Wool therapy: more than 3 benefits of knitting for your well-being

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Those who have already tried wool therapy agree that it is useful for quieting the mind, as well as organizing ideas and thoughts.

Since the rise of mindfulness, Many people have allowed themselves to appreciate activities that, in addition to offering them a hobby or a momentary distraction, help them calm down, organize their ideas, thoughts and emotions, and also exercise their brain. This is the case of wool therapy.

As its name indicates, Wool therapy consists of the action of knitting as a therapeutic measure. It is not aimed at a specific audience, so anyone interested can put it into practice whenever they need and want.

People who have not yet practiced it may perceive it as a simple activity, however, it has different degrees of difficulty ─which is very convenient when it comes to improving skills and promoting various cognitive processes─ and offers several benefits, as we can see below. continuation.

Wool therapy is no longer just a “granny thing”

Given that many older women used to knit to make clothing for their family and friends and at the same time entertain themselves by developing different projects, For many years it was considered that this activity was “for grandmothers.” However, over time this perception changed.

Today many people recognize that need take a break from your routine, take a moment for yourself and disconnect from the world of multitasking and distractions. In this sense, activities such as wool therapy are of great help. Therefore, it is no longer uncommon to see people of any age learning to knit.

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Beyond the action of knitting and obtaining a specific garment, wool therapy offers a hiatus in which you don’t think about anything other than what you are doing. This, without a doubt, is what allows us to obtain several benefits.

One of the main reasons why knitting became a form of therapy is because, as the activity develops, people learn to focus their attention on the present moment, much like yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

Benefits of wool therapy

When knitting, your eyes must see how the needles pass through the wool to reproduce a pattern that you previously chose and your hands must hold both the needles and the wool, as well as move in certain ways at a certain pace. All of this might seem like a simple process, but it is far from it. Actually, It constitutes an exercise for the mind, as complete as playing chess, playing an instrument or writing.

Knitting allows you to exercise your hands, but also stimulates learning and memory capacity, encourages concentration and creativity. In addition, it promotes positive and comforting emotions.

Mental Health America (MHA) experts indicate that wool therapy has proven to be very useful for:

Release tensionCultivate patiencePromote well-beingIncrease self-esteemFoster creativityLower blood pressureEncourage concentrationReduce stress and anxietyAlleviate feelings of lonelinessDistract the mind if you suffer from chronic painReduce the risk of suffering from depression and dementia

In view of all of the above, we can see when we pay attention to details such as the pattern that is followed, the color and texture of the wool and the needles, the friction of the materials on the skin of the hands, the shape that it takes. the garment, etc., Little by little the mind stops going to the past or the future and stays in the present. This is what It allows you to release tension, both physical and mental, calm down and experience rewarding sensations.

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The benefits of wool therapy can be seen, above all, in the medium and long term, once the habit of knitting has been acquired. Thus It is advisable to take advantage of it with some regularity, as far as possible.

You can practice it anywhere, whenever you want.

One of the main advantages of wool therapy is that It can be practiced at any time and place. The only thing you will need is a pair of needles, your ball of wool and a place to sit comfortably.

It is true that nowadays you can find tutorials online with which to start taking your first steps, but if you wish, you can also ask a family member or friend to teach you. Another option would be to enroll in a course to learn, share with other people and exchange experiences, advice and ideas, as well as devise collective projects.

If you need to take a break from your routine, reconnect with your inner self and regain calm, give wool therapy a try.