Tending to a garden provides movement and mental breaks we all need daily.
The experience of mowing a lawn is an adventure of its own. The physical energy you must execute when mowing can be very demanding on the body. While it gives you a chance to be outdoors, the strenuous activity and chemicals expelled can make it less enjoyable.
Maybe you’re ready to give up mowing, but you’re struggling to find another means of physical activity? You’re not alone.
Discovering ways to bring movement to the body can be a challenge. But connecting to what you love — in this case spending time in your garden — will make your goal of physical activity so much easier. And it can benefit your mental wellbeing too.
How can gardening be a better exercise alternative than mowing the lawn, you ask? Tending a garden engages muscles in your entire body.
Reaching and pulling weeds, digging and plotting new pollinator and drought-hardy plants, even raking leaves or compost all require physical actions that engage muscle groups in our arms, torso, back and legs. It’s a full body workout in the comfort of your backyard!
Not only does our body benefit from the physical exercise gardening provides, but our emotional state of mind greatly improves from time spent outside, away from television and computer screens.
Gardening is an accessible workout that provides movement and mental breaks we all need daily. Do what makes your body feel good.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.
Casey Cuellar is an intern working in SAWS Communications.
