Category: Wellness

Being Part of a Community Supports Well-Being and Business Growth

Published on by Nikken

The Oxford Dictionary defines “community” as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” The secondary definition is “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” If John Donne was correct and “no man is an island,” then it makes sense that being part of a community supports overall well-being and the group’s business growth.

From the time you’re born, your relationships help you learn to navigate the world. You learn how to interact with others, express yourself, conduct everyday health habits, and be a part of different communities from those around you. Positive social habits can help you build support systems and stay healthier mentally and physically.1

Being an active member of a community creates a sense of belonging, which results in a positive state of mind, important to overall well-being. As the population ages, being part of a community helps deter feelings of isolation and loneliness. Being connected to others also helps prevent a nagging sense of anxiety and stress.

Communities are about giving and taking; the more you do that, the more you share with others and the more likely you are to build meaningful relationships, which can develop quickly among like-minded people who share common interests, shared goals, or experiences. By networking with other community members, you can make new friends, help others, or even find strategic partnerships, opportunities, and clients.2 Being part of a community is essential to well-being but also the key to business growth, regardless of whether you are a business owner or an employee in a school, store, corporation or service provider.

Living with uncertainty has become the norm. This has made it more important than ever to have a strong support network in place.3 One of the main lessons learned with the pandemic is that having a community, even when it is online rather than in person, can help fight feelings of hopelessness and provide a sense of security. Community benefits go two ways: you support others as they support you. Giving engenders a sense of usefulness and receiving produces gratitude.

From now until November 30th, Nikken is offering Black Friday Month specials. Contact your local Nikken Consultant or Nikken Customer Service to find out how to access free ground shipping and up to 20% in discounts.

1 https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits/social-wellness-toolkit

2, 3 https://gcestrategicconsulting.com/blog/reasons-to-join-community

Overloaded? De-Stress From a Fast-Paced, Tech-Heavy Life

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In general, there are two sources of stress: one is from daily living and the other is from major life events. The Lazarus-Folkman scale gives examples of daily living stresses such as lack of time, too many things to do, financial obligations, work-related problems, restless sleep, concern with appearances and aging, and even forgetfulness and misplacing or losing items.

On the other hand, the Holmes-Rahe scale gives examples of major life events that cause stress. These include death in the family, divorce, personal injury or illness, pregnancy, marriage, loss of job due to layoffs or retirement and a major change to financial status.

The tech-reliant lifestyle that many people live is both a source of relief as well as of stress. Technology enables people to work from home—this became prevalent during the pandemic and has become a permanent status for a substantial part of the global population. Working from home was and remains a boon to those who have the dual roles of bread-earner and primary childcare or eldercare person.

Without technology, you would not be able to stay connected to friends and family who live in other parts of the world on a virtually real-time basis. Gone are the days of relying solely on snail mail to receive news from loved ones.

So why does technology cause stress? Technology itself does not cause stress, but your approach and use of it, does. When you become slaves to your phones and electronic devices, you become creatures of habit who are addicted to receiving the latest news about global politics, movie idols, local gossip, the ever-changing trends and whatever is “hot” on social media. Consciously or subconsciously, these topics can affect self-esteem, self-image and self-care as you constantly compare yourselves against what is “out there.”

Many of the daily living stresses and major life events are beyond your control; however, you can take charge of how you approach technology in your lives. In other words, you can set healthy boundaries for yourselves. Here are a few things you can do to control how you use technology in your life:

  • Set realistic and sustainable limits on device use. Conduct an audit on what you spend your time on with your devices. For example, instead of scrolling through the news after work, try getting dinner prep out of the way first.1
  • Commit to being device-free for a period of time each week. Instead, go offline and connect with friends in real life.2
  • Turn off alerts so that you’re not at the mercy of constant pinging from emails, messages, and updates on who’s doing what on socials.3
  • Set limits to your time on social media.4 Just as parents set limits on the amount of screen time their kids are allowed, you need to do so for yourselves!

To combat stress overall, center yourselves and take a break from technology. Replace scrolling on devices with more physical activities, such as taking daily walks or choosing an exercise you like and can stick to, committing to eating healthy foods and making your own food. Research from the National Library of Science in 2022 shows that people who follow a diet high in processed foods and added sugars are more likely to experience higher perceived stress levels.5

Self-care means setting boundaries not only for yourselves but for others. Say “no” when necessary and be one with nature as often as possible. Be well by sleeping well, eating well and hydrating well. You still have a couple of days to take advantage of 20% off your purchase of a PiMag Waterfall®, one easy way to stay hydrated with alkaline “living water.”

