Gardening. Yes, we are going to talk about how you should landscape your……NO! This week I want to discuss how gardening can be harder than exercising. I recently had a conversation with a client about this topic and how hard it can be on your body. So, let’s get into it!
First, is the amount of time you’re out there. How long are you gardening? It’s usually more than a hour, right? Last time I talked to my client, she said she was out there gardening for three hours. Three hours!?!?! That’s a long time. The comparison I made was, can you handle exercising for three hours? I can’t even exercise that long. So understand how long the body is working during gardening. Of course you’re going to be sore/aching from it.
Secondly, is the positions you are in. Couched. Hunched. Leaning. And you are in this position for HOURS. Think about it. Try doing a wall sit for one hour. Your quads are going to die. Your body suffers being in these awkward positions. However, you don’t feel the soreness/pain until the following day because you’re so focused on the task.
Gardening is harder than exercise
Because you are doing it for longer. Now this applies to any activity that goes on long. I remember my calves were dying when I went to Disneyland. Being there all day (12 hours), walking constantly, waiting in line for the next ride. It’s tiring. And this is coming from a personal trainer. The resolution for this? Take breaks as needed. Sit down, drink water, STRETCH (big one), and most importantly, take breaks. Remember, you don’t have to be in pain to stretch. It’s a great way to prepare the body to handle long activities such as gardening.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s blog. Stay tuned for more next Wed……………..Kei