Dig In and Chill Out – Why Gardening Is the Ultimate Feel-Good Workout

Who knew that digging in the dirt could be the glow-up your body and brain have been craving?

Take Anick, for example. She started out planting a few shrubs, and boom—by summer’s end she was flexier, fitter, and feeling fabulous. Or Louis, who’s 70 and still rakes like a champ. “When my hands are in the soil, I forget my aches,” he says. Now that’s what we call dirt therapy.

Why Gardening Rocks (Literally and Figuratively)

• It’s legit exercise: Between digging, planting, raking, and hauling, you’re burning up to 300 calories an hour. That’s like Zumba… but with tomatoes.

• Full-body workout: It wakes up muscles you didn’t know existed—plus boosts balance, flexibility, and endurance.

• Vitamin D deluxe: Soak up some sun (safely!) while you prune your petunias.

Pro Tips for Pain-Free Planting

• Ease in: Start with short sessions. Don’t try to landscape the entire yard on day one—your back will file a complaint.

• Warm up & stretch: Yes, we’re talking gardening stretches. Shoulder rolls, back arches, a little walk to get those limbs limber.

• Posture patrol: Bend at the knees, not the back. Keep loads close. Use a kneeling pad or bench to save your spine and knees.

• Switch it up: Change tasks every 30 minutes to avoid overworking one muscle group. Go from weeding to watering like a multitasking ninja.

• Use tools that work with you: Lightweight, grippy, and not too short. You’re gardening, not auditioning for a backache.

Gardening = Mental Health Magic

Gardening isn’t just physical—it’s therapy with flowers. It melts stress, sharpens focus, sparks creativity, and boosts your mood. Plus, it gives you something to be proud of (those sunflowers didn’t grow themselves!).

And it’s social, too. Trade tips, swap seeds, or just bond over why your basil looks like it’s in a bad mood.

So grab those gloves, roll out that rake, and dig into the good life—one plant at a time.

Source: https://goodtimes.ca/gardening-is-good-for-you-2/