At a particularly
stressful time in my life something compelled me to take up gardening to clear
my head. I was deciding whether to quit private practice as a holistic
gynecologist and be an intuitive consultant for midlife women. I started
digging and planting and now, years later, I have a beautiful botanical garden.
My garden has not only provided me with flowers, fresh fruits, herbs and
vegetables, it also offers me, and my midlife women clients, a place to
replenish the soul.
Whenever I take a
stroll in my garden, I experience a sense of peace, and also excitement about the
life I watch growing around me. Each time is full of surprises; the burgeoning
of the deciduous trees during spring, bright yellow, honey, and blue irises, fragrant
roses that keep on blooming. It seems the lizards know when I am coming and
cannot help darting along my path. The many birds sound like a beautiful
orchestra. The fountains along the raised garden and winding path, and the
waterfall that divides into two creeks and then falls into a large pond,
provide a little patch of heaven. I talk to my plants and trees, thanking them
for offering me so much beauty. No wonder they thrive...Like all living things,
I think they can feel the love, and return it.
I found my garden
so beneficial to my peace of mind and spirit that I decided to give the
opportunity to some of my clients to spend their time with me in nature,
instead of inside a sterile office. The first
hour or more of our encounter is spent walking around, pulling a few weeds,
gathering fresh fruits and flowers. During the rest of their stay, we spend
most of our time together in the garden, as weather permits. Guests also have
the opportunity to choose a special spot to be alone, breathe the fresh air,
and reflect on what we’ve discussed as we make sense of their lives.
Being in the garden gives me a
beautiful balance with work: It is mentally beneficial both for me and my
clients. It calms the mind, and when the mind calms, the soul is more at peace.
Before my guests leave, we take cuttings from the
numerous succulents, cacti and flowers, and I put them in a beautiful pot so they
can take home a little bit of the peace of mind they’ve found here.
Benefits of Gardening
There are so many benefits to
gardening. Creating and tending a garden not only provides you with fresh,
healthy things to eat, there are also specific mental and physical benefits.
Gardening incorporates a lot
of stretching and repetition movements, and even resistance principles similar
to weight training. It offers the benefits of regular exercise in fresh air,
with natural vitamin D from the sun. It is an enjoyable way to exercise for all
ages without adding stress to the body,
Gardening helps build strong
bones to prevent osteoporosis, a chance to work off extra calories, stay
limber. Exercise is a good way to improve your mood. It increases the release
of endorphins, the feel good
hormones.
For those with back pain,
gardening helps to maintain flexibility and fitness level, preventing the
muscles and tissues around the injury from tightening up. It helps alleviate
back pain by strengthening the muscles that support the back, and reduces the
likelihood of re-injury.
Studies show that
there is quicker recovery from major illnesses while surrounded by nature.
There is less anxiety and less need for pain medication. Looking at scenes of
nature can produce a decline in systolic blood pressure in five minutes or
less, even if the person is only looking at a poster of nature scenes.
Being in outdoor
gardens has been found to help mental patients decrease agitation, aggression,
anxiety and social withdrawal, and the need for antipsychotic drugs. Being with
nature reduces stress, muscle tension, mood swings, boosts your immune system and
puts your mind in a state similar to meditation. Getting natural light from
sunshine also counters seasonal depression (SAD).
I am lucky that I
live in a part of the world with ample space and beautiful weather for year-round
gardening. But a garden does not
have to be large or outdoors if space or rougher weather is a factor. It can be
in a corner of a balcony, outdoor patio, in a sunny spot in your house. During
the cold season, your small potted garden can be placed next to a window and
you can use special indoor gardening lighting. You can use large pots to grow
your favorite herbs, a shrub or tree, flowers, and even vegetables.
Every garden should have an
area for composting remnants of fruits and vegetables. Composting not only
helps you turn your organic waste into a landscape asset, it also decreases the
amount of material that you send to the landfill.
Not only does having your own
garden offer the satisfaction of watching something take root and grow, it is
an opportunity to introduce children to the joys of nature. Tending to plants also
beautifies your home and improves property values.
Avoiding injuries
Although the benefits of
gardening outweigh the risks, if you choose to start or improve a garden, you
need to be careful and listen to your body. Like any kind of exercise, it
should be done in moderation. Many gardening tasks require kneeling, sitting,
standing, and squatting that can put unnecessary stress and strain in the knees
and back. (I built raised garden beds to reduce bending.)
Other
precautions:
- Be aware that some plant varieties, seeds, and bulbs can be hazardous to children and pets.
- Use proper techniques for bending, carrying, or lifting objects.
- Avoid overreaching, squatting for too long, and twisting.
- Be careful when pushing or pulling heavy objects.
- Take frequent breaks and rotate tasks to avoid repetitive injuries.
- Avoid staying too long in direct sun. Avoid gardening between peak hours of 11 AM and 4 PM when the sun is the strongest, or work in the shady areas of your garden.
- Wear protective clothing: a large-brimmed hat, long sleeves and long pants.
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on all exposed skin.
- Be aware of situations that could lead to a fall such as rocks, unattended tools, a wet lawn, or loose gravel.
- Handle fertilizers and other chemicals with caution and wear eye protection when applicable.
- Even better, avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides to get rid of bad bugs by learning more gentle and natural ways to help your garden flourish.
Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat is a medical intuitive, board-certified gynecologist, and menopause specialist. She offers intuitive consultations and one-on-one retreats for midlife women.
Dr. Carolle helps women quickly discover the root cause of their dis-ease, how to bring it to consciousness, and how to deal with it. Visit www.drcarolle.com.
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