Think of the word "therapy" and immediately images of laying prostrate on a psychiatrist's couch recalling your childhood ills spring to mind. Or, maybe thoughts of group work sharing your most intimate emotions with people you've never met - nor want to meet again - take centre stage in your cognitive processes. Yet, combine "therapy" with the word "garden" and rapidly your thoughts warm you and perhaps slightly excite you.

It seems that garden therapy is fast becoming one of the growth triggers for gardening as a hobby. And not surprisingly either. Maybe people are getting tired of 'feeling the dragon' as they push their limbs through the air justifying their actions like the Emperor with his new clothes. These senseless ancient rituals disguised as holistic therapy for the mind, body and soul are, honestly, quite boring.

But there is nothing boring about gardening and as a form of therapy it's almost perfect. It engages your mind as you assimilate dimensions, plant types, soil conditions etcetera, etcetera. Plus, your body gets a workout heaving soil, mulch, compost and the exercise you get from pruning and lopping. And finally the soul is invigorated as your hopes are exceeded by the beauty and productivity of your plants.

Try achieving all that with a session of yoga!

The Canadians seem to have already grasped hold of these truths as illustrated in this article. And while I'm excited about what they're doing for the mentally and physically handicapped I'm concerned that we often discount these practices for those who are more disadvantaged than us.

Even if we are unaware of the therapeutic benefits we enjoy through gardening, one can't dismiss the fact that they still exist. I find it amusing when visitors to my garden laugh at my compost bins noting that they obviously require some manual labour to turn. Often their comments resemble "Why don't you buy one of those ones that do it for you?" as they hypocritically try to shed some kilos at the local gym.

Our bodies weren't designed to continually pace on plastic treadmills. That's why rats were invented. Instead, our bodies, minds and souls were knit together to do more than focus on any one of these components of "US". Which makes gardening the perfect form of therapy - and not just for those who are disabled and handicapped.