Get Out of the Gym: Go Gardening

"The only way to hit all the major muscle groups in a highly organized, balanced way, is to conduct weight routines at the gym, as well as cardio routines."

The above statement is not true. The problem with it is that it states the ONLY way to get a balanced exercise program is in the gym.

There are several alternatives to the gym, for a well-balanced exercise program. Among these are sports like baseball, basketball, bowling, football, jogging, running, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. Dancing, Ice-skating, and Roller Skating also fit in with such a program. Household chores also fit in with such a program.

Is gardening a good alternative to the gym? Yes, it is. Some personal trainers are willing to come to your home, and help you develop an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle, and that may mean never going to the gym.

Most sports require some sort of exercise program. Many Gardeners would find exercises at the gym boring. Do you get to taste, smell, or see the results of your hard work? You do get to see them for yourself, but the smell is nothing to proud of. It's not like the smell of a rose, or taste of a freshly grown apple from your own fruit tree.

Gardening is something that can be a great exercise and fitness program, yet does not have to be. In addition, you don't need to change into your workout clothes to do it, and then change back when you're done.

You don't have to drive to the gym to garden. Gardening activities provide unique benefits to the gardener, some that you simply can't get at the gym.

1) Fresh air. Gardening is often an outdoor activity and that provides fresh oxygen.

2) Muscle strength. Gardening involves digging, moving, and sometimes raking. Many gardeners grow things in pots, and those pots often need to be moved regularly to obtain the best light conditions for the plants.

3) Form. If done right, gardening activities can be adjusted to created proper form. Long handled tools such as rakes and shovels help with this. A rake handle is just as good as a broom handle to do some exercises.

4) Gardening works all the major muscle groups.

Gardening is the original exercise program. God did not place Adam and Eve in the gym of Eden, the Fitness Center of Eden, or the Sports Arena of Eden. He placed them in the Garden of Eden.

Your local gym or fitness center is a fine place to get an adequate exercise program, if that is what is right for you. Some people simply cannot afford gym membership costs, and some cannot afford to hire a personal trainer, especially on a regular and ongoing basis.

The gym is an option for those who can use it. But it is not the only way to get an organized, balanced, fitness program. Sometimes, the gym can be combined with other activities, such as gardening, to help gain balance in an exercise program.

Do you need to join the gym to go for a walk? Of course you don't. Yet walking is widely regarded as an excellent source of a cardiovascular activity. A home gym is an option for some people. Sports are an option for some people. Gardening is an option for some people, and the gym is an option for some people. And combinations of these are an option for some people.

The gym may be the best option for you, but it is most certainly not the only way to get a well-balanced, and highly organized exercise and fitness program. Gardening or some other non-gym activity may be the best method for you to get your exercise.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/514765/why_gardening_shouldnt_be_considered_pg2.html?cat=32

http://gardening.about.com/od/allergiesarthritis/a/Garden_Fitness.htm, page 1, par. 2, sentence 1.