Knitting is a hobby that isn’t just limited to producing serotonin (hormones associated with happiness) after successfully learning a new stitch, but it also has other significant physical and mental benefits.

If you’re looking to detox your mind and body to escape from your stressful life, you should consider taking up knitting. Here’s why it’s so great:

The impact of knitting on physical health

Knitting is a meaningful distraction from chronic pain or physical injury for people around the world of all ages and backgrounds. It acts as a therapy that promotes fine motor coordination to alleviate or manage pain.

Additionally, knitting works best to lower blood pressures as it tones down hyperactivity in children and adults. And because it’s a goal-driven task, you’ll be paying full attention to getting the job at hand done.

The impact of knitting on mental health

Knitting is much like therapy that helps you cope with mental health challenges better.

Knitting can have a lasting effect on you. It releases hormones (such as serotonin, dopamine, estrogens, and progesterone) in your body that help counter anxiety and irritability to help you feel calm and relaxed. It’s also readily recommended by therapists to treat eating disorders.

Did you know that in 2009 Sheila Rovelstad and Lynn Zwerling introduced a ‘knitting behind bars’ program for prisoners? The results were as such that men who knit indulged less in acts of violence. They were able to manage destructive thoughts and behaviors themselves.

Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent cause of dementia: the loss of language, memory, and other cognitive skills. Knitting slows the onsets of dementia to keep Alzheimer’s at bay, as it actively nurtures the network between brain cells.

Some of the other notable mental health benefits of knitting include reduced depression and a rapidly increasing sense of wellbeing.

The impact of knitting on community

Knitting also significantly compresses feelings of loneliness and isolation by promoting social connections. If the coronavirus pandemic has restricted your physically walking options into a class, you can always join one online.

Alternately, knitting for charity or a loved one is an excellent booster for your brain’s rewards system as it’s calming and productive. People often claim that knitting is addictive, but it’s still better than any other self-destructive addiction you may have.

We rest our case here.

At Art Cove, we’ve completed 50 years of delivering quality art, crafts, and knitting supplies over the United States. Our collection of crochet and knitting supplies includes balls of yarns and threads in every color, needles in every size, and books to help you get started. Happy Knitting!

If you’re ready to go the extra mile, you can also buy the wooden embroidery hoops from our online store.