Guys, I’m super nervous about sharing this video! Am I the only one a little weirded out by seeing themselves talk? Watching the footage made me feel like I have no idea how my face moves, and then I felt like my positioning was odd and questioning how it was all coming across. Then doing take after take (after take, after take….) in the living room, with the camera on a tripod in front of me and the baby napping in his crib upstairs…. all I can say is thank goodness my cat Yarn came in to keep me company. She has a good sense of timing. Because for all those times you watched an instructional video and thought, “man, I wish I was watching a cat video!” now you can have both at the same time!
 For most of us crafters it’s really easy to be hunched over our work, knitting away for hours and not pausing to stretch or move around that much. In this video, I cover a few exercises that I find really help with areas that I get tension when knitting for a long time- shoulders, hands and wrists. But, as I am not a doctor or health care professional or have any professional fitness background, why should you take my word for it on how to properly perform an exercise that is intended to reduce injury and strain?
So I partnered up with the Ontario Chiropractic Association who have thoroughly vetted this video and the exercises I’m doing (chiropractors, not just for your back!). They are awesome good sports to be associating with me and my cat.
Knitted Bliss: Exercises and Stretches for Knitting Strain on Vimeo.
I think a lot of us sort of casually assume that as we get older, aches and pains are ‘normal’ because of our activities, but they really aren’t. And if you have health benefits, visits to a chiropractor are usually covered (at least they are in Canada) so there is no need to just tolerate it- it’s worth getting checked out.
Let me know if you try these exercises and find them helpful- I really do practice them! The shoulder one in particular does double duty for me, I find it’s also great for the tension that builds up in my shoulders and upper back from carrying the baby around all the time.
*This post and video are sponsored by the Ontario Chiropractic Association. All thoughts expressed in this blog post and on the video are my own words and opinions. The video was reviewed by the OCA to approve the accuracy of the information and demonstration of exercises.Â
I love this video! Some of the exercises were new to me, and I’ll be starting them today! I have a lot of knitting planned . . . You sounded and looked very natural to me 🙂 I hope you do more videos in the future, with or without the cat.
That is a great topic to discuss, Julie! And you made it just perfect, I think you are a natural, I would definitely watch your video podcasts! I really love this information, I am a certified pilates instructor and all you are saying makes perfect sense to me. The most important thing is to do it regularly, even if after a couple of weeks of exercising, you feel like nothing is aching and you can relax now, the pain will come back again if you stop. So, I made it a daily habit. It is much easier than it sounds – after awhile you get so used to the routine, that can’t imagine not doing it. Thank you, thank you for this great post!
I love Pilates, it is the form of exercise I always go back to and I try to do regular sessions at home. You’re right, regularity is key and pays off.
I think you have found a new career ! You are really natural and have such a pleasant voice. More podcasts in your future? Well done, anyway, and great idea to have this approved by chiropractors. And I just loved your cat going about his business as if nothing happened. Thank you for these gentle reminders and simple exercises.
You did an awesome job Julie, I wouldn’t have known you were nervous at all! Thanks for sharing this information, it’s something you don’t really think about but definetely useful tips for knitters and anyone really who uses that type of repetitive motion!
Excellent job and very informative!! I’m so glad you made this helpful video for all of us. You looked lovely and didn’t seem nervous. And your kitty is gorgeous and so loving!! Well done!
Julie, what a great video filled with useful tips! I also think you could do podcasts, I would watch them! Amazingly, even though I have knitted for almost 20 years I have never had strains or tensions from it.
I lce it! You did such a good job! I love hearing your voice. My heart warms every time I hear Canadians say “about!” The cat is the best! Now a very famous kitty!
“Lce” was supposed to be love. Autocorrect fail.
nicely done!
That was terrific! I love to hear that we don’t have to surrender to the notion that aging = painful hobbies. I wish there were more videos like this out there for us crafters!
I hear you, watching ourselves is always weird. I reviewed wool combs a few years ago and I still can’t watch it! The camera loves you (and Yarn too!)
I think your video turned out great! I caught a little of your Canadian accent in there. Being from Wisconsin, when we travel everyone knows where we’re from because of our accents. Of course, I don’t think I HAVE an accent! LOL.
