No gym, no formal workouts. Actress Pamela Anderson reveals how gardening helps her stay fit at 59. Can it really replace the gym?

Pamela Anderson’s approach to fitness focuses on natural, low-effort and everyday movement rather than intense gym routines. Fans also know that she loves gardening, but can working in the garden really count as exercise? Anderson seems to think so. At 59, the actor has found a simple way to stay active that fits naturally into her daily life.

For the Hollywood actress, staying active is less about following a strict workout schedule and more about moving throughout the day. While she has previously spoken about her love for Pilates, her current lifestyle on Vancouver Island has encouraged her to find other ways to keep moving. Her favourite activity may be much closer to home than a gym.

Pamela Anderson chooses gardening over the gym

Pamela Anderson has previously shared that she enjoys Pilates. However, she currently does not have access to a Pilates reformer at her home on Vancouver Island. Speaking to ELLE US, she joked about having a small basement in her boathouse where she could potentially keep one, but said she would probably end up getting tangled in the equipment.


Rather than worrying about formal exercise equipment, Anderson has incorporated movement into her everyday routine. Gardening has become one of her favourite ways to stay active.

The activity also gives her benefits beyond physical movement. Gardening can provide a sense of calm and mental clarity, something Anderson appears to value as part of her overall wellbeing.

In a recent conversation with People, Anderson described gardening as a genuine workout. She went a step further, saying she believes working in the garden can actually be better than spending time at the gym.

Her approach may sound unusual in a fitness-obsessed world where exercise is often associated with expensive memberships, structured classes and intense routines. But there is a scientific reason why everyday activities such as gardening can contribute to physical activity.

Can gardening really count as exercise?

Gardening may not look like a conventional workout, but it involves plenty of movement. It can contribute to NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis. The term refers to the energy the body uses for everyday movement outside planned exercise and sleep.

Walking around the garden, bending down to plant flowers, pulling weeds, carrying tools and repeatedly getting up and down all require physical effort. The amount of energy used can vary depending on the activity and how long a person spends doing it.

Some gardening tasks can also become surprisingly demanding. Digging, carrying heavy bags of compost, moving equipment and working continuously can raise the intensity of the activity. For someone spending considerable time outdoors, these small movements can add up over the course of a day.

Research has also linked regular movement with better cardiovascular and metabolic health. Reducing long periods of sitting and replacing them with even light physical activity can be beneficial.

This does not necessarily mean that gardening can completely replace every form of exercise. Strength training, aerobic workouts and other forms of structured exercise have their own benefits. However, gardening can be a useful way to add more movement to a person's routine, particularly for those who dislike traditional workouts.

Gardening can benefit the body and mind

There is another reason Anderson's gardening habit may be worth noting. The activity can involve several parts of the body at the same time. Gardening tasks can work the arms, legs, shoulders, back and abdomen, depending on what someone is doing.

Research has also suggested that gardening can have benefits for mental wellbeing. Spending around two hours a week gardening has been associated with improvements in mood, while communal gardening can provide opportunities for social interaction.

That social element may also help reduce feelings of stress and isolation. Community gardens, particularly those involving schools and neighbourhood groups, can combine physical activity with time outdoors and interaction with others.

For older adults, gardening can also provide a relatively accessible form of movement. Research has found that gardening can range from moderate to vigorous physical activity in younger adults and from low to moderate activity in older adults. It is also recognised as a muscle-strengthening activity in the US Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

Her routine therefore offers a useful reminder: exercise does not always have to look like exercise. Whether it is digging soil, carrying gardening equipment or simply moving around while tending to plants, everyday activities can help people stay active.

So, can gardening completely replace the gym? Not necessarily. But for someone like Pamela Anderson, it offers a practical way to keep moving without forcing fitness into a rigid routine.