With longer days and warmer weather finally (almost) upon us, the urge is to get out into our gardens and make up for lost time. Many of us don’t realize, until it’s too late, that digging, raking, pulling, and bending are all vigorous activities that require the same kind of warming up and self care as any athletic activity. And after months of what might have been more like a couch potato than planting potatoes, here are some tips for getting ready to hoe your row!
1. Warm Up First: Do some gentle bending and movement BEFORE you go outside and warm those muscles up! Try some dynamic stretching from this past post!
2. Dress Appropriately: Don’t forget your skin hasn’t seen the sun in ages! And dried branches and leaves can be rough. Cover your body with light, comfortable clothing, and don’t forget a hat!
3. Drink plenty of Water: Muscles, and the rest of our body’s systems, work better when hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and after activity.
4. Be mindful of your body!: Beginning any activity with great enthusiasm can sometimes lead to over doing it. And when it comes to gardening, we can end up hurt, exhausted or in too much pain to finish what we started! If you have ben relatively inactive over the winter, start SLOW. Do less than you think you should, and see how you feel the next day. Also, be mindful of how you move. Make sure that you’re not doing too much repetitive motions and bend with your knees when lifting, not your back.
5. Stretch After: Gently stretch those hard working muscles while they are still warm, to remind them of their extended and relaxed state!
6. Get a regular massage: Getting a massage in the spring and summer as we ramp up our activity is an important way to keep our muscles healthy and happy, prevent injury, and get the most out of every beautiful day! Call today, or click here, to book yours!