National Gardening Exercise Day

By Laura Pellegrini, RHG Consult Learning Coach

What is it?

On the 6^th of June, it is National Gardening Exercise Day. It may not be the first activity you think of instead of the gym, but gardening can be a great form of physical activity to get the blood flowing, tone the body, and improve overall fitness. The day encourages you to pick up a fork or trowel and to engage with the garden. Not only does this get the garden looking good, but it offers a healthy means of getting some exercise, fresh air, and enjoyable time in nature.

Background

The history of gardening is old and intertwined with agriculture. To understand how gardening became so popular, it is useful to look back at history and the journey that led to what is now considered to be a hugely beneficial activity for individual’s, communities, and the world.

10,000 BC – First enclosures in forests and evidence of gardens. Indicated early landscaping as well as growing food for families.

600 BC – Lots of gardening is popping up as it flourishes around the world. This includes peanuts in Peru, apples along the Nile and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

100BC to 100 AD – Books on horticulture, agriculture and botany take off, depicting rural life, herbal medicine, and waterworks in gardens.

250 AD – The Roman Empire begins sharing seeds, plants, and information on agriculture and horticulture which encourages the hobby of gardening to keep spreading.

1543 AD – The First Botanical Garden in Europe is established by Luca Ghini, located in Pisa.

1900’s – Potted plants arrived on the market, principles of sustainability and environmentalist arose, having indoor houseplants boomed and wildlife gardens containing native plants becomes increasingly popular as they complement natural ecology.

Why is it important?

Modern life is busy, and it can be hard to find time for all the things that are important, including physical exercise and engaging with nature. This is where concurrent activity can help us out. Not only is it satisfying to grow your own flowers or food from seedlings to full plants, but it is also great exercise.

Gardening allows you to incorporate all three main types of exercise: aerobic (cardio), anaerobic (strength and resistance), and flexibility. For example, moving around the garden, lifting equipment, and digging the ground is going to raise your heart rate, involve bending/stretching and will build up strength. Other activities can include weeding, digging, shovelling, planting, pruning, mowing, raking, and walking. Gardening can be easily tailored to all abilities from gentle pottering to intensive labour, which makes it accessible to everyone.

Benefits

• Mental Wellbeing
• Improving the natural world, especially if you can help the bees
• Boosting the immune system
• Slowing ageing
• Reducing the risk of some cancers
• Alleviating stress and anxiety
• Keep the cardiovascular system in good shape
• Improve cognitive functioning including better memory
• Build muscle and strength
• Counters inflammatory diseases
• Improved flexibility and posture
• Reduces stress hormones such as cortisol
• Reduces risk of injury

Top Tips

1. Start small – just like any new workout program, know your limits. Starting with light stretches can help to warm you up and prevent injury
2. Get gardening in your own home – this can include houseplants, growing seeds on a windowsill or changing things up in your garden
3. Work with someone – where possible, it is nice to spend the day with someone else. This could be in your own garden, in theirs or at a community garden
4. Make gardening a workout – ditch any power tools to make the job a challenge, and maybe even try some extra exercises whilst gardening, such as squats or stretches
5. Stay hydrated – working in the garden, especially in the sunshine, is an athletic challenge and as such, it is important to drink water to stay hydrated and look after yourself

June is a popular month for planting, both seeds directly outdoors and moving those which have been started indoors. If you fancy starting something on National Gardening Exercise Day, some possibilities include runner beans, French beans, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, or courgette.

Making both gardening and exercise a regularly part of your routine will help both to become a habit you are more likely to stick with.

Whatever you manage this National Gardening Exercise Day (or the days around it!) consider sharing your results. This could be with friends, family, or social media. You can also send them in to RHG as we celebrate together.