For the past few years, I’ve been knitting and crocheting as an active meditation; it’s been so good for me in times of anxiety. For the past six months, I’ve been preparing to teach MedKNITation, as I call it, at Vogue Knitting Live. And for the past few days, I’ve been in a state of profound gratitude over the reception my knitting and crochet meditations received.
Over 140 people came to the class, held at Vogue Knitting Live’s 10th anniversary in New York City. That’s more people than I’ve ever taught at one time. It felt so friendly and intimate.
The best part was seeing the looks on people’s faces when I told them that yes, knitting and crochet are legitimate forms of meditation. That they’re not just hobbies; these are valuable tools for coping with stress. They help people with anxiety, trauma, PTSD, people who can’t meditate, people who can meditate, children and adults who have trouble sitting still and focusing, people addicted to the phone, people in recovery from other addictions… With their tangible point of focus, comforting tactile sensations, and the soothing repetitive motions of the stitches, knitting and crochet have tremendous potential to made meditation more accessible and help us cope with stress.
I’m so grateful to have been part of VKLNY2020, and it was wonderful to be able to announce my guided audio meditations there. I have two to offer you: one is the basic MedKNITation practice, and the other is Deep Relaxation, which I wrote about in Yoga Mind. (It will be a lot easier for you to do without having to read it first! Now I can just guide you along.) Visit the Shop page, choose your meditations—or a bundle of both—and use the discount code VKL2020 to get 10 percent off at checkout. Offer good from now until Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.
My heart-filled thanks to everyone who came, and to all who are meditating, and MedKNITating, with me through these guided meditations!
