Downward Facing Knitter
Have you heard? KNITTING IS THE NEW YOGA. I read it in the newspaper.
What a laugh.
Now, I can certainly see how knitting can be a spiritual practice, and I am inclined to even try to take 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, maybe light a candle and knit. I'll call it meditation, even though its just another excuse for picking up my sticks in the middle of the day.
But comparing it to yoga? Now that's pushing it. Yoga actually takes physical effort, flexibility and stamina. It can help get you in shape, elongate muscle and contribute to the total health of your body. It is exercise, folks.
Let's face it - knitting is not exercise. You might work up a little sweat on your lip when you drop a stitch or have to rip out a row of yarn overs. You might drop a ball of yarn and have to reach down to pick it up. But knitting hasn't, and isn't, gonna do anything to help me lose the 20 pounds I've been talking about losing for the last 2 years. In fact (and I hate to tell you this) but knitting is a rather sedentary practice. Which is, of course, why I like it. I'd even go further to say that we might end up with a new ailment, like tennis elbow or skier's knee: KNITTER'S ASS. I can say this because I have one!
So, let's not forget to put down the sticks and take a walk now and again. Even if its just to the knitting store.
Um, yoga? Don't get me wrong...yoga's lovely...but it can hurt. And when you're doing the chair pose next to the weight lifter wannabe who grunts like, well, like someone using a certain type of seat for a certain function...give me my knitting needles any day.
Posted by: Amy | October 03, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Yoga? I don't think so. I want to get in good enough shape to try hot yoga. I don't have to be in any shape to knit. *L*
Posted by: Cookie | October 03, 2006 at 11:06 PM
KNITTERS ASS!!! OMG - I can't stop laughing - yes, I have me the KNITTERS ASS, too. Although, I feel surprisingly limber at times, I'm sure I'm not reaping the yogic benefits of knitting physically....
Posted by: chris | October 04, 2006 at 06:47 AM
I think the comparison to yoga is to the spiritual, meditative side of yoga (and the trendiness), not the physical. I've practiced yoga for almost 10 years, and the physical practice of yoga is always meant to contribute to the spiritual, not the other way around.
Now, as for knitter's butt,I want to avoid that at all costs. That photo is scary!
Posted by: heidi | October 04, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Knitter's ass! I'm still laughing about that one.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 04, 2006 at 09:30 PM
Hilarious!
Posted by: Ana | October 13, 2006 at 02:22 PM