A yoga routine for every day of the month!
In the rhythmic dance of fiber arts, our fingers work, our minds find peace, and our bodies…well, sometimes they find a few knots – and I’m not talking about the yarn!
After hours of bending over a craft and gripping tools, our muscles, joints, and tendons can become tight and inflamed.
Fortunately, we aren’t alone, and many crafters have combined a love of yoga with their love of craft and come up with routines to alleviate aches and pains and keep our bodies humming.
We’ve curated 31 routines geared toward the particular overuse areas common to crafters and artists.
Stretch, soothe, and balance your body to continue to do what you love.
We’ve collected yoga routines from a wide variety of creators. See who resonates with you.
Wrists and hands
Focusing a little love on your hands and wrists will increase your flexibility, strengthen the tiny muscles that control your talented fingers, and melt the tension caused by small repetitive motions.
Your hands are your most valuable crafting asset – besides your brain.
Here are four routines that will show them a little love:
1. Yoga for Knitters – Carpal Tunnel
Yoga for Knitters – Carpel Tunnel from LionBrandYarn
2. Yoga for Knitters – Hands and Wrists
Yoga for Knitters: Hands and Wrists from Knit With Hannah
3. 5 Minute Yoga Stretches for Wrists
5 min Yoga Stretches for Wrists from Yoga with Kassandra
4. Hand Yoga for Stiff Fingers
Hand Yoga for Stiff Fingers and Wrist from Virtual Hand Care
Neck
Bending over your work for hours might be your happy place, but your neck might not have gotten the memo.
Try one of the below routines that target the neck and upper shoulder area to reduce some built-up tension.
5. 10 Minute Mobility Yoga
10-minute MOBILITY Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Relief from SarahBethYoga
6. Stretches for Neck, Shoulder
Stretches for Neck Shoulder and Upper Back pain from Mady Morrison
Arms
Boost circulation and build endurance with these routines that focus on arm tension.
7. 30 Minute Gentle Yoga – Tight Arms and Legs
30 Minute Gentle Yoga | Tight Arms & Legs from Candace Cabrera Tavino
8. Yoga for Biceps
Yoga for Biceps from Yoga with Joelle
Shoulders
Long work sessions create some serious stiffness in the shoulder area. Focusing on your shoulders will allow for more comfortable crafting and better posture.
We found four routines to work out all the kinks:
9. Yoga Swatch – Arms and Shoulders
Yoga Swatch – Arms and Shoulders from Yoga for Knotted Knitters
10. 15-Minute Mobility Yoga for Posture
15 minute MOBILITY Yoga for Posture, Upper Back Pain & Fix Rounded Shoulders from SarahBethYoga
11. Knitting Yoga – A Practice
Knitting Yoga- A Practice for Tight Shoulders from The Woolly Thistle
12. Neck and Shoulder Tension
Neck and Shoulder Tension Release Yoga Class from Five Parks Yoga w/Erin Sampson
Back
The intricate work of fiber arts can sometimes mean we aren’t giving our backs the attention they deserve. It’s easy to forget about posture when you’re in the flow.
Yoga is the perfect remedy to align the spine, ease out the knots, and strengthen our core.
Here are four routines to ensure your back is supported and healthy:
13. Yoga for Back Pain
Yoga For Back Pain from Yoga Dose
14. Yoga for Back Pain 30 Minute
Yoga For Back Pain from YOGATX
15. Yoga for Lower Back Pain
YOGA FOR LOWER BACK PAIN + TIGHTNESS from Tana Young
16. Lower Back Stretches – 15 Minute Yin
Lower Back Stretches – 15 min Yin from Yoga with Joelle
Hips
Sitting on our rumps for hours is necessary for most fiber crafts. We forget to get up and take a stretch break – until we stand up. Then, our hips groan in protest.
Hip-focused yoga will release tension and restore flexibility and circulation to the hip area.
Try out one of the four routines below:
17. Yoga for Hip Flexibility
Yoga For Hip Flexibility from Yoga with Bird
18. 24 Minute Yoga Flow for Tight Hips
24 Minute Yoga Flow For Tight Hips and Hip-Flexors from Well + Good
19. Good to Know 5 Poses for Tight Hips
5 Yoga Poses to Open Your Tight Hips from YouAligned
20. 15-Minute Yoga for Tight Hips
15 Minute Yoga for Tight Hips from Laura Baumann
Full body routines
If you want to give your body a wonderful once-over and address all the achy bits, here are four full-body routines to try:
21. Bedtime Yoga Stretch for Artists
Bedtime Yoga Stretch for Artists from Yoga Candi
22. Awaken the Artists Within
Awaken the Artist Within from Yoga with Adriene
23. 35 Minute Yoga for Flexibility
35 min Yoga For Flexibility from Yoga with Uliana
24. Gentle Yoga Stretch
Gentle yoga stretch for KNITTING and CROCHETING from Well With Hels
Chair yoga
Chair yoga is a beautiful way to begin practicing. If you’re a little shaky or new to yoga, using a chair for support is ideal.
It’s also a wonderful skill in your crafter tool belt if you’re at a UFO day or crafting with friends and don’t want to bust out the yoga mat and get on the floor.
And don’t be fooled – chair yoga routines are often labeled “for seniors.” That’s because the support of the chair makes it safe for just about anyone. However, a few good chair routines will allow you to release anywhere quickly.
Try one of these three routines below:
25. Chair Yoga for Quilters
Chair Yoga for Quilters from Homemade Emily Jane
26. Chair Yoga for Restricted Mobility
Chair Yoga for restricted mobility & Seniors 65 and up from Yoga by Kierstie Payge
27. Chair Yoga for Seniors
Chair Yoga for Seniors & Beginners from Senior Shape Fitness
Yin yoga
Last, nothing beats Yin Yoga for total body and mind relaxation.
The four routines below will give you a taste of this practice. This is an excellent place to start if you’ve never tried yoga.
28. 60 Minute Yin Yoga
60min Yin Yoga “Total Body Stretch” with Travis from Travis Eliot
29. Yin Yoga Beachside Bliss
Yin Yoga Beachside Bliss from Boho Beautiful Yoga
30. 30 Minute Yin Yoga
30 Min Yin Yoga from Yoga with Kate Amber
31. 25-Minute Yin Yoga – Allowing Ease
25-minute Yin Yoga from Cole Chance Yoga
We want to bind up stitches, not muscles.
I hope some of these routines help you maintain balance and mobility.