1, 2, 3, 4 https://theskillcollective.com/blog/modern-life-causes-stress

5 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety#eat-a-balanced-diet

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety#eat-a-balanced-diet

5 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety#eat-a-balanced-diet

Great Sleep Fuels a Fully Empowered Life

Published on by Nikken

One of the 10 actions for Empowered Living is recharging your energy. Achieving this requires connecting with nature, consciously breathing in fresh air and getting restful sleep. Humans spend about a third of our lives sleeping, because it is critical to healthy living and longevity.

Here’s what happens with good quality sleep:

• The heart and blood vessels heal and repair themselves.

• Grhelin (hunger hormone) and leptin (satiety hormone) are balanced. Inadequate sleep makes ghrelin levels go up, so you feel hungrier than when you have restful sleep.

• Healthy insulin levels are supported. Insulin controls blood sugar levels, which increase when you are sleep-deficient.

• Deep sleep triggers the release of the growth hormone that helps children and teenagers develop healthy muscle mass, repair cells and tissues.

• Deep sleep supports healthy development during puberty and promotes fertility.

• Restful sleep supports the body’s immune system. Sleep deficiency can affect the body’s natural defense system against germs and illness, making it difficult to combat infections.

• Major threats to longevity are decreased. These risks include heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke.

• Good sleep supports the brain to improve learning and memory. Problem-solving, decision-making and creativity are enhanced.

Sleep deficiency can result in feelings of stress and depression; and can cause mood swings, lack of motivation and not getting along in social situations. It can also cause lack of focus, problems in learning new things, slow reactions and poor decision-making, which in turn result in making more mistakes. It’s a vicious cycle of frustration and fatigue, lack of confidence and inertia. In other words, when was the last time you felt joy when you were sleep-deprived?

Smart nutrition, clean air and water are basic necessities, but when you think about humans spending a third of our lives sleeping (or at least trying to sleep), the importance of good sleep is obvious. If you can’t sit still, watch TV, read or be a passenger in a vehicle for an hour without falling asleep, you probably need more restful sleep. It’s not about quantity as much as it is about quality.

Create your sleep sanctuary and commit to good habits that support deep sleep, so you can feel good every day and experience empowered living! With great sleep, you can choose joy!

Source: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects

How Deep Sleep Awakens Your Best Self

Published on by Nikken

Did you know that your body goes through four stages of sleep? As you sleep, your body cycles through those four stages. Sleep cycles vary throughout the night, with the shortest at the beginning of the night, typically lasting between 70 to 100 minutes. Later on, sleep cycles can last between 90 to 120 minutes.

Each of the four stages of sleep serves a purpose. Stage 1 is the lightest stage and occurs when you first fall asleep. Stage 1 allows your body to slow down and begin the process of relaxation. It is easy to be awakened, and if so, you have to repeat stage 1 until you’re asleep. If you stay asleep, your body will move into Stage 2.

During Stage 2, your muscles relax, body temperature drops, your heart rate and breathing both slow down. Brain activity also slows down in stage 2. During the first sleep cycle, stage 2 might last 10-25 minutes and each stage 2 later on, may become longer. Sleep experts estimate that a person generally spends half of a night’s sleep in stage 2.1

Stage 3 is where you get the deepest sleep. This stage is especially important because during deep sleep, your body recovers and grows. In other words, stage 3 is when your body experiences restorative sleep and the immune system and other major bodily processes are strengthened.2 Stage 3 is also known as delta sleep or slow-wave sleep, due to the identifiable pattern of brain activity. Muscle tone, pulse and breathing rate all decrease, and although brain activity slows, there is evidence that deep sleep contributes to insightful thinking, creativity and memory.3

During the early sleep cycles, deep sleep typically lasts from 20-40 minutes. As you continue sleeping, stage 3 sleep actually shortens and more time is spent in stage 4, REM sleep. Because the eyes are moving rapidly even though they’re closed during stage 4, that’s why it’s called REM sleep.

