"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart." (Unknown)

Knitting is my yoga. 

It has taught me patience, persistence, and serenity. It has brought many wonderful new friendships into my life. And with each new project I have learned something new, about knitting, myself and life. 

I am a member of three knitting groups that keep me sane. The Tuesday night Jam Factory knitters, the knitting group that I run where I work, "Knot Just Knitters" and the Wallingford knitters on the first Thursday of every month. Knitting can be a social, silent or solitary activity. It can be just as restorative to silently sit and knit and listen to others talking around you, as it can be to knit whilst catching up with friends. 

And attending these groups has taught me to slow down, to enjoy the moment. Knitting is like meditation, it allows your mind to focus on something else, and put it in neutral, so that ideas come to you. 

I was surprised to discover today that the meditative effect  knitting has on me is similar to the mindfulness a colleague  tells me she has learned through practising Karate. It focusses the mind.

I use it to wind down after dancing. It accomplishes many things - it winds me down after the buzz I get from dancing,  it's become a talking point in the group, and if I am to believe my friends, it appears to have a calming effect on everyone around me as well.

I don't knit because I'm patient. I'm patient because I knit. 

Strive to become an oasis of serenity. 

Purlgirl xx