Therapy can be defined as an act, hobby, task, or program which relieves tension. It is also something that has a curative power or quality.

Crafting is all of these things and more.

When we bury ourselves into our craft work, we often enter "the zone," that state of mind where we lose time and become so involved in an activity that the outside world disappears and we are one with ourselves and our actions.

Tension Relief and Curative Powers

Stress and tension are becoming better understood by the medical community.

We know that high stress leaves a person more susceptible to illness and fatigue, and that it can have many strange and undesirable side effects. Each of us must learn how to manage stress in our own way, and the methods of doing so vary greatly, though the most effective areas include diet, exercise, and what many call zen activities.

Zen activities are those in which we lose ourselves to the task at hand. It is complete and total engagement with whatever we doing at the moment.

Crafting has a unique therapeutic value because it involves a total engagement of mind and body. Your hands are busily working at your project, while your mind is focused on creating.

The creative process itself has restorative power, but the act of making something out of raw materials brings body work into the picture, and with mind and body so engaged, tension tends to slip away, thwarted by mental focus and physical action, which, when combined, act as a powerful balancing force.

Recognizing the Zen Zone

There are several ways to recognize that you have entered the zen zone.

First off, you are one hundred percent engaged: body, mind, and spirit. You feel a complete connection to whatever you're doing.

You may experience feelings of intense concentration, which are the result of being totally focused.

Despite the intensity, you feel relaxed and balanced. One of the most notable signs of being involved in a zen activity or state of mind is the sense of timelessness. Hours drift by as if they were minutes, and time becomes meaningless and non-existent.

Choose Your Craft Wisely and Eliminate Stress

Knitting is not for everyone. Some people will experience joint pain, or lack the dexterity to manipulate the needles and keep the yarn from becoming a tangled mess.

Likewise, some folks could never get into pottery, because they cannot stand the slime and goop of wet clay. If you're looking for a craft or hobby to help eliminate stress and manage tension, find a craft that suits your personal preferences and physical limits.

The tedious nature of beading might make your brain and your eyes go bonkers, while scrapbooking will make your spirit soar.

Try different crafts until one feels just right and soon you'll be on your way to a stress-free existence.