Are your tulips beginning to bloom? For many of us, this is one of the greatest treasures of spring.watching tulips and many other beautiful flowers bloom. Gardening not only provides us with beautiful flowers to enjoy, it provides us with physical activity from which we gain many health benefits.
For example, gardening for 30 minutes can burn anywhere from 120-200 calories. Fitness experts recommend focusing on major muscle groups while planting such as bending down at the knees when picking things up to work the quadriceps in the thigh. This will help increase muscle tone. It is also recommended to stretch muscle groups like the hamstrings (back of thigh), quadriceps (front of thigh), calf muscles, biceps, triceps, back and even hands and feet before you plan to garden. If you have been cooped up in the house for most of the winter, they recommend to start stretching 2-3 weeks prior to gardening.
It is also important to keep these tips in mind:
- Use a cushion to protect your knees
- Always bend at your knees when picking things up
- Keep your back straight at all times to avoid excessive strain
- If you are planting or pulling weeds for a long period of time, remember to get up and stretch your legs every 10 minutes
- Drink plenty of water, especially if it is hot outside - avoid gardening if it is too hot and humid
- Where plenty of sunscreen and perhaps a hat to avoid sunburn
Remember to consult your physician before starting a new physical activity to avoid health problems.
Adapted from: CBSNews.com