Kristin Schnelten on wed 10 apr 02
on the bench thread:
I am most confortable, after trying many wheels, at a lockerbie kick wheel.
Is a kick wheel bench worse for your back than these other separate-bench
options?
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
John Baymore on fri 12 apr 02
Hi. Good observation. =
I am most confortable, after trying many wheels, at a lockerbie kick whee=
l.
Is a kick wheel bench worse for your back than these other separate-bench=
options?
One good aspect of a kickwheel over an electric wheel in this regard is t=
he
necessity to be more physically active and moving the whole general body
posture during the throwing process. The activity of kicking every so
often forces you to move MUCH more than sometimes can be happening when y=
ou
sit at an electric wheel just wiggling your foot a tad on the "gas". =
Keeping your body in one basic posture for long periods often contributes=
to the "stiffness" that we attribute to throwing as some sort of supposed=
"inherent risk".
Often physical problems we experience are not "built in" to the tools we
use but come from how we choose to USE the tool.
I have often seen people sit hunched over an electric wheel, huge pile of=
clay balls on one side, ware boards on the other, moving very little for
many hours. Right hand reaches out to the right for a ball of clay, hunc=
h
over wheel, hands move pot to the left...... right hand reaches out to th=
e
right for a ball of clay, hunch over wheel, hands move pot to the
left........ right hand reaches out to the right for a ball of clay, hun=
ch
over wheel, hands move pot to the left......... repeat ad infinitum. Th=
en
the person wonders why his/her back / hips hurt when the marathon is over=
They don't call such problems "repetitive stress injuries" for no
reason .
Couple the above tactical approach to throwing with the tendencies of all=
too many "novice" throwers....... who often are in a state of ceramic
"rigor mortis" as they center and make pulls .......... breath held, ever=
y
muscle from the toes to the nose tightened, teeth clenched. No fluidity =
in
bodily movements, no chance for muscles to relax, or for blood flow to be=
enhanced through muscle movemnet. A battle with the clay...... to the
victor go the spoils .
Add the two approaches together....and when you are done you WILL feel li=
ke
you have done battle .
Also..... the angle of the legs at the hip when sitting at a kickwheel is=
quite different from the often "cramped" angle created when sitting at th=
e
typical height electric wheel on a flat topped stool. Of course a lot
depends on the body build of the particular potter...... we are not all t=
he
same height, nor is the distance from the hip to the knee to the foot the=
same exact proportion. Adjusting (or selecting) your tools to fit your
body is an important part of setting up your workspace.
I have always found that on ANY kickwheel I have a tendency to move the
upper body forward toward the clay by bending at the hip...... NOT in the=
lower back. Since I first learned on a kickwheel about 33 years ago, tha=
t
general movement pattern was set up at an early point. It has
stuck........ which is good for the back. So when using an electric
wheel.... I still sort of naturally fall into that position. The CI
Professional "saddle" stool that I mentioned in another earlier post on
this "stools" subject promotes this same kind of posture because of the
saddle seat and the pelvic tilt angle.
There are many aspects of ergonomics that come into play in throwing. A
lot of the problems that people have with their bodies in potting..... ar=
e
very much "self inflicted" through using the body inefficiently, or by
placing repetitive stress on body parts from force vectors in directions
and magnitudes that the human body "just doesn't like". We can often
prevent or at least minimize physical impacts by looking at how the human=
body is desigend and using it as effectively as possible. In my intro an=
d
intermediate throwing courses.... I spend a lot of time trying to impart =
a
good understanding on appropriate body usage. This has the side benefit =
of
making it easier to throw pots .
Hope these thoughts help someone.
Best,
..............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
"DATES SET: Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop Augu=
st
16-25, 2002"
| |
|
