Meditating with Colour in Knitting
I’ve been practicing yoga for quite a few years now. I used to be a dancer so I enjoy fitness classes and this background lent it self well to following verbal instructions and holding physical poses. The physical benefits of a regular yoga practice well be well documented. What I didn’t realise was how much a yoga practice would do for my mental health.
I am not a spiritual person, but I found that taking 45-60 minutes a day to step on to a mat to focus on my breathing and the movement of my body did wonders for my outlook on life. I left everything that wasn’t useful to moving through the sequence of postures outside of the yoga studio. I didn’t need to think about work, or my relationships I just had to move into a certain pose and take five deep breaths.
Now my yoga practice is part of my mental health regimen - like brushing my teeth, drinking lots of water or trying to get enough sleep. My boyfriend will even take note when I haven’t done any yoga in a while, he can tell the difference in my mood, in my happiness!
And while studio classes have been sparse over the last few years, it’s lucky that if you have enough room for a yoga mat, you have enough room to practice yoga. There are so many wonderful resources out there to help and guide anyone wanting to practice at home. I myself started with Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube before I was brave enough to try an in person class. Over the past several months I have been using Apple Fitness+ for my yoga classes and have been really enjoying that platform for my practice.
But what does this have to do with colour and knitting? Well, I’m pretty sure I can relate anything back to knitting at this point! Especially to something that is good for your mental health like yoga!
At the end of almost every yoga class you will take the pose called “Savasana” which literally translates to “Corpse Pose”. To the outside looking in, it appears like you’re just lying flat on the ground, but it’s often described as the most difficult pose because is to relax, take rest and let go. Everything you had done that day, everything you had done in that 60 minute class, everything you didn’t do. You’re supposed to let your mind go as still as possible and release any thought that comes to your mind . You need to find peace.
Most of us can’t find peace in today’s world, it’s difficult to let go. Teachers usually guide you through this final relaxation. In the class I did on Apple Fitness+ the teacher said the following,
“Breathe in green, Breathe out blue. Breathe in lush, green forest and breathe out a calm, blue ocean.”
It was practically mind blowing to me because I had never thought to find relaxation through colour, to meditate to colours. I was picturing walking through softly silent forests at home in Ireland or standing in the water of Djipe Beach in Albania. I could pick out these moments of calm and identify their colours so strongly.
When I’m choosing yarn for a new project colour is one of the biggest determining factors. If I’m making a larger shawl or a jumper I think to myself, “You’re going to be looking at this colour for a long time, make sure you like it!” Now I’m also thinking about how this colour feels and how will it affect my mood. Knitting is my calming craft, will a fiery red support that calm? It’s something I’m going to think about more and be intentional with colour.