Grounding is more than a physical stance. How we move, breathe, and feel—even our electrical state — factor into grounding.

If one element of grounding is off, it can have a domino effect. For example, shallow breathing can affect how we feel psychologically and can also affect posture.

Here are some common issues that compromise grounding:

LOCKING THE KNEES

Did you know that locking the knees can cut off blood flow to the heart, turn off muscles in the legs, and shift weight out of the feet? This is why you’ll never see a martial artist or professional wrestler with locked knees in a fighting stance. If you try locking and unlocking the knees in a standing position, you’ll notice weight drop in and out of the feet. Dropping your body weight into your feet by softening your knees can increase awareness of your feet.

SHALLOW BREATHING

Deep belly breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the same system that gets activated during a good massage. Chest breathing is shallower and activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is triggered when you’re sitting in gridlock, surrounded by honking horns and exhaust. In a parasympathetic state, you feel more relaxed and can take a step back. A sympathetic state engenders agitation and reactivity.

TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME

Spending hours in front of a screen can take us out of the present moment and away from the earth’s energy. Contact with the earth’s frequency can shift us back to a grounded, embodied state. It’s not always practical to go barefoot. But on soft surfaces like sand and grass, going barefoot can put us in touch with the earth’s grounding frequency.