Perhaps the most attention has been paid to stage 4 REM sleep, because it’s during this phase that brain activity increases, almost to the levels of wakefulness. In contrast to the active brain, the rest of the body experiences a temporary paralysis of the muscles (known as atonia), with the exception of the rapid eye movement and the muscles involved with the breathing process. Although you can dream throughout the night, it’s during REM stages that the most vivid ones occur, probably due to the increase in brain activity.

But why is stage 3 deep sleep considered the key to awakening your best self? Take a look at what happens during deep sleep.

•          Your body’s natural processes of repair take place and grows bone, muscle and tissue.

•          Hormonal shifts take place to support the immune system. In fact, growth hormone is released, which helps with cell regeneration.

•          The body’s energy molecule, known as ATP, is produced. This readies your body for awakening and facing the day.

•          Memory is enhanced during deep sleep. Studies have shown that people who get enough sleep perform better on tests or when undertaking a new task.3

•          Getting enough deep sleep is linked to better moods and decreasing the risk of depression.

•          There is evidence that enough deep sleep can help prevent mental fog and help retain information.4

To get enough deep sleep, make sure you create the best possible sleep environment for yourself. Nikken can help you with free ground shipping on select Kenko sleep products through October 31st this month. (Free ground shipping does not apply to the Kenko Power Sleep Mask.)

1, 2 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep

3 https://aasm.org/college-students-getting-enough-sleep-is-vital-to-academic-success/

4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7983127/

Pinched Neck Be Gone!

Published on by Nikken

Your neck holds up your head, one of the heaviest parts of the body. Approximately 10-11 pounds (4.5-5 kg) for an average adult, this weight is from the skull and the brain, and relies on the neck muscles for support.

The neck is clinically known as the cervical spine, made up of seven flexible vertebrae. Not only does it support the heavy head, but it also protects the nerves that start from the brain and fan out to the rest of the body. Since the neck plays such a critical role in the overall function of the body, it is of utmost importance to provide it with ample support to decrease the risk of aches and pains from poor positioning during sleep. Any misalignment can strain the neck muscles, resulting in stiffness and achiness once you’re awake. It can also produce more serious issues, including nerve compression and decreased blood flow to the brain.1

How you sleep plays a role in what type of pillow is more beneficial to you. If you are a side sleeper, a firm pillow helps to keep your neck aligned with your spine. If you’re a back sleeper, a medium-firm pillow is more supportive of the natural curve of your neck. If you sleep on your stomach, you will do better with a soft, thin pillow to reduce strain on the neck.2 Most sleep experts advise against sleeping on your stomach, as it is believed to cause the most neck strain.

To keep your neck aligned with your spine, the pillow most beneficial for your sleeping position will be neither tilted upwards nor downwards. In other words, the pillow will be high enough to support your neck without angling your head up or down.3

Nikken is a pioneer in sleep technology and continues to innovate. In 2022, Nikken launched the Kenko Naturest® Makura, a partner product to the Kenko Naturest® Fit. The Fit is a topper that comes in different sizes to fit snugly on virtually any mattress, to help provide luxuriously deep sleep.

Made with the same technologies as the Fit—magnetic cocooning, soothing, calming tourmaline, and temperature-regulating Rubberthane nodules—the Kenko Naturest® Makura is unlike any other pillow. Here’s why:

The Makura (Japanese for “pillow”) is made with three removable layers. This means you can customize it to your personal needs. No matter if you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, you can tailor the Makura to the height that provides the ergonomic support you personally need to keep your neck and spine aligned.

            1. One outer foam layer contains the Rubberthane nodules of natural latex, magnets and tourmaline. This side provides you with a firm pillow and a massaging sensation.

            2. The middle layer acts like a thin traditional pillow.

            3. The other outer layer has smooth Rubberthane without the latex nodules. It holds the magnets and tourmaline. By removing the latex nodules, this side provides a softer, cushioned pillow that still supports your head.

With the Makura, you get three pillows in one. In a household with people who sleep in different positions, the Makura can even be shared! For example, a side sleeper could use the firm side while the stomach sleeper could use the middle layer, and a back sleeper could use the medium-firm side! You won’t find anything like it elsewhere, because the Makura is exclusive to Nikken.

From now through the end of October 31, receive free ground shipping on any Makura Sleep Pack and select Kenko Sleep Products, including the Kenko Naturest® Makura—once you try this pillow, you’ll never sleep on another one again!

