Green

...Fingers

🌱P̥L̥ḀN̥T̥I̥N̥G̥ d̥i̥g̥g̥i̥n̥g̥ W̥E̥E̥D̥I̥N̥G̥...lovely to hear that your classes are keeping you strong, supple & pain free for all this lot....functional exercise that's the target.

On top of calorie burning, gardening improves dexterity, strength, & functional movement & all that digging can improve bone density too. 

Functional fitness exercises train your muscles to work together to help prepare you  for your daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work or in the garden etc. 

Some of you might know that in my final year of my Architecture Degree I specialised in Landscape.. sat at the drawing board was not my favourite part of the course!! Find out more about the benefits of gardening  in this article on the RHS site HERE.

There are seven basic movements the human body can perform and really all other exercises are just variations of them. 

These are: Pull, Push, Squat, Lunge, Hinge, Rotation and Gait.

The variation however is important, as that is what makes it interesting, stimulating the brain & making you more likely to stick at it.

Then with the added breathing techniques this forms the functionsl aspect of helping you to relax & switch off. The signal your body needs to help you to sleep at night.

So when your head is all fuzzy with thoughts you just don't know what to focus on ...pluck out the weeds & water the ones you want to keep growing stronger.

Of course if you are out in the garden you might find some great ingredient inspiration too. Here is one for those hardworking hands & a useful one for these days!

Yoga poses that focus on stretching and strengthening the back, shoulders, and legs can be particularly beneficial for gardening. Some poses to consider include:

1. **Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana):** Stretches the back, shoulders, and hamstrings, providing a full-body stretch.

  

2. **Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II):** Strengthens the legs, opens the hips, and stretches the arms and shoulders, helping with stability and balance.

3. **Tree Pose (Vrksasana):** Improves balance and strengthens the legs, which can be helpful for maintaining stability while gardening.

4. **Forward Fold (Uttanasana):** Stretches the hamstrings and lower back, helping to release tension built up from bending and lifting while gardening.

5. **Extended Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana):** Stretches the sides of the body, opens the hips, and strengthens the legs, promoting flexibility and balance.

6. **Child's Pose (Balasana):** Provides a gentle stretch for the back, shoulders, and hips, promoting relaxation and releasing tension in the body.

Remember to listen to your body and modify poses as needed to suit your individual flexibility and comfort levels.

By Suzanne