Susan Fox Hirschmann on mon 30 jul 07
In a message dated 7/29/2007 10:46:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lists@SOMDAHL.COM writes:
I'm sure this list's members will have many suggestions for making the
life of a lazy potter easier.
Not sure if I missed the original thread here....but
I think we all need to realize and understand the physicality of the craft
that we do. Many years ago, I went on a trip and returned and decided to sit
down and throw a 20 lb plate. No warm up, no nothing. My weakend muscles from 3
weeks in Australia...and sitting on long plane rides.....well, I ended up
pulling muscles in my lower back and was in screaming pain for many days. The dr.
said I should "give up clay!" yeah RIGHT ....I sought another opinion (and
since have a new dr...hey would I ever tell them to give up
medicine!!!!).....and realized that I needed to take my health into my own hands. This was a
muscle issue and something I could learn to deal with. (discs are another story).
From there the story (true) goes to rehab, physical therapy and then a
desire to become stronger to help me with my work.
19 years fast forward: After a college anatomy class (hey it also has helped
me with my life drawing and figurative sculpture) ---and many weekends in
class (in between shows, designing and creating custom work and raising 3
kids)---I now have a couple of personal training certifications. I took the classes
to better understand the body and how I and my family, as well as those I
might work with (mostly potters and artists) can avoid overuse injuries and
strengthen their muscles for the work that we love.
This is probalby the most important thing that I learned: (so I will bold
face it!)
Before you start a weight lifting program for strength and endurance, see a
doctor and then a personal trainer, (the latter if only for a few
sessions)---to help you with your form, and help design a program suited especially for you.
We are as different as our pots are, and so each of us has certain needs,
caveats, and I caution about just picking up a book and doing some exercises. I
have seen injuries with that as well.
All of us, espeically those of us that have been in this field for a long
time, realize how much our bodies are integrated into our work. So many mornings
a week, I work out, either cardio (after all the heart is our MOST important
muscle), and do resistance training (or weights) working the entire body over
one week. This is to prevent imbalances, as one needs to keep the "core"
(back and abs) strong as well as all the other parts that work together. The goal
here is good functional strength.....not bulging muscles...but the strength
that permits us to enjoy our work and create at our optimal. I look at my
workout as my "warm up " for my work, that I do the rest of the day!
If any of you want to start a program, I caution you to start slow and get
that all important dr/s release to do physical exercise. Know your weak areas
and treat those especially gently. Consult a professional: ideally, someone
that is certified in personal training to help you with a program. Take a day
off now and then, and committ to it, like eating as a part of your life! and
a couple times a week that day or two off.........great muscle growth occurs
during that day, HONEST! don';t overtrain. (doing too much too fast or
working the same muscles every since day in your program) ---and YES< One can get
older and stronger. My experience is proof of that!
Enough said.
To strength and pottery!
Susan
Fox
Hirschmann
Annandale, VA
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
| |
|
