Ceramics

and Body Mechanics

Tips for the Ceramic Artist

1) The best posture is a dynamic one with your core and shoulder muscles
engaged. When in doubt, move and change your posture!
2) Avoid staying in one position for more than 20 to 30 minutes.
3) Do mini exercises to adjust muscles that are being put into compromising
or stressful positions.
4) Listen to your body. If aches or pains arise, address the problem.

Adjust the height of the table, stool, and wheel to maximize
your core strength

The height of the wedging table
needs to be lower than your working
surface. You want to be able to use
the weight of your body to move the
clay forward.


The height of the stool and the wheel
should enable you to anchor your left
elbow onto your iliac crest (arch of
the hip bone). It is recommended
that your knee and hip are at the
same height.




Proper Technique: Wheelthrowing

-Engage your core muscle
-Tilt your pelvis to bend forward plus
anchoring your left elbow on your iliac crest
-Keep the lower shoulder muscle engaged
-Push forward using your whole body

Proper Technique: Wedging
-Core engagement
-The whole shoulder structure are engaged
and not rounded forward using only the biceps
-Legs are part enabling the body to push and
rock forward
-Arms and wrist are parallel to the ball of clay
engaging the triceps, shoulder blade muscles






Good Exercising after Wedging

Relaxing the wrists

and stretching the Progress the
wrists muscles wrist stretch by
placing the wrist
on the table

Tuck chin and

lengthen through
the spine


Relaxation & exercises after working on the
potters wheel and the end of your studio time

Relaxation Exercise
-Sit upright with your spine
in alignment
-Roll your shoulder back
and down
-Relax your arm to your sides
with your palms parallel to
your body and slowly rotate
your wrists

Adjustment Exercise
-Shrug the shoulder and roll
them back into a better
resting posture

Questions or Comments:
Laurie Blaes: laurieblaes@gmail.com
Jim Heafner: jim@heafnerhealth.com