Learn to Knit for Your Health
Have you always wanted to learn to knit but felt you were too busy or guilty because you knew you should be doing something else more constructive? Well...worry no longer. Here are some excellent reasons why learning to knit should become your top priority.
Health benefits of learning to knit
Go ahead. Send Mayo Clinic a big thank you note! Why? Their recent study proves there are many health benefits when you learn how to knit. In their studies, they have proven that knitting during later years is good for your brain. Knitters show a 30-50% memory loss decrease and that's not all.
Doctors find the rhythmic repetitive action helps knitters manage stress, pain, depression, and also strengthens the immune system. Similar to what people experience when practicing yoga, research at Harvard University shows knitting brings the mind and body to the 'relaxation response'.
Knitting and needlecrafts like it can lower physiological mechanisms. This is a fancy way of saying it helps to lower your blood pressure. When individuals knit, the heart rate can drop up to 11 beats per minute.
Because of the many benefits knitting has, institutions in the U.S. are now including knitting in their activities provided and teaching residents to learn how to knit. They have found that forming knitting groups in homes for the elderly or disabled not only helps the residents bond and form family units but has the added benefit of slowing memory loss and improving blood pressure.
Gary Scholar, Health & Wellness Consultant to the employees of the American Hospital Association, has incorporated knitting classes in his wellness programs because of the health benefits. Knitting can reduce stress in individuals who are coping with chronic illnesses and reduce stress for people who lead very hectic lives.
So...what can you possibly do now that you know how good knitting is for you? Why, begin knitting for charity of course. Combine the health benefits of knitting with the heart- warming benefits you'll receive when donating your hand-crafted items to those in need and you have one, huge, guilt-free reason to learn to knit.