What does gardening require of your body?

In the first week of Garden Fit I reviewed the most common garden injuries and how to prevent them. This weeks’ focus is about what gardening does for your body. One hour of active gardening is similar for your body as running four miles. (Telegraph, June 14 2008).

Calories burned per hour:

watching television: 56 calories
digging in the garden: 322 calories
planting in the garden: 252 calories
weeding in the garden: 280

One of the great things about gardening is that is uses most parts of the body.

Activity	Muscles Used	Comments
Lifting pots and soil	Biceps, Legs and Back	If you are picking things up from the ground remember not to lean forward but bend your knees and use your legs
Planting and pushing a wheelbarrow	Legs and chest	Keep your shoulders relaxed as you push
Turning compost and weeding	Abdominals	Keep your core (abdominals and lower back) tight and take breaks every 20 minutes
Mowing the lawn	Heart and Legs
Pruning high bushes	Shoulders

In the next three weeks I will share exercise programs to get you ready for Gardening. If you are interested in having a Vintage Fitness personal trainer come to your house for a free exercise consultation drop me a note erin@vintagefitness.ca.

Good Luck!

Erin

Vintage Fitness & Spirit50

Phone: 416-951-7978

Vintage Fitness is an in home personal training company in Toronto, Canada. We specialize in energizing the lives of people over 50 with exercise.

Spirit50 is an On-line personal training with an expert in 50+ fitness. Inspiring movement for life.