Awesome video! You’re a natural, and Yarn is a star. I needed to read this today as I’m really starting to notice stiffness in my shoulders. I love your tip to remember to stretch at the end of every row, that could be a game changer for me.
Great video! And great reminder to move around. I have a lot of neck and shoulder stiffness, and when I’m in the zone, I don’t really realize the building tension until I’m already in pain. I love that you took the extra step to vet these stretches with a chiropractor as well. Also, you look and sound lovely in your video. 😉
You did a great job! I was a knitter for at least 30 years before I learned these types of exercises. It’s great that you are helping to get the word out.
Thanks for doing this! This was an informative video, and it had some new exercises that I wasn’t familiar with.
thank you so much for showing this ~~ it is something I really am going to do I like to sit and knit a lot and so needed these exercises~also could you so kindly tell me where to get the pattern for the adorable bunny/puppy plant covers ? thanks 🙂
crystal
HI Crystal, it’s a free pattern! You can find it here: http://www.stitchandunwind.com/guest-post-knit-animal-pot-cozies/
Lovely video! I’m fairly certain everyone feels that they sound or look funny watching themselves on film! The posture check is one thing I definitely need to work on – my shlumping over game is on point (which is horrible, ha!) as well as the shoulder movement. I tend to move my shoulders up slowly as I’m knitting and it gets quite tense, so I try and keep aware of what my shoulders are doing, but not nearly often enough – but working them around and getting them back to a normal position should be helpful! Thank you for making this video! 😀
Great video! I have several exercises I do to keep me knitting for prolonged periods, but I didn’t know about the weight in the hand exercise. Thanks for the tip!
Lovely, Julie! It’s so nice to put a voice to your beautiful face!
I loved this Julie! A great video and thank you for the tips!
Great video, Julie! Way to go. Yarn is so funny. She really wanted to be in it, no doubt about that.
We are our own worst critics. You were great, Julie, and thanks for all the tips! And your kitty is adorable.
Beautiful and helpful video … great job as always Julie and you look Lovely when speaking … Yarn is also a great support act :)) x
Charming – and useful, too!
that’s a great video, and your cat is beautiful 🙂 these exercises seems really good, and much better than other ones I’ve sent (because I really don’t want to get out of my chair when I’m engrossed in knitting!) I will start doing these more often, and will also share your video 🙂 you’ve done great! jenny xx
I cannot wait to watch this tonight. But judging from the comments it sounds like you are a natural!
This video is tremendously helpful (and adorable) so THANK YOU!
Julie your video was AWESOME! I do these stretches often because, having Rheumatoid Arthritis, I periodically go through physical therapy. I have been given these same stretches and exercises and various others by my therapist that I have been seeing for many years. They help tremendously. Thank you for sharing them with everyone. They are a great help. I love your kitty, Yarn too!
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Thanks for the pointers Julie! You should definitely think about some regular video blogs…you would be so good at them. Maybe when your baby is a bit older? It’s probably hard to find quiet time to do that with young children in the house.
Such great tips (I do a lot of hunching when knitting, so now I really try to catch myself and re-position myself often.) Also, I love my chiropractor – it has made a world of difference for my chronic shoulder and neck pain. Last, you have a really nice speaking voice! ! And your cat is such a cutie – petting a cat may not be a cure, but it helps alot for almost every ailment. 🙂
Thanks Julie, great video, informative and you were lovely. I’ll be using the shoulder exercises for sure and the wrist strengthening is great for so many things in addition to knitting
This is a very informative video, thanks for making it!! I never knew about wrist exercises, but now I wonder why not! I’m totally guilty with sitting in a bad position for extended periods of time… And definitely have the backaches to show for it! L had started mimicking the way I shrug from the backaches… (and would also start grunting for “special effects” when he sees me struggling with a jar lid. What a comic!) Will definitely be trying out these exercises… Maybe they will help. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this! You did a wonderful job clearly demonstrating the exercises. I will be trying out the shoulder one for sure.
Such great tips, Julie – thank you! I get pain in my right shoulder and often bribe my bf to rub it. I think you’ve just let him off the hook 🙂
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