1,3 https://synergyrehabinc.com/neck-support-while-sleeping/

2 https://pillow.app/article/the-importance-of-pillow-support-for-neck-health-and-sleep-quality

You Can Create a Sleep Sanctuary

Published on by Nikken

Sleeping well is a challenge for many people. Often, it’s because keeping up with the demands of family, friends and work can cause a huge amount of stress. The result is that neither body nor mind can decompress enough to get a good night’s sleep.

Fortunately, there are actual steps you can take to create a “sleep sanctuary,” some place pleasant and cozy, relaxing and soothing:

1. Perhaps the most important item in a sleep sanctuary is the bed. Regardless of the type of frame you choose for your bed, the mattress is important and should suit your personal needs. Do you like firm, medium or soft? More importantly, what type of mattress suits your spine? For example, even if you prefer a soft, cushy mattress, if your spine is weak, you would probably be better off with a firm mattress, because it affords more support.

Solution: No matter what type of mattress you currently have, the Kenko Naturest® Fit is a topper that sits right under your fitted sheet, in twin, full, queen or king sizes. The Fit is made with sculptured rubberthane latex, which provides massaging effects while allowing for air circulation and ceramic reflective fibers that help regulate body temperatures. 800 gauss magnets create a magnetic field which cocoons the body for relaxation to help improve sleep. Tourmaline gives off electrons that help create calming effects when exposed to pressure, heat or motion, which is provided by your own body as it lays on top of the Fit.

2. Just as the Kenko Naturest® Fit supports your comfort, what your skin actually touches also can make a difference in how well you sleep. Choose linen that feels the most comfortable for you. Invest in natural fabrics, such as cotton, flannel, flax or even silk. Manmade fabrics do not allow air to circulate as freely and may even cause itchy or sweaty skin. Natural fabrics help regular temperatures—cools in hot months and warms in cold ones.

3. Do the breath test of your bedroom or wherever you want your sleep sanctuary to be. Inhale in and out slowly. What do you smell? Since you will be spending all night in the sleep sanctuary, you need to make sure the air is fresh. Stale or unpleasant odors are not conducive to restful sleep. If there is a window, make sure to keep it open at least for a few hours every day so the room has outside air flowing through. Indoor air often contains more contaminants than outdoor air! Dust, pet dander, pollen and odors are typically in household air. Mold, mildew and dust mites may be present. Even gases such as radon and carbon monoxide are found in measurable quantities in many homes.

Solution: Whether you have a window or not, the KenkoAir Purifier®provides multiple-stage HEPA filtration, is energy efficient and includes a deodorizing filter. It operates quietly, is ozone-free and has a negative-ion generator.

4. Many people enjoy the aroma of essential oils. Lavender and cedarwood are examples of essential oils that people choose to de-stress and relax for better sleep.

5. Is your sleep sanctuary dark? Sleep scientists agree that a cool, dark environment is ideal for sleep. You can use black out curtains or wear a sleep mask.

Solution: The Kenko Power Sleep Mask not only helps block out light like a typical eye mask. It also helps relax the entire eye area, using similar technologies to those found in the Kenko Naturest® Fit. The Power Sleep Mask is made with patented Dynaflux® magnetic technology, ceramic reflective fibers and tourmaline technology which helps produce a calming effect. When your eyes are relaxed, you have a much better chance at sleeping through the night.

6. A sleep sanctuary is for rest. Your best bet is to create an environment that is natural—you might want a few green plants, but try to limit the clutter. For example, you don’t need to keep piles of books or clothes in a sleep sanctuary. Instead, hang simple photos or art on the walls and limit the amount of unnecessary furniture or accessories. In other words, create a space that you look forward to retiring in every night!

From now through October 31st, take advantage of free ground shipping on any size Makura Sleep Pack and other select Kenko Sleep products!

Let Mother Nature Recharge Your Mind and Body this Fall

Published on by Nikken

“There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well-being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.”1

Here are a few findings from researchers focused on the healing powers of Mother Nature2:

•          Time spent in nature is linked to cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.

•          Even the feeling of being connected to nature can produce similar benefits to well-being. This means regardless of how much time you spend outdoors, the feeling of connectedness to nature is already beneficial. Researchers call this feeling by a variety of names, including nature relatedness, connectedness to nature, and inclusion of nature in self.

•          Nature includes both green (land) and blue (aquatic) spaces. Both types of spaces produce benefits of well-being. Urban parks and trees also lead to positive outcomes.

