MAY NEWSLETTER The Many Benefits of Gardening Want a functional way to improve your health, get some exercise and improve your diet? Gardening is a great place to start! As you will discover, there are many reasons why gardening is good for you. One is related to the fact that your body needs constant motion to function optimally, and gardening is one way to stay active at times when you might otherwise be sitting at the computer or on the couch watching TV. According to the Center of Disease Control's Guidelines for Physical Activity; gardening can be moderate to high intensity exercise depending on what you are doing. General gardening such as watering, planting and pruning categorize as moderate intensity while activities such as digging, raking and carrying large bags of mulch or fertilizer categorize as high intensity. Gardening is not only a way to get some exercise outdoors but is also a great way to decrease stress levels and it also serves as a creative outlet. Decreasing stress and stimulating the brain is great for mental health and can improve cognitive function. Besides the physical and mental benefits of gardening, one of the most rewarding parts of starting a garden is enjoying the produce from your garden! This is an excellent way to improve your nutrition by consuming the fruits (or veggies) of your hard work. The food you grow yourself is also literally the freshest food you can eat, and because home gardens are filled with fruits and vegetables, it's also among the healthiest food you can eat. Because the fruits and veggies are so readily available from your own garden it is an easier and more convenient way to add some color to your diet! So be sure to start a garden this summer, you don't want to miss out on all the fantastic health benefits! Bring in Your Family and Friends! Do you have any family or friends who want to get fit for summer? Bring them in for a workout! This month Focused Results is running an afternoon special for Family and Friends! From the 1st-31st we are offering special rates for afternoon and evening sessions between 1pm-9pm. $250 for 10 Half Hour sessions and $500 for 10 Hour long sessions. This special is available for new clients and as always the first Half Hour session is free! Spread the word and help us improve the health and fitness of those closest to you. We appreciate the support and look forward to working with your family and friends!