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.  

Sweaters Completed...finally

Finally sewed them together and they're done. What a great feeling. The purple one is the most delicious Freia Handpaint I found in a darling shop in Bend, OR on vacay last year.  The blue one is a summer cotton done just in time to wear next year 😋. Oh well, such is the life of the knitter! It's a bit of a strain getting it over my fat head but often the story of my life. I chalk it up to a cranium full of a very large brain🤓

Knitting as Mindfulness Practice

Stress affects every cell in our body and is responsible for 60% of all illnesses from colds to cancer. Our current focus in the healthcare arena on healing illness is clearly not working.  We need a seismic shift to wellness, prevention, and an overall sense of well-being.  The statistics on how stress is affecting us is staggering.  According to the American Institute of Stress, 75% of all doctor visits are related to stress; stressed people have a 25% increase risk of heart attack and 50% increase risk of stroke.  

Untreated stress can progress to mental illness like anxiety and depression.  According to the World Health Organization, mental illnesses are the largest cause of disability in any developed nation.  Stress levels are at epic proportions.  

We continue to conduct research on new medications, surgical procedures, and invasive testing to cure when we should be focusing our efforts on what is causing the problem in the first place.  STRESS!  Providing people with tools for managing their stress is paramount in a healthy society.  Learning to illicit a relaxation response such as that achieved with knitting can counteract stress, according to Dr. Herbert Benson from The Mind/Body Medicine Institute as Massachusetts General Hospital.  The rhythmic and repetitive motions of knitting are thought to be calming by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Inducing a meditative state by using both hands, crossing the midline of the body, is consistent with mindfulness.

That's what The Happiness Knitting Project is all about.  Teaching people to use knitting as  a mindfulness practice.  There is a growing body of research that knitting can be therapeutic.  Initially, it can be frustrating like learning anything new can be.  But once you get in the rhythm of it, feel the yarn fibers flowing through your fingers, even being mindful of the animal who's fleece you are using...are all mindful activities.  Go ahead, give it a try.  You'll be infinitely glad you did.  

To read some of the latest research, go to stitchlinks.com

Leadership

What are your thoughts on what makes a good leader?  Is it the same as a manager?  I think they're very different styles and philosophies.  To me, a leader is someone who shows by example those behaviors she wants others to emulate.  Walks the walk, so to speak.  A good leader encourages the accomplishments of others and makes sure they are acknowledged as THEIR accomplishments not an extension of her own.  A manager tells people the behaviors she expects them to exhibit, maybe exhibiting them herself, maybe not. The do as I say not as I do model.  An exceptional leader has well developed social intelligence.  Is able to meet people where they're at in a non-judgmental way.  She fully understands that everyone has a reason for behaving the way they do and it isn't because they woke up that morning deciding to make mistakes.  An empathic demeanor is the leader who takes the time to understand how each person learns, what makes them tick and how they can be mentored in the positive skills they have.  She does not focus on what's wrong, their qualities that need fixing.  A good leader works to her staff's strengths not their weaknesses.  Hmmm, these are qualities of a good spouse, parent, and friend as well.  Think about it.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction).  Much of the research is based on mindful meditation, an "inner technology" that everyone possesses. The premise is that greater attention, awareness, and acceptance can facilitate more flexible, adaptive responses to stress.

The latest scientific research on mindfulness has demonstrated beneficial effects on several aspects of whole-person health, including the mind, the brain, the body, and behavior.Clinical trials and laboratory studies alike suggest that the mechanisms of mindfulness involve not only relaxation, but important shifts in cognition, emotion, biology, and behavior that may work synergistically to improve health. There is also emerging evidence that mindfulness training is associated with greater meaning and peace in one’s life(spirituality) as well as enhanced relationships with others. (Greeson, 2009, p. 17)

University of Massachusetts and UCLA have information on their mindful awareness centers on their websites. There are many formal training programs across the country to lead mindfulness based stress reduction groups. Many of us incorporate a lot of these strategies in our practices. However it was interesting to hear of the formal training and the evidenced - based practices.

Greeson, J. M. (2009). Mindfulness based research update: 2008. Complementary Health Practice Review 14 (1), 10-18.

Journey-Into-Wellness.com