Around the House/Garden

Around the House/Garden

Would you believe me if I told you that those boring, mundane chores you perform around your house actually count as exercise?

Around The House

• Housework utilises all of your muscle groups. This, in turn, builds strength, endurance, and flexibility. For example, picking up the children's toys works the muscles in your arms and shoulders. Hauling those toys throughout the house also works your legs and buttocks. Walk the length of your house while vacuuming, and you will enjoy a full body workout that will also burn calories and increase your heart rate if you vacuum at a fast pace.
  
• To make a chore more aerobic, push yourself by working faster, scrubbing harder and more continuously.

Around the garden

• Depending on the activity, gardening can be as tough a workout as sports such as kayaking or weight training
  
• Gardening is good for you, enjoyable and it's never boring. In addition to the physical benefits, you get beautiful flowers, lots of vegetables and your home looks nice.
  
• More than muscles get a workout in the garden, say proponents, who point to the psychological boost conferred by accomplishing a task and literally taking time to smell the roses. In a complex, technological world, where many people sit in front of a computer all day, gardening offers the simplicity of soil, seeds and seasonal cycles - A reconnection with nature that also can nourish the spirit.
  
• Many older adults use gardening as their primary physical activity. It's a wonderful activity for people of all abilities because you can go at your own pace, and do as much or as little as you're able.

Good gardening/housework tips

• When doing gardening or housework, take good care of your back by paying attention to your posture and avoid overusing any one muscle group
  
• Change from one activity to another every fifteen minutes