And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair – Khalil Gibran
Man has always been one with nature until the advent of Industrialization, commerce and technology. Man suffers physically and emotionally as a result of this as cardiovascular and other diseases are currently prevalent due to a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. The fierce competition among peers has also led to changes in disposition and frame of mind.
Due to the demands of contemporary urban life, it may not be easy to go out into the wild and commune with nature on a daily basis.
But right there, just outside your front door is a paradise created by garden and landscape designer Lisa Ellis waiting to happen, if only you could give it a bit of time and attention. Take pride and joy in seeing your front yard transform into a garden blooming with your favorite flowers and taste the sweet fruits of your very own trees. And maintaining that enchanting garden would be a breeze, absolutely relaxing and invigorating. It would be fun to invite the whole family to take part as a form of bonding activity. It even comes with loads of health benefits for everyone.
Gardening has been established as an excellent form of moderate exercise. You don’t even notice that you’ve been burning a lot of calories as you take delight in what you are doing. It is said that to be able to stick to an exercise regimen , you should try to find something that you actually enjoy doing so you tend to devote more time to it, ultimately reaping its several advantages. What else could be better than this?
Being a form of moderate exercise, 30 – 45 minutes of gardening 3 – 4 times a week can significantly improve cardiovascular health, reducing the risks of the build-up of fat deposits within the peripheral arteries (atherosclerosis) which may eventually lead to vascular accidents (stroke), myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure and renal (kidney) artery disease.
In addition, all other diseases and disorders that can benefit from regular exercise can also be prevented or ameliorated.
Decrease in blood sugar levels was noted thus taking Diabetes type 2 under control.
Increase in lung capacity and better immune response affords Bronchial Asthma relief.
The mobility of the joints is improved providing ease of movement to both Arthritic and Osteoporotic patients.
There are studies showing that the onset of Dementia can be prevented or delayed with exercise and, as is bestowed by gardening, cheerful countenance .
Gardening has continuous favorable effects on your mood as it is a potent stress reliever. The increase in the happy hormone endorphins and consequent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol after subjects were made to indulge in gardening activities is proof that gardening has mood-stabilizing properties.