Grounded Defined
Through our programs, we endeavor to “ground” kids, teens, and adults via yoga, laughter, and elevation. But what exactly does it mean to be grounded? By formal definition courtesy of the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary….
grounded [ˈgraʊndɪd]
adj
sensible and down-to-earth; having one’s feet on the ground: mentally and emotionally stable : admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious
By empowering kids and teens with the positive aspects of yoga (mind-body awareness, searching for the good in all things, moving with their breath, etc) we aim to heighten or elevate their sense of who they are so they can become more stable physically, mentally, and emotionally. Being grounded brings us back to balanced working order, the way nature intended us to be. When grounded, we know where we belong in ourselves, the earth and in relation to others. We offer you a supported opportunity to ground yourself so that you may teach others how to cultivate this quality.
Depending on the context, grounded has come to mean different things….
From an architectural or building perspective, grounded is defined as:
1. To lay, set, or run, on the ground.
In construction, a house is only as strong as the foundation upon which it is built. The leveling of the plot, followed by the laying of wooden forms along the ground for which concrete footings can be laid, are the first indications that a house is being built. Likewise, the first principle with all of our Grounded programs is to set the foundation. Even before we open to Grace we take the time to align whatever parts of our body is on the ground. Connect your legs, your nervous system to the earth. If we do not do this, we will be without roots and lack the stability necessary for true growth.
From a philosophical perspective, grounded is defined as:
2. To found; to fix or set, as on a foundation, reason, or principle; to furnish a ground for; to fix firmly.
” …. that you being rooted and grounded in love. ” — Ephesians 3:17
That’s what we work on. Get Grounded in love. Get Grounded in a particular skill. Embody your deep talents. Hold your Ground in a difficult situation. When you are disrespectful, scattered and careless you are UN-Grounded. You lose your center, fly off the handle, get swept off your feet, or daydream in a fantasy world. Your attention wonders. You need to get grounded, breathe deeply and take the time to look inside your self. The more grounded we are, the more we respond to life from within rather than react to external events. We know we are part of a larger, natural world. We sense our connections with others.
From aviation perspective, grounded is defined as:
3. Prohibit or prevent (a pilot or an aircraft) from flying.
We Ground planes in order to protect the flying public, to allow for inspections to occur, to have time to make any necessary repairs and to maintain the planes in safe, working order. We do the same with our bodies and minds.
And lastly, from an electrical perspective, grounded is defined as:
4. (Elec.) To connect with the ground so as to make the earth a part of an electrical circuit.
Like any receiver, we need to plug it in before we can safely receive the various frequencies. Grounding is the process of plugging ourselves into the Earth and the world. Grounding kids and teens is similar to grounding outlets. If your outlet doesn’t have three prongs like this, it’s not grounded. Your child needs to have three “prongs” connected; his voice, his heart, and his feet.
Though there are multiple meanings for the word “grounded”, they all in one way or another are in alignment and relative to the goals of our Grounded program. Ground is home. It’s familiar, safe, and secure. It has a power of it’s own. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ says, “There’s no place like home.” She was grounded in her quest to get back to Kansas. She rescues herself and her companions instead of waiting around for a prince. So click your heels and Ground yourself in love and compassion. Getting Grounded is the gateway to freedom. Look down where your feet meet your path. Follow your own yellow brick road. And on your journey, always Ground your shoulder blades into your heart.
The week before college life officially started at Belmont Abbey College, the Student Life department held one of its biggest and most important trainings of the year for its Resident Assistants. “RA’s” are some of the most influential student employees on campus. They represent the college in helping new students settle into resident hall life, assist in planning social events, lead discussions, report maintenance concerns, serve as a resource to campus information, lend a listening ear and comforting shoulder to cry on, perform room checks, work in the hall office and much more.
As Earth Day approaches this year, I am struck by what it means to truly foster Peace on this planet. I remember as a child, learning about anti-nuclear protestors who chained themselves to fences and were forcibly removed and jailed. These brave souls became my heroines and heroes in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. I was moved to tears singing Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind” and hearing stories of civil disobedience and the message of non-violent resistance. Later in the 1990’s, when I danced barefoot on my very first Earth Day, a lump would form in my throat when I celebrated each small victory (and the Gigantic Hearts) of environmental protestors who sacrificed so much to save a single tree and worked to preserve open space for our children’s children. Peace.
