It’s no secret that during our current times, there has been an increase in the number of people who are suffering from varying forms of stress and anxiety. Having a creative outlook is something that has been recommended by a host of mental health professionals with clay therapy being one of the most advocated approaches to reducing stress and anxiety.
Numerous psychological studies have been conducted on the subject of the healing power of pottery.
During Covid 19 pandemic, psychologist and biomedical scientist Peerapat Suputtitada found ‘increasing evidence of a close correlation between physiological and psychological aspects of human experience. Touch is one of the basic human experiences in loving, secure, memories, the ability to solve problems, sexuality, disease and injury. Clay is familiar with art therapy, and natural materials and is easily found. When hands touch clay, exteroceptors and interceptors become naturally stimulated, and every movement of the hands provides instant feedback to the brain, allowing non-verbal access to psychological and sensorimotor processes. Clay art therapy (CAT) might increase gamma power in the right medial parietal lobe and elevate theta power, activated memory processes, meditative and emotional states, and spatial-temporal processing. Salivary cortisol levels decreased which improved mood and decreased anxiety when doing clay art therapy in (…) patients with stroke and epilepsy. Muscle rigidity, tremors, fatigue, speech, and sleep disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease showed improvement after clay art therapy. The caregivers used it to lessen symptoms of fatigue and reduce their stress.’ Peerapat Suputtitada, ‘Clay Art Therapy for Physical, Psychological and Cognitive Improvement,’ 2021.
Clay is an easily accessible material with a huge amount of information available for people to start learning basic techniques that are rewarding. This is the perfect recipe to help boost self-esteem, grow and expand the creative mind and help to bring a level of control to life. Luckily, there are lots of classes available in many towns and cities which anyone can sign up for regardless of their artistic abilities. These classes will provide you with the starting skill sets for techniques such as hand-building and wheelwork. These activities will take you out of the normal and rudimentary rhythm of life and a change in routine is always beneficial.
From my own experience I can say with certainty that when using the wheel, my awareness and presence become heightened. My fingers become an extension of my brain as they take over my body through the process of touch. Throwing on the wheel is one of the only other instances outside of meditation practice in which I have felt true awareness and presence within my body; it is a pleasure and a gift to experience, and I encourage others to experience the same.