Fitness for quilters … and all you other needlers too

Spring is afoot, though she does seem to be limping slightly, so it is time to turn our thoughts away from our machines and to think about ridding ourselves of our winter “ahem” stores.
There are many reasons why we should push ourselves away from the sewing table, to drop our knitting needles, shed our shuttles.
Perhaps the primary reason is that a healthy crafter is a productive crafter, that and I really don’t want my north forty to gain any more acreage if you know what I mean.
Exercise does more for us than just make us healthy though. It can energize us, it can inspire us. Just imagine what a half an hour’s walk can do for you. You might spot that perfect color to add to your quilt or see a heron take flight and envision creating that landscape quilt or tapestry.
If you walk with a friend you can brainstorm possible future projects and really get your blood pumping.
Stepping back from our machines also allows us to step back and remember that life is out there. The quilt police aren’t going to break down your door if you don’t get that last square done but go out and run with the dog instead. The knitting Nazis aren’t going to haul you off if you’ve only done three inches of knitting and then decide to go outside and weed the garden.
Our backs will also thank us if we stop every 20 – 30 minutes and get up and stretch, do squats ,what have you. The thing is if you step away for awhile, you may find that when you come back you have more energy, and to be quite frank , a little more joy when you resume your project. If you are like me, sometimes I begin to view my craft as just another chore…I’ve got to get three more squares done, 2 more quilts done by…type of mentality instead of just enjoying myself. If I just stop for a while and go out and bike around the neighborhood I feel much better and I start to have fun with my quilting again. It’s amazing what an effusion of oxygen will do for the brain!
So, I say to you, my breather. When the sun does finally come out in your neck of the woods, go out and enjoy it. Your fabric, yarn etc. will wait for you.