Doing work around the garden tends to be mentally and emotionally rewarding. Scientists have now discovered that gardening is a great way to maintain flexibility and tone muscles. Bending to pick flowers, pull weeds or prune a vine, can help you stay limber. Digging, hoeing, raking leaves, pushing a lawn mower, bending, and squatting strengthens your legs, back and core muscles. The more you exert yourself, the greater the benefits. In addition to physical benefits, it feels so good when you plant and then see the harvest of your labor, whether it is flowers or vegetables or a beautiful ornamental bush or tree. In California I used to work in the yard for hours and it felt so good, but here in Arkansas the weather has been very humid and hot the last couple of months, not to mention the coldest winter with snow back in february! It has been difficult to get motivated to get out and garden. Besides, I haven't planted anything new, just trying to maintain what is there and learn what kind of plants they are. Lots of the plants in the property are for hummingbirds and butterflies/ It is so peaceful to sit and watch them hover over the flowers. I am looking forward to cooler, fall weather, along with some rain. This has been a dry summer as well.
According to Steven Blair, a professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina and Co-Author of "Active Living every day", household and yard activities increase metabolic rate threefold to fivefold. That is very encouraging, because I would rather do household chores, or yard work, than go to the gym and battle the treadmill. Mr Blair says that when a gardener works for at least thirty minutes five days a week, it improves cholesterol and lowers blood pressure. Besides, any kind of moderate exercise reduces stress.When I work out in the garden, I tend to have a better night's sleep.
Other studies have shown that simply enjoying a patch of green, even from afar, can be therapeutic. In California we had a front and back lawn and we had lots of trees and a view of the San Fernando Valley...lots of green..it was so soothing. Here we are in the forest and there are 5 golf courses in the city, so there is lots of green to look at. I love driving the roads here. EVERYTHING is green. Did you know that a researcher at theTexas A&M University compared hospital record of patients who were recovering of gall bladder surgery (I had mine in 1999). He discovered that the patients who had a view of nature recovered more quickly than the ones who looked out at a brick wall. How about that!
Anyway, what I like about yard work is that it doesn't feel like exercise. Once you get started you keep going, and you lose track of time, at least I do. I am out there for hours, and sometimes I overdo it and pay for it the next day! I am sore all over...
So, bottom line is this: What is good for your yard seems to be great for your health!
Here is a quote I read: "Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers OR you can grow weeds"! The choice is ours!
Happy Gardening!
