Study: Knitting Elicits Relaxation Response

According to Lion Brand Yarn, knitting and crocheting create the relaxation response. They lower blood pressure and heart rate in a manner similar to yoga and Tai Chi as well as the way meditation, prayer and other relaxation techniques effect the bodily changes. The repetitive motions involved in the handicrafts seem to be responsible for eliciting the relaxation response, according to the Lion Brand Yarn Company press release.

From Gilda's Clubs, which are organizations devoted to helping family members deal with the tribulations of cancer, to U.S. elementary schools, who hope to improve creativity and math skills to the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, knitting and crochet are receiving a wave of new interest.

Interviewed in the press release, Gary Scholar, a health and wellness consultant for the employees of the American Hospital Association, focused on the benefits of knitting and crocheting in relieving stress. He said that the activities could benefit both people under the stress of chronic illness and people under the stress of leading hectic lives. Scholar also thinks that crocheting and knitting would benefit children dealing with chronic illness. Scholar is the publisher of a recent book about a bunny who learns to knit in order to relax and gain the self confidence necessary to participate in a dance recital. The name of the book is ANGORA: I'm Knot Just Fluff, I'm Always Enough.

Ilana Rabinowitz, of the Lion Brand Yarn Company, stated that over the years the company had encouraged their customers to share their individual anecdotes about how knitting and crocheting had changed their lives, and that the company had collected over 500 personal stories with testimonials to the soothing and beneficial effects of the hobbies.