This time of year I am really only interested in one thing, gardening. I work myself silly digging holes, hauling compost and manure, and running around with a 2 gallon watering can trying to keep my new seeds damp (not to mention fighting with my 100 ft. garden hose, another specialty of mine). So I confess to you now that sometimes my body is just soooo stiff and tired that yes, I do skimp on workouts.

I do think however, that I can make a case for yet another type of Pilates fusion, Pilates in the garden. I felt this clearly the other day as I went to move a big metal wheelbarrow filled with rocks (why do I dream up these big landscaping projects?). Before I did my big lift, I dropped my shoulders, I settled my shoulder blades, I opened my chest, I braced my abs, I sent my tailbone down toward the earth, I engaged my hamstrings and wow, I took that ton of rocks right across the yard with no problem at all. I felt like Amazon woman. So the moral of that story is, take your Pilates with you. It's not just a studio event; it's a set of functional fitness skills that can make moving (or plowing) through life a lot easier.

The other part of the gardener's body story, and this applies to all of you weekend warriors - whatever spring fever has you doing, is that even if you're not up to a workout, a few stretches can make all the difference. I love to take time at the end of the day to, very informally, get down on the floor and stretch. Try it, you'll like it. Here are some stretches you can do:

• Pilates Stretches Promote Flexibility
• Pilates and Yoga Moves