Why does exposure to nature have such positive effects on the human body and mind?

•          The biophilia hypothesis argues that since our ancestors evolved in wild settings and relied on the environment for survival, we have an innate drive to connect with nature.3

•          The stress reduction hypothesis posits that spending time in nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels.4

•          Attention restoration theory holds that nature replenishes one’s cognitive resources, restoring the ability to concentrate and pay attention.5

 â€śStress reduction and attention restoration are related,” Nisbet points out. “And because of the societal problems we’re dealing with in terms of stress, both of these theories have gotten a lot of attention from researchers.”6

There is no formula for how much time you need to spend in nature to reap the benefits of well-being. However, in Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2019, a study by researchers of a representative sample of nearly 20,000 adults across the United Kingdom found people who had spent at least two recreational hours in nature during the previous week reported significantly greater health and well-being.7

In the United States, University of Chicago psychologist Marc Berman, PhD, and his student Kathryn Schertz reported in Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol.28, No.5, 2019, that green spaces near schools promote cognitive development in children and green views near children’s homes promote self-control behaviors. Furthermore, experiments have found that being exposed to natural environments improves working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attentional control, while exposure to urban environments is linked to attention deficits.8

As urban living pervades every corner of the earth, this fall, consciously spend time in green and blue spaces, because globally, people are experiencing how empowering nature can be. And when you can’t go outdoors, picture nature in your mind and feel connected, because even that can help recharge your entire being, so you can feel good every day.

1- 8 https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature

Can Grounding Reduce Stress and Improve Sleep?

Published on by Nikken

The modern movement of grounding or earthing began in the early 2000s when Clinton Ober began to research the effects of grounding on the body. Since then, numerous studies and research have been conducted on the efficacy of grounding, and the results have been promising.Here are some examples1:

  1. In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers found that grounding the body during sleep can improve sleep and reduce pain and stress levels in people with chronic pain.
  2. In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, researchers found that grounding the body can reduce inflammation in the body and improve blood flow.
  3. In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research, researchers found that earthing the body can reduce inflammation in the body and improve immune function.
  4. In a 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers found that grounding the body can reduce pain and improve mood in people with chronic pain.
  5. In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research, researchers found that grounding the body can reduce inflammation in the body and improve sleep quality.
  6. In a 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, researchers found that earthing the body can improve balance and stability in older adults.

The Earthing Institute, a pro-grounding group, says that spending time connected to the ground can improve sleep, lower inflammation, ease stress, improve blood flow, and boost physical healing, among other things.2 

Researchers attribute many of their positive findings to the changes in cortisol levels of those who practice grounding. Results indicate that grounding during sleep reduces night-time levels of cortisol and resynchronizes cortisol hormone secretion more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. Furthermore, subjective reporting indicates that grounding during sleep improves sleep and reduces pain and stress.3

The only true way to see if grounding can improve sleep or reduce stress for you personally is to try it for yourself. Allow your bare skin to be exposed to the elements on a daily basis, especially the earth. Consistency is key, so give yourself a few weeks or months of grounding to see some positive results!

 

1 https://www.nestacertified.com/earthing-exercises-for-improved-mental-and-physical-health/ Studies and Research on the Efficacy of Grounding or Earthing

2 https://www.webmd.com/balance/grounding-benefits

3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15650465/

Do You Need a Digital Detox?

Published on by Nikken

The term “detoxification” is defined as the process of removing toxic substances or qualities. In the case of a digital detox, it refers to a set period of time for an individual to stay away from the devices and social media sites that have become such an integral part of life — smartphones, computers, tablets, televisions.1 

A digital detox will vary from person to person. In fact, you may not even know you could do with a digital detox, because you are so accustomed to being constantly online, whether it’s email, playing video games, scrolling on social media, texting, checking the latest sports scores, or even just binge-watching TV.

It may be time for a digital detox if you2:

• feel the need to check your phone constantly.

• feel you’ll miss out on something if you’re not checking social media.

• feel depressed, angry or anxious after being on various social media platforms.

• panic if you can’t find your phone.

• suffer from disrupted sleep because of constant notifications.

• feel compelled to post, respond or react online.

• prefer virtual interactions rather than in-person ones.

If you decide to do a digital detox, here are some tips for unplugging3:

• First decide which behavior(s) you want to change. Is it too much time on the smartphone? Do you scan too much news? Are you posting a lot on social media or responding constantly?

