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If you’re feeling stressed, getting (literally) grounded may help ease your spirits.
Grounding, or earthing, is a practice that calls for direct, physical contact with the surface of Earth. This can look like ditching your shoes and squishing your toes in the grass or sitting directly in the sand at the beach.
Although there’s no shortage of everyday options, it seems the world is welcoming the time-honored approach to connecting with yourself and the planet. Dedicated grounding destinations, such as The Barefoot Trail in Flagstaff, Arizona, invite you to take off your shoes and stay awhile. .
Grounding Is Good for You
Anyone who has ever made skin contact with the planet can attest that it just feels good. So it’s sort of unsurprising to find that grounding is a scientifically supported tool that may help to reduce stress, improve sleep, and reduce inflammation.
“The practice has been linked with a number of psychological benefits such as decreased anxiety and mood enhancement,” says clinical psychologist Zita Chriszto. “Being immersed in grounding activities like forest bathing or walking barefoot can be rejuvenating for people who need to reconnect to the present, their bodies, and a sensation of calm.”
Even taking your asana outside counts as a grounding practice. Chriszto notes practicing yoga in nature can enhance health benefits, with nature’s own healing powers supporting those of your own body and lending to deeper breaths.
At its essence, grounding is about guiding us back to the here and now while promoting a deeper connection to the natural world. If you’re looking for some outdoor inspiration, start with these 5 locations and classes that encourage visitors to get a bit closer to the earth.
5 Outdoor Places to Ground This Summer
From shoeless trails to a yoga class held under the glow of the moon.
1. The Barefoot Trail in Flagstaff, AZ
The Barefoot Trail ($14) is considered the only grounding park in the country. Open from May through October, the one-mile trail in the Ponderosa Forest of northern Arizona encourages folks to walk shoeless and connect with nature while experiencing the scientifically supported benefits of grounding. While walking the trail, guests discover Flagstaff’s diverse geology, plants, and wildlife. The reflexology station implements various natural surfaces, including stone, sand, and pine needles. It’s run by a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and outdoor education through grounding experiences.
2. Guided Hiking and Yoga in Zion National Park, UT
Yes, you can book a private yoga and hiking experience ($189) in the mesmerizing Zion National Park. A local guide and certified yoga teacher will lead you on a 2.5-mile hike through the high desert ecosystem on your way to the Navajo Sandstone, where you’ll partake in a one-hour yoga and meditation practice surrounded by the vast landscape with vistas of the Pine Valley Mountains. Along the way, your guide will teach you about local flora and fauna.
3. Beach-Front Full Moon Yoga in Pompano Beach, FL
For more than a decade, yoga teacher Juliana Trejo has led public yoga classes at the Great Lawn in Pompano Beach during the full moon ($20). She currently leads practitioners through a yin class followed by deep relaxation enhanced with sound healing. For grounding while doing yoga outdoors, it’s recommended to use a yoga mat made of natural materials, such as cork.
4. Mindfulness Walks at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, VA
[[rephrase so we’re not telling readers to do it but rather explaining it’s an option]] Join one of the monthly Mindfulness Walks ($17) at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley’s seven-acre gardens and on the on-site trail system. The location alternates monthly with forest trail walks and garden walks (the latter are held during the “golden hour” when the garden is closed to the public for extra serenity). Certified Outdoor Mindfulness Guide Susan West Montgomery welcomes participants to go barefoot in the gardens for grounding. She also includes a guided 20-minute silent meditation.
5. Barefoot Walking Trail in Spruce Creek, VT
This summer, the Spruce Peak Community Trail System in Vermont is introducing a new Barefoot Walking Trail. It will branch off from the existing 1.1-mile Spruce Loop, which is an approximately 50-foot-long trail that creates a rich sensory experience with native, sustainably sourced materials for the textured trail. Walkers will remove their shoes to stroll over smooth stones, soft moss, natural sand, and nutrient-rich soil. There’s also a natural seating area crafted from reclaimed fallen trees, which is a perfect place for meditation. It will be open annually through November and is part of the free admission to Spruce Park.
