With what is increasingly referred to today as "mindfulness" being a much-desired quality for people, it's not surprising crafts are being sought out for their mental and physical benefits.
The therapeutic effects that experimenting with clay can have are much needed in today’s fast-paced society. With proven benefits for both one’s physical and mental health, pottery is the perfect way to integrate self-care and creativity into your daily life.
It all begins with a ball of clay on the potter's wheel. As the wheel spins, the clay begins to form; your mind switches off, and you immerse yourself in complete synergy with your surroundings. This state is where the therapeutic benefits of pottery occur. 
Finding your centre through clay
Clay provides a natural way to connect with body and breath—the malleability and immediacy of the material naturally integrate the mind-body connection, something much needed in our often hectic lives.
Pottery is a powerful artistic avenue that is a deeply beneficial and therapeutic modality. By combining physical practise built around the primal experience of touch with emotional and creative engagement, pottery can awaken your spirit and activate your natural resilience.
Did you know? Our fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings on the human body, so playing with clay and stimulating the pressure points in our hands can have immense therapeutic benefits.
The benefits of pottery:
- Engages creative energy
- Encourages self-expression
- Increases mind-body connection and awareness
- Develops physical dexterity and mastery
- Promotes a sense of accomplishment
- Provides respite from intrusive thoughts and emotionsWorking with clay is a particularly effective component of mental health disorder treatment as it incorporates physical movement and tactile sensation with meditative practise. By creating both decorative and utilitarian objects, you are able to explore your creative needs and gain a sense of mastery over your body and psychological state.
To find out more about the 'power of pottery' and how the therapeutic benefits of working with clay can help, read more about my story on the ptsduk website.
One PTSD UK supporter with C-PTSD said pottery therapy ‘saved my life’. ‘A psychologist suggested I take up pottery again … I haven’t looked back! I now have a fully functional pottery studio where I do pottery for therapy. I can honestly tell you, it HAS transformed my life. I feel the therapeutic benefits of working with clay each day’.
“Focusing on a piece of clay blocked out everything else in my life. I realised that when you focus just on the clay, you’re distracted from your problems, especially if you’re in distress. Best of all, clay is magical. There is no right or wrong. Whatever you produce helps increase a feeling of self worth.”