The Benefits of Pottery

Pottery is a form of art that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a hands-on activity that allows for creativity to come alive. Pottery is also a great way to relieve stress and improve your mental health. This is because it requires focus and the act of moulding clay helps you relax your muscles, reducing your blood pressure and regulating breathing. The calm that comes from pottery has also been proven to alleviate pain.

Potters begin their work by preparing the clay body. This is done through a process called kneading which allows moisture to be evenly distributed throughout the clay. This prepares the clay for the next step which is to de-air it. This can be accomplished by using a vacuum machine or manually through a wedging process. Once the clay is de-aired it is ready to be shaped.

It takes a lot of concentration and attention to give clay a shape and the sense of touch is of high importance. This creates a sense of mindfulness and removes outside distractions allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. This has been proven to decrease stress levels and is also known to help with depression.

Another reason to love pottery is that it’s a fantastic exercise for your hands, wrists and arms. It strengthens the muscles in these areas and is a great workout for those with arthritis. It’s not a strenuous activity that can cause painful movements like some other crafts, but it does require constant movement and dexterity.