If you are seeking a great way to exercise and relieve mental stress, try gardening! As early as 1768, doctors prescribed "tending the soil" as a cure for ills of the mind and nervous system. Today, physical therapists and trainers suggest that the working the earth provides an excellent upper and lower body workout for people of all ages. Of course you can over exert yourself and hurt yourself if you don’t know how to pace yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your body, mind, and spirit in tip top shape no matter what your age or your plant knowledge.

1. Because you are outdoors, always wear sunshine and a hat. Many people prefer to wear long pants and long sleeves to protect themselves not only from the sun, but also from the thorns and bushes that seem to jump out of nowhere.

2. Switch your garden activities often. Rake for an hour, then weed, dig, or prune. Mow your lawn, preferably with a push mower and leave the clippings on the grass as mulch. By not doing one thing for too long you’ll avoid carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, or back aches.

3. Allow your legs to do the work. Make sure to bend from your knees instead of your waist. Better yet, if you are planting, grab a soft pad or roller chair, and sit while you work.

4. If you are like me, you may be tempted to spend twelve hours at a time sweating. Take a break from time to time to relax your muscles. Jump in the swimming pool if you have one, or be a kid again and run through the sprinklers.

5. Drink lots of water. When you are working out at a gym, you dehydrate quickly with all the physical exercise. The same is even more important in the garden. I keep a big jug of water with fresh lemons and tangerines from my trees in my wheelbarrow so that I can take a swig whenever I feel thirsty. It’s delicious, satisfying, and keeps me working longer.

6. Buy high quality tools and use them. A great shovel, trowel, pick, hoe, pruning shears, and rake will last many years and help you do the job properly without injury.

7. Gardening is a year-round activity. In the spring, pull the weeds which sprouted during the rainy season, enjoy the blooming bulbs, and plant your summer annuals. Summer is a time of intense dead-heading, fertilizing, mulching, watering, and swinging in the hammock. Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and spring-bloom bulbs. When the winter winds begin to blow, you can cuddle up with seed catalogues, clean and mend the tools, and keep the compost pile turned.

My garden is my personal gymnasium. When I carry rocks and pots I am lifting weights. As I rake leaves and sweep the patio, I’m on a rowing machine. When I’m carrying plant cuttings up the 108 steps to the chicken coop, I’m engaging a stair climber while recycling. While I chop wood, pull weeds, plant trees, and harvest my vegetables, I get a full workout. Pulling hoses and fixing broken pipes keep my arms strong and my muscles taut.

There is always a great work-out in your garden gymnasium. No matter what time of the year, you’ll have a plethora of healthy choices to keep you fit and well for a lifetime.

Dig in! Your body, mind and spirit are ready to play!