Saunders Blog

Forget that expensive health club membership- all the benefits of a first-rate physical workout can be achieved while you garden! Here's the good news studies have found:

 Just 45 minutes of varied gardening each day can burn more than 1,000 calories per hour, while lowering risks of a heart attack by up to one-third. So don't hire someone to put down the mulch and top soil- burn calories while doing it!

Gardening also provides proven psychological benefits, gets us outdoors into the fresh air, and encourages better nutrition from fresh vegetables and fruits harvested from home gardens.

To get the maximum aerobic benefit from gardening, you may need to change some gardening habits to follow the rhythm of aerobic exercise.

Begin by stretching, followed by light weeding, then working up to 10-15 minutes of strenuous jobs like turning compost, (http://www.saundersls.com/topsoil) before cooling down with a slower activity. Your goal should be to work for 30 minutes to 2 hours at a time instead of finishing the project.

Begin slowly if you've taken a break from gardening in the last several months. Gradually build up the time spent gardening, and always stretch before, during, and after gardening. Remember to

move carefully, using leg muscles to lift heavy objects. When bending over, pull in stomach muscles and keep knees unlocked.

Place a comfortable chair in your garden so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Happy Gardening!

Susan