In two days, spring will begin, which means that gardeners around the nation are getting their shears ready for the season. The cold weather created by the winter makes gardening exceedingly difficult in many parts of the country, and therefore many are going to take to their gardens for the first time in what amounts to months.
We’ve previously talked about how an individual needs to be careful when they embark on an outdoor workout after months of being cooped up indoors, but it’s important to note that gardening is a workout unto itself. You may not be running for miles or rotating between a bunch of different weight machines, but you’ll certainly be required to put your body through excessive strain that can get the best of you if you’re not careful.
You need to prepare to safely tend to your garden, and a new article outlines some of the ways to do so. By taking the proper precautions from the moment you head outdoors, you can ensure that you won’t have to make an impromptu visit to a doctor to get an injury corrected.
You probably wouldn’t set out to run ten miles if you haven’t even run more than a mile in a few months, so you similarly shouldn’t be tending to the garden for hours on end. You may be able to reach that level by the time summer gets here, but for now, you need to learn to keep your pace in check.
Focus on smaller tasks that aren’t going to take up a lot of time or put too much strain on your body. Rather than hefting giant loads of sod over your shoulder or spending hours planting seeds, take things in small chunks. Think about quick tasks you can put into action and then take a break. That way, you’ll get some exercise out of the situation but won’t overstrain yourself.
The other important thing to realize is that gardening truly is a workout. Workouts require warmup and proper form in order to keep injuries at bay. You ought to stretch out those portions of your body that are going to receive the most workout. In addition to loosening up your arms and legs, this will mean getting your back into a comfortable place.
Your back will in fact be one of the most at-risk parts of your body during gardening, so you’ll want to minimize those actions that could endanger it. Although the temptation will be to twist to reach tools or conduct gardening activities, it’s always better to stand up and move your entire body so that you can’t wretch things loose.
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