding when you’re not on your mat:

Repeat mantras

Choose a mantra that fits with your intentions. It can be something like ‘I am grounded,’ ‘I am at peace,’ ‘I am at one with the earth,’ etc. Throughout the day, practice repeating the mantra and taking slow, deep breaths to calm your system.

Be outside in nature

One of the best ways you can become grounded is to go outside. It’s easier to be at one with the world if you’re close to nature. An even better way to ground is by going barefoot. Intentionally putting your feet on the ground allows you to feel the earth’s energy and can help you connect better with the universe. Doing a few yoga poses while you’re out there, like mountain pose or tree pose, can be even more balancing.

Spend some time meditating

Meditation can do wonders for your physical and emotional spirit. Even just 10–15 minutes every day can help you become more grounded. Choose whatever meditation practice feels best for you; it can be anything from sitting quietly for a while to listening to a guided meditation on your phone.

Practice earthing

Similar to being outside in nature, earthing is taking a walk or hike barefoot in order to help you connect to nature. Combining a walk with meditation can make your earthing practice even more meaningful and your grounding skills even stronger. (Just be careful and watch where you’re putting your feet!)

Write in your journal

Journaling about your feelings can be one way to practice grounding. You can journal about whatever you choose, but for some people it can be helpful to journal about what makes them feel grounded. Setting down new intentions in a journal can also be a nice way to tap into your inner spirit.

Once you get some practice grounding, your yoga practice will be so much stronger. Plus, you’ll be better equipped to handle stress because you’ll know how to instantly connect to a more centered, at-peace self by hitting a few poses. Happy grounding!

Featured image by Zen Bear Yoga on Unsplash