Gardening with Glee
31st July 2019
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Care of the gardener is as important as the garden itself. 

Enthusiastic gardeners strive to spend many joyful hours in their beloved gardens during the warm summer months, without feeling some of the occasional taxing repercussions on the physical body.  

If the gardener’s body exhibits signs of body stress, any restrictive physical ailments may be compounded and aggravated after an intense dose of gardening, particularly after repetitive gardening motions such as weeding, trimming, pruning, raking and stretching. Common physical challenges may include intense stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Lower back or hip pain, sciatica and knee instability, as well as calf cramps and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.   

How do we acquire body stress?
In our daily lives, over time, we are subjected to various forms of stress: Mechanical stress such as accidents, poor posture or incorrect lifting. Chemical stress such as air pollutants, harmful insecticides or preservatives. Mental/Emotional stress such as fear of the future, financial concerns or relationships challenges, inducing a psychophysiological stress response.

How does the body react to continuing stress?
A certain amount of stress is vital for stimulation and continual progress. Stress becomes a challenging, destructive factor when it goes beyond the individual’s ability to adapt. When the point of stress overload occurs, the tension becomes locked into the physical body. This may result as pain, stiffness or numbness, postural distortion, or general fatigue. The impact on the nervous system undermines the body’s ability to function efficiently and may hinder a gardener’s ability to perform effectively in the garden.

How do we release stress and tension for an enhanced gardening experience?
Body Stress Release offers a safe, gentle and effective way to assist the body to release stored tension. With the person fully clothed and lying down, a series of light pressure tests are carried out to locate these exact sites of stored tension. A gentle stimulus is then applied to encourage the body to release this tension, thus assisting the body in its innate ability to heal and maintain itself.

Effects may be welcome pain relief and straightening of any postural distortion. Gardeners often report feeling more energetic, flexible, aware and able to spend many additional enjoyable hours in their garden, without discomfort, enhancing their overall wellbeing and gardening experience.

Gardening Tip
A gardener’s mind is generally focussed on the project at hand. The gardener’s body knows its limits of the day. The gardener’s mind often overrides the inherent wisdom of the body, in attempting to complete the project, as soon as possible. The golden recommendation is generally stop gardening before you have had enough. That way sensible overnight restorative rest will ensure that the project will be completed, in a comfortable manner, with minimum bodily discomfort, whilst enhancing gardening proficiency and enjoyment.

If you have any specific challenges or questions regarding your gardening experiences, please call your local Body Stress Release Practitioner for any additional helpful guidance or assistance on 01920 460 458.

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About the Author

Victoria H

Member since: 11th March 2014

My name is Victoria Hunter and I'm a true Hertford person - I went to school in Hertford and grew up here. I understand the importance of bringing trusted businesses and the community together, and believe...

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