Gardening for Your Body

​One of my passions is gardening! I begin as soon as the weather is slightly warmer and keep going through to the first frost. Using all of those muscles definitely takes some extra selfcare!  ​

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Some of the selfcare I practice, so that body pain doesn't grow, the garden does, include:

• Staying hydrated
• Stretching before, during and definitely after
• Epsom Salts for that hot soak at the end of day
• Knee pads because as you know, gardening is hard on them
• Usually a little extra Magnesium
• A chair in the shade

Here are some more self-care tips

Following are some other helpful tips so that you enjoy your gardening season

Pace Yourself
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Be realistic about your garden goals for the day, your body can only do so much. I definitely struggle with this as I get into the dirt and lose track of time, BUT, you don't want to end up injured and on my Massage table the next day...or maybe you do! Lol
Listen to your body as you go along and take breaks or at least check in every hour or so

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Body Posture, Body Mechanics and Body Rest
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Be sure to end your gardening day without back pain by remembering to bend from your knees when lifting, using long handled tools, bringing plants up to you (on a table) where possible, and being as close as you can to your project. Keep yourself in pelvic tilt with low back stretched long, to protect yourself
Use knee pads to spare the pressure on your joints for weeding, seeding and other on the ground garden work
Every hour or two take 5 minutes to stretch your muscles, replenish your fluids, sit down in the shade.

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Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

I certainly can't emphasize enough just how important water is for your body. Hydration plays a key role in your body's ability to function well. When gardening or participating in other outdoor activities, our body loses water through increased respiration and sweating...that needs to be replaced.

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Treat Your Body With End of Day Selfcare

You've had a workout, your muscles have had a workout and it's time for rewards, with some body selfcare!
Gentle stretching will ease any tension that may have been created through your day of gardening.

Muscles also love hot moist heat as it increases the circulation of blood, and therefore nutrients to the muscles. It also encourages muscles to release toxins.

Muscles love an extra dose of Magnesium after a workout and there is no faster delivery system than through the pores of the skin. So take a soak in the tub, throw in a cup or two of magnesium rich epsom salts, pour yourself an extra glass of water and slip in. Your muscles will thank you for it

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