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Braided, hessian rope.
Richard Drury
Besides, it was an essential item.
It was for meditation.
Over the past few months, theres been an increased interest in mindfulness.
The app Calm was downloaded 911,000 more times in April than it was in January.
As SELF previouslyreported, theres truly never been a better time to get into a mindfulness practice.
Ive sashayed from distracting hobbies to coping mechanisms, from reading every book I own to seeking one-on-one therapy.
I also took the time to meditate, despite barely having the attention span for it.
Considering notallof these activities were possible in recent months, I found myself returning to knot tying.
In the years that followed, I turned to YouTube and Pinterest tutorials to expand my repertoire.
Meditation helps me coax myself out of my ruminative mind and into the physical, present moment.
And knot tying is, for me, simply a more active way to reach this state of mind.
Its a means to create my own controlled calm.
Half a century has passed, and therapeutic knot tying hasnt exactly caught on.
It doesnt matter if the knot doesnt turn out perfectly.
The process of practicing the techniques is what I find most captivating, mentally and physically.
Knot tying shares several commonalities with knitting, particularly the rhythmic movements.
So I reached out to those who know best: Girl Scouts.
She even keeps an 18-inch piece of rope at her desk to fidget with during meetings.
Knot tying has a few calming elements.
Its tactile, the movement of the rope through your hands is soothingits soft and smooth.
Knot tying is very similar to solving a puzzle, she tells SELF.
For as many times as I have tied knots, I still make mistakes and have to start over.
You never know until the last moment if you followed the steps correctly and have a successfully tied knot.
Its fun to have that moment of success!
If this puzzle-like process appeals to you, heres how to try tying knots.
First, find or purchase some rope.
Working with small,braided jute rope(around 5mm-8mm in diameter) is easier than the bulkier varieties.
Or you’ve got the option to work withsoft nylon ropeif youd prefer a gentler material.
Next, make a cup of tea and settle into a space of your own or somewhere fairly quiet.
Get comfortable on your bed, your desk, or on my preferred location to perch: the floor.
Next, consider switching on a calming playlist, or if youre following avideo tutorial, stick with that.
Take your rope and begin with a simple knot such as the square knot.
If youd like, gradually work your way up to moreintricate knots.
I prefer to attempt one knot per session, so as not to overload myself with the new movements.
Some starter knots involve three movements, while otherslike theCarrick bendinvolve up to 10 movements.
Its important to work at your own pace.
It was my way of winding down from a biology exam.
Chances are, youre more imaginative than that, so why not come up with your own knot?
Let your mind go and trust your hands to figure out whats next.
