For those of us squeezing in 26 hours of activities, chores, and commitments into a 24-hour day, exercise often falls by the wayside. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Much has been said about the amount of physical activity exerted during a few hours of house cleaning, and the same is true about gardening.
Gardening can be a great workout! It provides all three types of exercise: endurance, flexibility and strength. But don’t just take our word for it. In a study published in HortTechnology, a publication of the American Society for Horticultural Science, researchers concluded many gardening tasks qualify as physical activity. Researchers asked volunteers to perform specific tasks, including digging, raking, weeding, mulching, hoeing, sowing, harvesting, watering, and plant transplanting. Based on the information calculated from the tracking devices the volunteers wore, they found all of the tasks were considered heart-pumping, calorie-burning activities.
As with all forms of exercise, intensity and results will vary form person to person and significantly depend on circumstances. Differences in the type of garden tools, gardening methods, conditions, and garden size can all impact the results. That being said, the point remains: gardening is, in fact, a legit form of exercise. So you never again have to feel guilty about choosing your garden over your gym. You’re welcome!