• Create a plan that includes specific goals. For example, set timeframes for yourself. How much time will you allow yourself to be on your devices, assuming you are practical and will not try to go “cold turkey.” You can decide to put your phone out of reach after a certain hour at night, so you can sleep without interruptions. You can designate certain days as tech-free days.

• Give yourself a deadline to break a specific digital habit. Don’t just try to detox in a day or two. Make it a long-term commitment. To start, give yourself at least a few weeks to try the reduced digital regimen.

• Find a partner, family member or close friend to support you and provide accountability. Just as it’s sometimes helpful to find an exercise buddy, it can be encouraging to find a digital detox partner!

• Be honest with your progress. Are you replacing one digital habit for another? For example, are you spending more time on TikTok now that you decided to forego Instagram?

Doing a digital detox is about taking charge of your time and energy. It’s about being mindful and appreciative of your surroundings and the people in your life. Everyone needs to zone out sometimes, but are you empowering yourself or numbing yourself? A digital detox doesn’t mean giving up your devices, but it can help you decide where and when to focus your attention and energy.

When you do a digital detox, spend the bonus time you create for yourself by grounding—dig your feet into the grass, dirt, sand or puddle! Be aware of the changes that your digital detox has manifested. Are you sleeping better? Do you feel less stressed? Are you more productive? Are you experiencing more actual contact with friends and family? Are you feeling good every day?

1 https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/what-digital-detox-and-do-you-need-one

2, 3 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/digital-detox

Beginner’s Guide to Reconnecting with the Earth’s Energy

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You don’t have to be a guru to connect with the Earth’s energy and stay connected! According to Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru, “The Earth is the basis of life. The more you are in touch with it, the better it is. If your hands and your bare feet are in contact with the earth, it will harmonize the physiological process in your system. Whenever it is in contact with the earth, the body reorganizes itself. Try to spend at least a few minutes a day in the garden, barefoot, touching plants or trees. This is a simple way to connect with the earth.”1

Primitive peoples (think cave men) lived similarly to animals, a way that was “down to earth.” With industrialization, the human race started distancing from the earth. Sadhguru explains, “Animals are very connected to the earth because they do not have the intellect and awareness that human beings have. When it comes to humans, their psychological space dominates over their existential presence. In a way, an earthworm experientially knows the connection to the earth, but it cannot consciously realize it. If you pull it out of the earth, it wants to go straight back into the earth. If you pull a fish out of the water, it wants to go straight back into the water. This is not only essential for survival but also just because of the familiarity of habitat. In that sense, they know the connection.”2

In recent decades, “grounding” and “earthing” have been studied and known to be simple and effective ways to incorporate connectivity in your daily regimen. Here are a few grounding activities to help you reconnect with the Earth:

•          Practice deep breathing. Count to four as you inhale, hold it and exhale twice as slowly. Slow breathing is a way to become aware of your body and to release tension.

•          Stretch. Notice how a dog or cat stretches throughout the day, especially when they are rising from a nap or a night’s sleep. It doesn’t have to be specific “poses” or asanas as in yoga or Pilates. Just stretch and focus on how you feel—try a combination of toe touches, arm raises, side bends or windmills.

•          Get wet outdoors. Taking a shower may help wash away some anxiety, but have you seen the joy that running on the beach and taking a dip in the ocean can bring to children and grownups alike? Look at the children playing with the garden hose on a summer’s day—they’re barefoot and spraying each other and without knowing it, connecting to the earth’s energies!

•          Be aware of your surroundings whenever you are outside. Use all five senses to connect. Consciously see, hear, touch, smell and taste. Obviously if you are not eating something, you are not actually tasting, but you can sense the “flavor” of the air around you.

•          Visualization can be powerful for grounding. Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet into the earth, providing stability and strength.3 Visualization is a way for you to become physically one with the natural environment.

Grounding is another facet of empowered living and a way to help you feel good every day. When you can’t connect with the earth outdoors, the KenkoGround® is a simple way to bring grounding indoors—inspired by nature and adapted for contemporary lifestyles.

1, 2 https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/wisdom/article/connecting-with-earth-methods-significance

3 https://www.coreenergetics.org/grounding-techniques-in-body-psychotherapy-finding-stability-in-a-chaotic-world

5 Simple & Neat Grounding Techniques!