Knitting as the New Yoga
Slow Down and Achieve Physical Development via Mental Strength
Why is knitting considered the "new yoga"? Find out why the field has recently seen such a huge growth rate.
Yoga originated in India several thousand years ago, and it has been practiced in America since the late 1880’s. It became a Western household word in the 1960’s, and it has retained most of its popularity to this day. Yoga stresses physical development through mental strength.
Knitting too has been around for thousands of years, and like yoga, has recently seen a boom. Why do people compare the two? There are several reasons that are usually cited. Similar to yoga, knitting forces those who practice it to slow down, to take a break from the rush of everyday tasks, to look at the parts that make the whole, and to expand themselves both mentally and physically.
Slow Down
Shops offer everything anyone could want. Why would anyone want to make a series of knots in a string and call it apparel or linens when a trip to the store is faster and more than likely less expensive? It’s all in the process. Learning the art of knitting takes time, but it is an investment that will pay itself back right away. Yes, a knitter gets a product in the end, but if that’s all there was to it, precious few would do it. It sincerely is easier and more economical to take a trip to the store and pick a product out. However, knitting makes knitters stop, clear their minds, and consciously make an effort to create. It’s simply a bonus that they have something to show for it when they are finished.
Take a Break
It is an extremely small group of people that does not have a to-do list every single day. Stress kills. Knitting is an opportunity to temporarily step out of life and focus on “something else.” Knitters often feel as though they have been given an extension of time because their non-knitting time is more productive when they come back to it.
Look at the Parts that Make the Whole
Every stitch is part of something bigger. Each added stitch brings you closer to a finished product. Almost nothing can be created without parts smaller than itself. It's hard not to think of the item’s recipient while knitting, and knitters say that each stitch is like saying a prayer for, or meditating on, the recipient. How freeing it is to stop thinking about problems, and hand yourself over to a couple of hours of peace and quiet. Meditation can do wonders for a burned-out mind.
Develop Mentally and Physically
Of course, in the end, the knitter is making something - a product. But to arrive there, one must first learn the craft, and then devote considerable time to its practice. This takes both mental and physical development, very nearly like yoga. Knitting keeps the mind open but working, and the hands moving and making. It can also aid in making friends, and provide the knitter with a whole new group of social contacts. Finally, lower stress levels lead to a healthier life.
In the end, each individual has to decide if knitting is for her. There are other fiber arts, such as crochet that are great, too! Millions of people can’t be all wrong. Give it a try—people seem to know pretty quickly if they like it. Then, share the needle arts with someone in your life, and begin to gather all the benefits associated with the “new yoga.”
