Why Pottery Classes in Chicago Improve Your Wellbeing

Enjoy the benefits of learning a new skill and exploring your creativity at pottery classes in Chicago. If you’re looking for ways to unwind, learning something new and creative might be the perfect antidote for stress or a restless mind. Guided by a friendly teacher and your own intuition, with these indoor activities you’ll be able to sink into relaxation in a unique and tactile way. 

Hop on the pottery wheel and learn how to turn a lump of clay into something functional—allowing your body and mind to work synergistically together. Pure bliss!

Pottery is one of the biggest art trends right now, and there is a reason for it! Not only does creating something feel incredibly rewarding, but it’s also relaxing. In these crazy times, we are all striving for a mental break and creative outlet, and pottery can serve as the perfect remedy. Everyone wants to get their hands into clay, even celebrities! 

The good news is, that you don’t need to be a celebrity to reap the benefits of this mindful practice. Pottery classes in Chicago, as well as every other state in the country, are super accessible. Plus, it's a must-do in Chicago, for both your well-being and as a creative treat to yourself!

The therapeutic effects of learning pottery

Ceramics has become increasingly popular because of its relaxing benefits and it is proven that art can improve your brain function. Participating in art has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and can increase serotonin levels and reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone. 

In fact, just 45 minutes of art can have this effect on the body with 75% of participants in a study who engaged in artistic production experiencing this decrease in cortisol, according to a 2016 study published in Art Therapy. If you’ve ever felt relief shortly after learning a new artistic skill, you aren’t imagining things. These simple creative acts are actually having a really positive effect on your mental well-being - even if it’s only getting out of your head for an hour or so.

Historical art therapy research has been heavily focused on art-making using two-dimensional materials, but now they’ve found playing with clay has it’s benefits as well. Research has been popping up in the past decade around the use of hand-building clay as a medium in art therapy. In a 2012 study, the effects of creative clay work were examined on participants who experienced an induced negative mood and then went on to achieve more than a 50% greater improvement in mood after simple clay sculpting.

Our fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings in the body. Simply digging your hands into clay and molding it into shapes, will tap into the therapeutic benefits of pottery. The malleability of the clay itself distinguishes pottery as a pretty special form of art, immediately syncing up our minds and body.

So if you’re considering taking up DIY pottery as a mindful hobby, then these proven health benefits might convince you to do so!

Learn to relax in pottery classes

Hand-building pottery requires your full attention. From molding and rolling your clay into your desired shapes to carving out details and painting designs. The focus this hobby requires reduces the distractions of the outside world which may have been causing you stress. 

The sense of touch can be enough to distract your mind and just 45 minutes of working with clay can significantly reduce cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone. So if meditating at home or exercising at the gym is not helping to switch off your mind, pottery might require the right amount of presence to melt all your outside stresses away, without the sweat. Not every stress reliever works for everyone, but if you tend to be the more creative and hands-on type of person, pottery might be perfect for you!

For all of these reasons, making pottery is one of the best team-building activities you can try to reduce stress in your workplace and avoid burnout. Craft clay creations with your team at a beginner-friendly pottery workshop and watch as everyone’s work-related worries wash away! This is a casual, easy, and of course, stress-free, way to connect and bond with your co-workers.

Pottery can improve brain function

Making ceramics can be incredibly precise and process-oriented, so it requires a lot of focus and concentration. If that’s not something you’ve previously been great at then pottery is a fun and creative way to help improve those skills. The more clay play you try, the easier you will find it to get in the zone and slip into a sharper focus and be able to concentrate for longer periods of time. 

You will be able to apply this to the rest of your life outside of ceramics class, which will not only assist your productivity in life but also your mental well-being. Focusing on other self-care practices like meditating, will become a lot easier and it will be much simpler to reap the benefits from these practices as well as in your pottery at home. In addition, this is a great way to feel productive while also reducing stress!

Find a creative community in Chicago

Expressing yourself through creating art has significant physical and mental benefits. Not only is it a fun and mindful hobby, but it also offers a break from the anxieties and stresses of life and is a scheduled time for yourself to reset your focus and mental state. If you’re not sure how or where to start, join a pottery studio in Chicago and surround yourself with friendly like-minded individuals. 

Joining pottery workshops in Chicago will bring more positivity into your day, even by simply inserting yourself into a creative and inspiring environment. You might even find yourself more productive, engaged, and creative and discover a passion you never knew you had. Now you're probably starting to understand why it's one of the best things to do in Chicago.

Hand-building workshops are great for your body and mind

Unlike painting, drawing or other forms of art, which stay where you put them, hand-building clay fights back. The resistance the clay gives back to you is actually a really great way to strengthen the hands, wrists and arms. The movement of making pottery is gentle enough that it doesn’t feel like an actual workout but resistant enough to strengthen and exercise your upper body. This is beneficial for everyone but is particularly valuable if you’re prone to arthritis as it helps to promote joint movement and dexterity. Tap into your childlike spirit and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty as you squish, mold, and shape your clay!

Fun things to do in Chicago

While pottery is something you generally make on your own, that doesn’t mean you have to do so alone. Getting involved in pottery classes in Chicago or joining a ceramic studio where you can work on your own pieces in the company of others, not only helps you creatively get inspired and motivated by other people’s work but it can also be really beneficial to your mental health. If you’re feeling a little isolated or uninspired, joining a creative community can lift you up. 

The casual atmosphere in pottery classes and pottery studios in Chicago allows everyone to relax and all social anxiety woes are forgotten. You will get to meet and chat with some other like-minded potters and the necessary silence in between conversations will never feel awkward as you work on your own pieces. The class format and projects will take the pressure off of you too!

On the search for classy bachelorette parties in Chicago? Get the girls together for an upbeat clay and sip class and learn how to sculpt as you sip your favorite drinks.

You can reap all of these therapeutic benefits by trying our range of pottery classes in Chicago, suited for everyone from beginners to more experienced potters!

Need even more reasons to take pottery wheel throwing classes? We make a strong case here.