Spring has sprung and all the nurseries have plants and flowers out, enticing gardeners to get busy! But did you know that gardening is not just beneficial to your yard, but also to your body. Beliefnet published an article on the health benefits that gardening holds.
Barbara Pearlman, an avid gardener and former dancer, wrote, "Gardener's Fitness: Weeding Out the Aches and Pains." Pearlman points out that when you garden, you use muscles and a lot of weight bearing movements that help build healthy bone mass, and strength. Think about it, you dig holes, pull weeds, push a lawnmower, rake; all these things require bending, stretching, and the use of muscles.
Pearlman does recommend you prepare your body before you head out for a day of gardening, to make sure you don't strain a muscle, or get injured. Things such as hand strengthening exercises with a tennis ball, do some sit ups to strengthen your stomach muscles which will help support your back during all the bending. Also, do some exercises that will help strengthen your arms and elbows such as wall push ups, or reach up as far as you can to stretch your arms, wrists, and elbows.
Another good pointer is take a hot shower before you go out to work in the garden. It helps loosen up the muscles. Also, rotate your garden work so you don't overuse any muscles.
So if your someone who hates working in the garden, this might help you be able to put a positive spin on the process.
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