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I just finished Protocols by Andrew Huberman, and it gave me a much deeper understanding of why I built The Hookery. Here's my book report, and how I'm putting a few of the protocols to work: less scroll, more sun, sleep, calm, focus and here and now.

A few weeks ago I went on what I thought was a spa retreat. It turned out to be a vegetarian yoga retreat. There was no bacon. There was, however, an amazing Yoga Host.  The host ran a workshop called Living with Ease. I walked in expecting a nice stretch. I walked out with an idea I haven't stopped thinking about, and it turns out it has a lot to do with crochet. Sthira sukham asanam It's a phrase from the Yoga Sutras, one of the oldest texts on yoga. Broken down: Sthira: steady, stable, firm Sukham: comfortable, easeful, joyful Asanam: posture, seat Put together: your posture should be steady and easeful. It doesn't mean effortless, and it doesn't mean forced. A good yoga pose takes real effort, but the moment you start gripping, straining or holding your breath, you've lost it. You're no longer practising, you're efforting. This concept was summed it up in one line that I've written on a sticky note above my desk: "Effort with ease, presence without pressure." Efforting vs effort Most of us are very good at efforting. We push through, grit our teeth, white-knuckle the week and call it discipline.  OMG that was 99% me, I thought I just needed more grit, more tenacity, more hours. I know this one personally. Since my accident, I've tried to action my way back to balance more times than I can count. My neuro and physio rehab teams talk a lot about pacing, which is really a polite way of saying Emily, stop efforting.The progress comes when the effort is steady, not when it's forced. Effort is choosing to show up. Efforting is fighting yourself while you do it. What this has to do with your tension Here's where it gets practical for crocheters. Tension is sthira sukha in your hands. When we're stressed, rushing or trying too hard to get it right, we grip. The hook gets strangled, the yarn gets yanked, the stitches get tight, and suddenly you're fighting to get the hook into the next loop. Your shoulders are up around your ears, and you haven't breathed properly for three rows. That's efforting, and it shows in the fabric. Good tension is steady and easeful: Steady: consistent stitches, a rhythm you can trust, yarn flowing at an even pace Easeful: a relaxed grip, soft shoulders, breathing, and letting the hook do the work Next time you pick up your hook, try a quick check-in: Drop your shoulders. Loosen your grip on the hook by about 10%. Take one slow breath out before the next row. It's a small reset, but you'll feel the difference in your body and see it in your stitches. Effort with ease at Christmas December is basically a masterclass in efforting. There's the shopping, the lists, the wrapping and the end-of-year everything. A handmade gift can go one of two ways. Started in a panic on 20 December, it becomes one more pressure. Started now, with many Sundays up your sleeve, it becomes the calmest part of your silly season. The effort is still real, because every stitch is time you're choosing to give to someone you love. That's what makes it special. But when you start early, the ease stays in it, and that's what they'll feel when they unwrap it. Presence without pressure. That's the gift for both of you. A few questions to sit with These are adapted from the workshop. Try them with a cuppa, or over your next few rows: Where in my life am I efforting? What helps me feel easeful, physically and emotionally? What could I soften, even slightly? What does ease feel like in my hands when I crochet? Who would I love to make something for this year, and what would it mean to them? Pick a phrase to take with you The host gave us a handful of mantras to choose from. These are my favourites for the hook: Effort with ease, presence without pressure. Rooted and relaxed. Presence over perfection. (Especially for anyone who frogs a row for one wonky stitch. You know who you are.) Pick one. Say it when you notice your grip tightening. Ready to start? If there's someone on your list who deserves something made by your hands, now is the easeful time to begin. I've pulled together the makes I'd give the people I love most in our Christmas Ready collection. Start early, and make it with effort and ease. Emily 🧶 The Hookery

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