Is Doing Pottery Good For You?
…well obviously we think so but just to be sure we’ve conducted our own research to explore the more scientific reasons why.
It’s not just about what you make. Doing pottery can provide a foundation for physical and mental well-being.
Time to get Physical !
Any one who has tried throwing a pot on the wheel will know that it’s a whole body workout. However, whether you are throwing or hand building, doing pottery will enhance your fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.
You don’t need to be artistic at all (glaze is a wonderful thing!), but there are a lot of intricate hand movements requiring precision and control. Your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination will definitely get a work out alongside the muscles in the hands and fingers.
All that manual labour will help keep the joints flexible. For potters with arthritis or joint stiffness, the gentle and repetitive nature of pottery can act as a form of low-impact exercise reducing joint pain and stiffness while improving overall hand strength and flexibility.
Take a Mind Break !
The creative process often requires being present in the moment leading to improved focus and concentration. It’s a much needed distraction in our busy lives. All this focus leads to relief from stress. It’s well known that that is a wonderful thing that can lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension and decrease stress hormones like cortisol.
Creative art also triggers the release of dopamine to improve your mood, mental resilience and reduce symptoms of depression.
We said take a mind break, but pottery is an inherently creative process. The technical challenges of the clay material encourage thinking outside the box and problem solving which has also been linked to increased neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections.
All this focus also promotes mindfulness which has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.
Holistic balance
WOW! Just as we suspected, pottery offers a fabulous combination of physical and mental benefits. It’s a brilliant choice for a holistic, hobby enriching life, health and well-being.
Knowing all this makes us feel good too and makes what we do all the more special. Our unique community studio is volunteer led so that we can focus on the things that matter most.
We were set up with the sole purpose of improving the accessibility of ceramics to our local community. Being volunteer led means that we can offer modern, first class studio facilities with a range of the highest quality materials.
If you are thinking about doing pottery but don’t know where to start read our post: How To Get Started With Pottery As A Hobby