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yard workout : Trim your hedges

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Yard workout
Digging in the dirt beats sweating in the gym any day

By Diane Hart
First published in Chatelaine's May 2003 issue.
© Diane Hart

Trim your hedges

 


  Calories burned in 10 minutes: 55

Paring down an unruly row of hedges with clippers will not only create beauty and order in your garden, it can tone your arms as well. It's as good as doing 10 to 30 pushups, a series of chest presses in the weight room or playing volleyball for half an hour.


What it works
Your chest, arms, front of the shoulders and upper back

How to do it
Stand close to the hedge, legs shoulder-width apart, when you trim: it's easier on your back. Bend your knees, not your back, when you crouch down to get at the bottom of the hedge. Keep your stomach muscles tight to strengthen your core.

TIP
Focus on good posture with your back straight, eyes forward and stomach tight. Keep your motions smooth and controlled.

 
  • Intro
  • Basic stretch
  • Lift a wheelbarrow
  • Dig with a trowel
  • Mow the lawn
  • Prune a tree
 
 
Trim your hedges
  • Tips for working in your garden
     

 
  • Grow your own herbs
  • Pot luck
     

 
  • Your complete gardening guide
  • More workouts in Sweat Central
     

 
  • Swap gardening tips in our Home + garden forum
     

 
  • Garden guru Yvonne Cunnington: April 14 to 18
     

 
 

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Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

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The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

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