Lili Krakowski on thu 18 nov 04
Mesdames:=20
The other day I answered an OT message from a delightful full-bodied =
woman. It was about throwing. It is not clear to me why full-bodies is =
wonderful in a burgundy, but not in the female body, butt that is for =
another time.
If you are blessed with a generous, maternal bosom, and are =
short-waisted to boot, you will have difficulties throwing which a =
Clint Eastwood, or Gary Cooper lath-slim tall male would not.
As several female potters of Dolly Partonesque built have told me, =
their breasts already cause stress to their backs, and shoulders. That =
is something that throwing or similar will increase.
So. I recommend that you throw in a good sports bra. I am not sure of =
high impact or whatever, but something comfortable and really =
supportive. Yes, they cost a young fortune. Never mind. It is worth =
it.
Then. I truly find throwing standing infinitely easier on back and neck =
than throwing sitting. It allows me to move about, shift my weight and =
so on. I do not like the knee activated pedal bit. I much prefer the =
pedal on a table, actually in my case, a wooden barstool whose top has =
been enlarged into a tray. It takes ONE THROWING SESSION to check the =
truth that you do not need a zillion, gadzillion speeds, but about =
three.....It is easy to learn, and I learned it from a large male =
production potter as Seagrove! (It is not a girlie-man thing)
To check the proper height for your wheel--and this is NOT a quick job-- =
get bits of board and stick them under your wheel. This requires a =
helper. Raise and lower the wheel till your body has to make only =
minimal adjustment to bending, turning and so on. When you have =
finalized the height, measure, and make yourself cement supports. These =
are easily made by using 3e #10 cans (generally 5 lbs, easily gotten at =
a diner, restaurant, school cafeteria and such like) marking the =
inside to the right level, and filling with concrete to that line. If =
you want, press in a mayonaise jar lid, upside down, so that there is no =
movement of the wheel. (Actually I find 3lb jam jar lids perfect fits =
for my Brent B legs.) If you need more than the height of a can, get =
some 8" PVC cut to size etc
I find that I turn my body sidewise more than males do. I throw as dry =
as possible because I throw clay as soft as possible.
I do not try for huge enourmous pots.
Meanwhile: I have had four carpal tunnel surgeries, have some annoying =
problems in my lower back and in my neck, and a few other similar =
annoyances --for which I blame not only the years but my YOUTHFUL =
attempts to throw big huge pots, and throw in postures learned from men.
If you can,. Dori, go visit some female potters who have been at it for =
a while....Talk to them.
AND FOR PITY'S SAKE GO GET AN MD OR A CHIROPRACTOR OR BOTH TO CHECK YOU =
OUT. Yes, my eyes unfortunately have seen mistaken self-diagosis that =
have gone very wrong. Twice "pimple" that turned out to be cancer....
Constipation that was a tumor....Yes, its a pain in the neck---but =
please.
Lili Krakowski
Editor, "Tirade: the Journal of Ridiculous Opinions"
Catherine Yassin on thu 18 nov 04
In a message dated 11/18/2004 11:00:25 AM Central Standard Time,
mlkrakowski@CITLINK.NET writes:
As several female potters of Dolly Partonesque built have told me, their
breasts already cause stress to their backs, and shoulders. That is something
that throwing or similar will increase.
So. I recommend that you throw in a good sports bra. I am not sure of high
impact or whatever, but something comfortable and really supportive. Yes,
they cost a young fortune. Never mind. It is worth it.
Dearest Lili, thank you for addressing a problem that I'm sure many women
potter's have to contend with - bosomitus projectus. Aside from the indentations
in our pots that may occur from leaning forward to reach a tool, we also have
to deal with the extra stress we put on our backs by leaning forward to throw.
And here I thought my upper back soreness was from a bad sleeping position.
Funny how it only bothers me when I'm in the studio, over the wheel for any
length of time. Time to re-evaluate a few things and I guess invest in a good
sports bra. A couple of "Aleve" seem to help me, but its usually too late if I
don't take them right at the onset of the pain. It would be nice to hear how
others handle this problem.
-Cat Yassin
San Antonio
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