Gardening as Therapy: Senior Health

 Think of gardening as a form of therapy that even seniors can relate too.  People of our parent’s generation, and even some of us, still associate the term therapy with the idea of weakness or mental illness, but it is so much more than that.   Craig Summers Black wrote an article about “A Gardener’s Dream Therapy,” for Heart Healthy Magazine (summer 2008) that discusses the gardening as a form of therapy.  It is not about modern technology so it is definitely still relevant today.

 

Gardening benefits both your body and your mind.  Gardening can take your mind off of your pain.  When you are doing something that you truly love, you are able to push pain into the background.  Gardening calms your spirit.  Spending time doing something that is pleasurable reduces stress and restores your physical and emotional balance.

 

So much is going on when you garden.  It gives you a sense of anticipation because you are nurturing something that is alive and watching it as it grows.  Gardening provides a sense of hope for the future.  It is something that people have been engaging in since the beginning of time.  When a person is motivated, whether from hobby or sports, they look forward to getting up every morning.  Being interested and excited about something gives you a reason to live in the present and gives you something to look forward to.  Gardening is a great outlet.  Almost everyone can dig in the earth and create something useful and beautiful.

 

Besides soothing your soul, gardening is a great way to get some exercise.  It is graduated and it includes aerobics, stretching, and strength training components.

 

A lot of people hate to exercise, but getting exercise while doing something rewarding is satisfying.  Tips to make gardening safe and rewarding as well as mentally soothing include:

 

• Drink plenty of water and work during the morning or late evening hours when it is coolest.
• Always warm up, just as you would with any other exercise activity that involves multiple muscle groups.  Before doing any yard work, gardeners should stretch to make sure that they don’t damage any muscles or ligaments.
• Take frequent breaks.  It is easy to lose track of time when you are doing something that you enjoy.  Gardeners need to watch the clock and take frequent breaks to rest and rehydrate themselves.
• Don’t forget to use sunscreen and protective clothing to protect you from the sun and from bites and scratches.

 

Relax and enjoy.  Whether growing vegetables to share or creating something truly beautiful you can enjoy both the process and the reaffirmation of life.