Monday October 21st 6.30 - 7pm
Spring is upon us, and it is so great to hear many of you enjoying being outside in the garden again, clearing away the old and planting new. It is an excellent way to be outside with nature, get some fresh air and get our body moving too.
If you have ever spent hours in the garden however, you can often feel quite sore afterwards with the bending and lifting that is required, which is why I wanted to share a few tips this week to help take care of your body in the process of doing something you love.
1. Be intentional.
It can be easy to get carried away, picking the odd weed up here and there. But minutes of doing this can soon become hours as we are keen to get everything done. When bending, be sure to bend your knees and squat, whilst bracing your core instead of bending straight down through your lower back. Squatting down will help protect your lower back, and also distribute your weight evenly through your joints. Another thing to consider is getting some knee pads or support, so you can kneel, whilst still taking care of your knees and minimising the distance from the ground.
2. Ask for help.
Determination is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it can put us into compromising situations, especially for our bodies! If you have heavy items to lift and feel unsure if you can manage, be sure to ask a loved one or neighbour to help. This will help minimise any injuries or strains, and also create a sense of teamwork along the way.
3. Keep hydrated.
Water is essential for our body as a whole, particularly for our joints. Keeping that water bottle close will encourage you to stay hydrated whilst in the garden. Despite it still being reasonably cool outside, our body still needs plenty of water, especially when moving our body more than normal.
4. Take regular breaks.
The reason we often feel sore from a day’s work in the garden is because we haven’t allowed our body time to rest. Although gardening is deemed as a low impact pass time because we are not running around down a sprint track, it is actually quite strenuous for our body as it is being put into sustained positions that it would not normally be in. Taking short 20-minute breaks, even if it is simply standing up and marching on the spot or having that sip of water to stretch out and re-group, will help reset that posture and reduce the tension. Another suggestion is breaking the gardening down, letting go of the need to get everything done in one day and spreading it out over the days. A lot easier said than done I know, but I promise it will help your body in the long run and reduce that soreness following.
As Alfred Austin beautifully wrote…
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul”.
Enjoy the process and nurture your garden, but don’t forget to nurture and look after your body along the way.
The team and I look forward to hearing about what you’re up to in the garden over the upcoming months!
With love,
Sarah
