Knitting for Stress Relief with Lisa Diamond

The Book

For several years, I’ve taught people to use therapeutic knitting to reduce stress.  From community members to hospital employees and 3rd graders.  I’ve had the most wonderful experiences sharing this wonderfully meditative craft with people.

I first started knitting to have something to do with my hands while traveling or in the evenings as I’m not a big fan of TV.  I made tiny hats for premies in the  NICU at our local hospital as I wanted to give back but didn’t have time to go volunteer.  This was a perfect way to do something for others and keep my hands busy at the same time.  I wasn’t very good at it for a long time and it kept me frustrated because I just couldn’t seem to get it.  I took classes a few times a month and just kept at it.

What I found was that it was incredibly meditative.  Being a lover of science, I wanted to see if there were any studies validating what I became to believe was one of the world’s best kept stress relieving secrets.  To my delight, there were studies out there of people who’d had success using knitting to overcome chronic pain, addiction, weight loss, anxiety and depression.  I found a pretty big study done by a group of researchers in the UK that pulled it all together and showed that it indeed helps people.  The Benefits of Knitting is the result of an international study by Riley, Corkhill, & Morris (2013).

After seeing firsthand how knitting helps people through stressful life events, I’m committed to sharing these personal stories with others.  I’m looking to interview people who have used knitting to get through a difficult time in life.  It could be a divorce, grief, illness…any adversity that they felt knitting helped them cope. As knitters, we already know the health benefits of knitting and research is showing promise in this area.  I am writing a book about these heartfelt experiences to expand the research base on the benefits of knitting but also to help others with the hope that a simple, beautiful craft can be used in times of significant stress. I’m particularly interested in people who’ve used social knitting as a support network in addition to the art itself.

If knitting has helped you through a difficult time, contact me here or at TheHappinessKnittingProject@gmail.com

Grandson's Sweater

After nearly 5 years knitting, I'm getting much more confident and thankfully my grandson has taken a liking to sweaters.  So, this is my first attempt at a miniature sweater. He loves orange and with this self-striping yarn that has blue - well kinda looks like Bronco colors. 

As much as he loved the scarf I made him in October and wears it daily, I'm thinking he'll love this.  Back done, started on front and should be done in no time...oh I mean by Christmas.

Retreat a Resounding Success

Wonder Woman in the kitchen.  As usual, Donna's food was amazing.

Let the knitting begin...

The chapel was beautiful and so peaceful overlooking Pikes Peak.  A lovely place for introspection.

Walking the labyrinth.  A new experience for all of us.  Very meditative.

Sara finishes project #2. Dishcloth or washcloth? Could be either and a wonderful Christmas present.

Diane decides the planned headband would be better served as a "lovie" for her granddaughter. 

LaForet Retreat Center was nestled in the pines that smelled amazing. Weather was perfect for being outside (when we weren't knitting) and overall a wonderful relaxing time was had by all.

Thanks ladies for an incredible weekend, glad to spend it with your.

Weekend Retreat Starts TONIGHT!!!

The Happiness Knitting Project's first full weekend retreats starts tonight!!! Very excited and can't wait to spend a weekend with a group of wonderfully inspiring women who want to learn to use contemplative knitting as part of their mindfulness practice.  This, then can provide them the skills to carry over mindfulness in their everyday lives.  A profound experience and one I'm so grateful to be able to share.  What a gift.

We will enjoy wonderful, healthy meals (thanks Donna Baldwin), a little yoga, some journaling, hiking among the pines in beautiful Black Forest, CO and even a moving meditation as we walk a labyrinth.

As a very special treat, we will have movie night, complete with popcorn and of course wine, as we watch a very special movie that I've watched three times by the late Dr. Wayne Dyer.  The Shift was a profound film for me and cannot wait to watch it a 4th time and share it with these ladies.  A discussion will follow on it's potential impact in our lives and how we can make a difference in how we view the world.

For those of you who were unable to secure a spot for this event, stay tuned here or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thehappinessknittingproject/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/happinessknitfor future dates.

On a funny note, speaking of women's retreats.  Last evening I spent with my son and his friends having a wonderful time.  My phone kept alerting me of texts.  They finally asked who kept texting me and what they wanted.  When I told them, they laughed hysterically and were a little alarmed what this retreat was all about.  I share with you this clip from Fried Green Tomatoes about a women's retreat that involved mirrors, which I can assure you won't be part of our retreat but did give us all a good LOL!  http://www.metacafe.com/watch/an-Tpr6J2u47hnbJ/fried_green_tomatoes_1991_womens_strenth_class/

Perhaps, we'll have to watch it and discuss at the next retreat.   Stay tuned...

Contemplative Knitting

In honor of The Happiness Knitting Project's weekend retreat that starts tomorrow - some health benefits of therapeutic, or what I like to call contemplative, knitting.

Presented at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference

Yoga for Stress Reduction

As I lay in shavasana for my 4th time this week, I reflected on how much more relaxed and calm I felt despite all I had to do later that day.  I know, I know you're supposed to clear your mind and be "in the moment" but for me, THAT was the moment.  I was enjoying the calmness, reveling in it actually.  And for me, that, like always, is profound.

Yoga has been traced to antiquity perhaps beginning as early as the sixth century B.C.  Translated from the Sanskrit word, yoga means union-of body/mind/spirit.  It has been found to improve not only the perception of stress but its physiological impact on the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and the immune system.  All of which, over time, can lead to disease, illness, and potentially death.  In our extremely busy society, it is vital that we find healthy ways to reduce stress.  As a modality of complimentary alternative medicine, yoga has few side effects, is low-cost, and can be done most anywhere by anyone regardless of physical abilities or age.  It can lower healthcare utilization and hence cost.  Yoga also acts as a component of self-care wherein people can take a more active role in their own health and well-being instead of being an inactive participant with interventions given to them in the way of tests, medications, or therapies. 

I would recommend going to a yoga studio instead of taking a class at the local gym where often the focus is on the body only.  Getting back to the true meaning of yoga - union of body/mind/spirit.  To fully enjoy all of it's benefits, a yoga studio where that's all they offer, will provide a more in-depth approach.  Choices range from gentle, therapeutic, restorative to very high energy.  Start slow, advancing as you are able.  It was life changing for me and hopefully will be for you as well.