Knitting therapy is the new at home meditation.

Caterina Bandini

At gOOOders, we believe that every choice we make is a vote for the future we want to live in, whether that’s the clothes we wear, the products that fill our homes or the cosmetics we use. That's why we decided to ask Gomitolorosa's volunteers to knit a very special scarf to keep you gOOOd and warm in the coldest days of the year.

Gomitolorosa is an incredible nonprofit organization that promotes knitworking in hospitals as a powerful tool to help reducing patient's anxiety (specially in the oncology wards).

Knitting is an effective, easily accessible tool that everyone can use to manage daily stresses. But it is also a valuable self-help tool for those dealing with more serious mental health issues and/or medical conditions. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that knitting can induce a form of meditation very similar to Mindfulness. Recent researches has shown that Mindfulness can be very effective in treating depression and chronic pain.

Like Yoga, knitting uses physical movements to induce a state of mindfulness and affect a change in your state of mind. It can leave you feeling more in touch with the real world.

Similar to a yoga flow, the rhythm of working the same stitch over and over again calms the heart rate and breathing, creating a feeling of stability and inner quiet.

Research suggests that the rhythmical, repetitive motions of knitting could enhance the release of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood, learning, and sleep. Therapeutic knitting deals with issues of loneliness, social isolation, self-esteem, stress/anxiety, and an unoccupied mind that’s left to ruminate on problems. It can boost confidence, self-esteem, motivation and mood. It can change negative thoughts and attitudes into positive ones.

Whether you are dealing with the daily ups and downs of a stressful, busy life, or dealing with chronic health issues, we all could benefit from reducing the amount of stress we experience in our daily lives.