Fitness: Enhance Your Body and Soul with Gardening

Can you feel the energy of a new season emerging all around you? The days are longer, the birds are singing, the grass is a luscious green and the buds are appearing on the trees.

It doesn’t take too long before you’ll want to get out into your yard to clean up and get ready for planting season.

Gardening is good for the heart and muscles and it’s good for the soul too. It gets you outdoors and in touch with the wonders of nature. There are many simple pleasures – and subtle benefits – from rustling around in a garden. It’s easy to see why it is the second most popular activity in Canada, with 72 percent of Canadians enjoying gardening.

Gardening is a wonderful, nurturing activity for all ages and abilities. You can go at your own speed, and adapt activities to suit you. You can burn up to 300 calories per hour, depending on what you decide to do.

Garden in raised beds, planters or barrels if you want to sit while you work. Use special (longer) tools if your range of motion is limited. Get help with harder chores if necessary – and save the fun stuff for yourself.

Play It Safe

Here are some tips to prevent injuries and keep you out there diggin’ in the dirt!

Ease into the activity
Mix it up
Scoop to it
Lift with care
Take breaks
Avoid marathon outings
Dress for the weather

(Information from Go for Green, The Active Living & Environment Program, visit their site for more information, or call toll-free: 1.888.822.2848).

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