{"id":7592,"date":"2020-07-02T14:15:04","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T14:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paramountplants.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7592"},"modified":"2020-07-02T14:17:29","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T14:17:29","slug":"stretching-exercises-for-gardeners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paramountplants.co.uk\/blog\/index.php\/stretching-exercises-for-gardeners\/","title":{"rendered":"Stretching Exercises for Gardeners – 8 Easy Steps in under 10 Minutes to Warm Up before Gardening"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Activity of Gardening<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"stretching

Stretching Exercises for Gardeners – 8 Easy Steps in 10 Minutes to Warm Up<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0A garden is a truly wonderful thing. We\u2019re right to feel proud of our own garden, as after all, we spend so much time in it (particularly during these hotter summer months). We are forever enjoying it, modifying it, improving it or tending to it. As well as time, a lot of effort, care and attention is dedicated to gardening, whether that be designing the next phase of our existing garden, transforming it completely or tending to the must-do tasks of mowing, raking<\/a>, digging<\/a>, pruning<\/a>, hoeing<\/a>, weeding<\/a> – this list of tasks is endless. But have you ever paid attention to how gardening makes us active? Gardening really does get us moving and contributes to NHS guidelines<\/a> of undertaking 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.<\/span><\/p>\n

We might squat to do the weeding, reach to cut a tall hedge, push a wheelbarrow uphill, lift a heavy plant into position, dig out a home for a new tree, all of which require one or a combination of these fundamentals: strength, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, power, endurance and sometimes a great deal of patience too! Without us even realising we\u2019re challenging ourselves doing any of these things whilst at the same time elevating our heart rate and maybe even breaking into a sweat. All of which are good for the body and mind, keeping us physically and mentally strong whilst releasing those all important \u2018happy\u2019 hormones – the endorphins – making us feel better and calmer afterwards. Plus the added bonus of having a fantastic-looking well-kept garden. What\u2019s not to like about that?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like any \u2018fantastic looking garden\u2019, it needs looking after but it\u2019s worth remembering that we need to look after ourselves too. When gardening, we need to ensure we stay hydrated throughout but most importantly ensure that we mobilise our joints before we begin.\u00a0 Simple Stretching exercises for gardeners prior to and post each gardening session is a sure way to prepare the body as best we can.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why bother you might be thinking? Because in the same way your garden needs care and attention, you do too. How many times have you woken up the next day after gardening with a stiff back, a stiff neck, sore legs, sore arms or possibly all of the above?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Why Stretching Exercises for Gardeners is Important
\n<\/b><\/h2>\n

Mobilising the joints and stretching will not only prep your body for the work ahead but also help it unwind from the work you\u2019ve just completed. Plus it\u2019s vital for 3 other key reasons:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n