Knitting and Yoga are perfect bedfellows; more knitters should get ‘downward dog’. They also happen to be my two favourite things to do.
Perhaps after reading my rationale on why, you too will be convinced of their superpower and inspired to grab both your mat and needles.
Here we go.
1. Posture:
What is your knitting or crafting posture? Most likely, it’s highly straining on your back, neck, shoulders and wrists.
Have you ever whispered to yourself, “just one more row”, only then to stand up and groan as you realize the tension that’s accumulated during your marathon crafting session?
Yoga teaches you awareness of your body and how to relieve the stiffness brought about by crafting. Yes! Ergo, more crafting!
2. Meditation and Flow:
Both knitting and yoga provide opportunities for meditation.
Some people prefer still-meditations, while others prefer moving-meditations. Both have their place and this is why you should have both knitting and yoga in your ‘toolkit’.
Each offers a chance to focus and get in the flow while forgiving the irritations of the day-you just have to decide which one you need in the moment.
The Yoga Yarnbomb in Koh Phangan, Thailand
3. Patience:
One of the ‘purls’ of wisdom that knitting offers is a lesson in patience.
You simply cant knit a sweater for a telephone pole in one night. Equally so, you cant master the headstand in your first yoga class. Each requires patient perseverance to manifest results.
The way I see it, Knitting cultivates it and yoga rewards it, but the inverse is just as true.
Chillingate: not knit in one night
4. Creativity:
Last year during my big trip around SE Asia, I got to spend four months on Koh Phangan doing upwards of three hours of yoga a day, six days a week.
As, the practise deepened I started to look forward to the creative insights that popped in my mind, as much as the physical practise.
While I cant do nearly as much yoga now, I can still use it to make creative space… which can then translate into adventures in street craft!
The Hoppiness Frog: The first in the yarnbomb-wellness series
So there you have it, knitting is the bomb and yoga rocks, but when combined they seem to generate symbiotic, superpower!
Check out this short, knitting-specific yoga video or this video (which is one of a whole series of knitting and crochet-related, yoga content) after your next ‘marathon’ to see for youself.
Anybody else out there have a love affair with yoga?
Comment below or holler at me on Twitter or Instagram; I get really excited when I hear from you! Also, have you heard about the upcoming yarnbomb giveaway? If not, check it out here.
-Knit well, Be well
Beautiful post – I couldn’t agree more about the symbiotic super-synergy between knitting and yoga. I love how both are ways to cultivate calm, peace, insight and take the body and mind into new zones of well-being. You’re right, too, that, for knitters, there are never enough ways to give tight back/neck/shoulders more TLC. Your post is a great reflection on how the 2 practices feed each other! Thank you for sharing the videos, I look forward to watching. Peace. 🙂
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Thanks for your comment Shirley! Its great to hear from another knitting & yoga enthusiast. I can tell you get it and love it! Namaste, friend.
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What a perfectly timely post! So many of the knitters I know also do yoga, and since I got a new job a couple of months back that involves much more sitting at a desk, I need to get more movement in my life! Now I know where to start – thank you! 😁
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Hey Crawcraft, thanks for your comment and congrats on the new job! Ive been sitting at a desk a lot more lately too and yoga is definitely the answer-it feels so good after a long sit. Its’ a lovey way to meet people too! Hope you plug into a good class…and then ill await the beastie yoga session! 🙂
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Hahaha! Beastie yoga! 😂 I reckon they’d be great at the upper body stuff, but their little stumpy legs might work against them sometimes! Would you recommend getting involved in a class, then? I’ve always shied away from them – group exercise generally being an unfortunate reminder of the horrors of school PE.
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Yes! Definetly get into a class, look out for a ‘Hatha’ or ‘Restorative’ class. Youre going to love it, especially if you bring a beastie along for support!
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Oh cool, thanks for the tip! In the meantime, I’ll be clearing a spot on the craft room floor for post-knitting stretches!
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