The easiest way to become grounded is to become aware of your feet. Feel the texture beneath your feet. Wiggle your toes if you are having a hard time connecting to the earth below you. We completely lose touch with our feet even though we use them all day long, every day. They do a lot of work. That’s why a foot massage feels so good. Our brains turn off, and we are in the moment with our feet. When we bring our awareness to our feet, we get out of our heads and become more aware of our bodies.
Learning the tool of becoming centered and grounded at a moment’s notice is so powerful. When we are centered and grounded, we control ourselves, and it doesn’t matter what is going on around us. You can be in a moment of fear or anger and still have control. The trick is to take a moment to find your breath, find your feet, and then choose your next move with intention. Chaos can surround you, but that chaos doesn’t have control over you.
I don’t mind if something happens that distracts us or makes us all laugh in my yoga classes. I take these opportunities to guide everyone back to their breath and their feet, strengthening their tools of grounding and centering. I teach them when they fall out of a pose to use the opportunity to take a breath, find their feet, and start again.
Our lives are full of stress and chaos. Family issues are always ongoing. Day-to-day life details, such as endless errands and dishes and phone calls, can be frustrating. If we let these things control us, we no longer have control of our reactions. Being able to breathe and be in your body is a huge asset.
Imagine you are waiting in line at the grocery store. It is after work, and you are tired and hungry. The line moves slowly because the clerk is chatting up a customer about their weekend plans like old buddies. There is a screaming child in front of you. You start to feel tension building, and you feel your body resisting the situation, wishing it were different. You feel tightness in your head and shoulders as the problem continues on and on with no relief. And then you remember Three Deep Breaths. With each exhale, you bring your breath down to your feet. You even close your eyes during the breaths to switch your perspective. And after the third breath, the situation isn’t as dire. You think to yourself, “At least the clerk is a nice person.” You find compassion for the mother of the screaming child, who is probably just as tired, hungry, and frustrated as you. And you remember that it won’t stay this way forever. Everything changes, and eventually, the line will move. You will get to the register, pay for your groceries, and be heading home.
Learning to center and ground takes time. They are like muscles in your body that become stronger and stronger as you use them. The more you use them, the more they stay with you daily. Practice deep breaths and being aware of your feet. Play with centering while you are waiting in line or a meeting. Play with grounding when you are driving in your car or watching TV. The more you use these tools, the easier it will be to call on them when you need them the most….
