>My mother-in-law recently sent me an article that she had torn out from a magazine. I can’t tell what magazine it is, but it’s from a column called Mindwise. The article said:
According to research at the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the repetitive motion and focus of needlework can elicit what’s known as the relaxation response – a calming meditation-like state that slows heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that knitting is associated with a lower risk of dementia for those 65 and older.
Food for thought, eh? It reminds me of a talk I heard at The National Needlearts Association market last year given by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee of Yarn Harlot fame. She talked about the science behind repetitive motions like knitting and crocheting, and how people are smarter and more creative when they do things like this. I wish I could remember all the details – but instead of taking notes, I was knitting (what a surprise, eh?).
Finally, I received a postcard in the mail a couple of days ago advertising a Contemplative Knitting Workshop on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 9am-5pm at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis. For more information check out the Shambhala Center’s website.
The sock monkey is almost as big as Diane, whom we affectionately call Big D. Diane is not only a knitter; she also crochets and needlepoints. Thanks Diane for sharing your sock monkey with us!
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