For my friend Cop Car, and anyone else who plans to garden vigorously this spring, here are a few warm-up movements to do, before you swing that ax!
These exercises are done to a slow count. Don’t hurry through them, and if they hurt, STOP!!
While standing, move your arms as though you were swimming forward., and then do the backstroke. Follow with side strokes to the left, and then to the right.
Shrug both shoulders forward several times, and then shrug both shoulders back several times.
Reach up left, and then right, as though picking apples. Reach forward. Reach left and right.
Extend your left arm to the left, and your right arm to the right. Move your arms in a huge circle, as though you were turning a giant doorknob. Reverse the direction.
Pretend that you are drawing back a taut bowstring….to the right, and then to the left.
And…with your arms extended, fling your arms to the left so that your left hand bumps your back (kidneys) and the right arm bumps the left shoulder. Reverse the direction of swing.
Keep in mind that these are all warm-up movements, and should be done slowly to wake up the joints. You can also do them as a cool down.
Our exercise guru always advises us NOT to do anything that hurts. I hope this helps.