You know that feeling when you’ve been admiring something from afar, telling yourself, “someday I’ll try that,” and then one random Tuesday you just… do it? That was me these past few weeks with clay.

I’ve been dabbling in various crafts for a few years now – I’m always drawn to creating with my hands, but somehow convinced myself that pottery required special classes or expert tools. But curiosity, as it tends to do, wore me down.

After a week of exploring different types of clay and methods of making pottery—hand-building, wheel-throwing, and everything in between—I’m convinced clay deserves a spot in everyone’s creative rotation. It humbled me with how much practice it takes, but every moment was worth it. And honestly? I think you’ll feel the same.

When we work with clay, we engage in what psychologists call “bilateral stimulation”—using both hands in coordinated movement. This naturally calms the nervous system and can shift us out of fight-or-flight mode into a more relaxed state. Plus, the tactile experience of clay provides grounding, literally bringing us into our bodies and out of our racing minds.

Did you Know: Clay became humanity’s first plastic material (in the true sense of the word—malleable and shapeable), allowing early civilizations to store food, carry water, and create ceremonial objects.

Here’s what I learned about your options:

Start With – Air Dry Clay: Your Gateway Drug

No kiln, no problem—these pieces cure in 24-48 hours

What you can make: The possibilities are honestly endless, but here are some favorites from personal explorations:

• Candle/Incense holders
• Small planters for succulents
• Jewelry dishes and ring holders
• Kitchen utensil holders
• Wall hanging planters
• Decorative bowls
• Soap dishes
• Napkin rings
• Coasters

Advance to Wheel Throwing: The Full Experience

I’ll be honest—signing up for that wheel-throwing class was intimidating. But walking into that studio and seeing the demographic range completely changed my perspective. Grandparents working alongside grandkids, couples on date nights, women in their 40s catching up over pottery, men in their 50s who’d been coming solo for years.

Pottery can be for anyone.

You need to try wheel throwing in a structured class because you get to:

• Learn proper technique from the start
• Access professional equipment and kilns
• Build with a community of fellow beginners

Advance further to Hand Building: The Therapeutic Sweet Spot

This is where the magic happens for stress relief and beginner-level creations. Hand-building techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab construction connect you directly to the clay without any equipment between you and the material.

While mastering hand building takes months or years of practice, the therapeutic benefits kick in immediately. Studies from the American Art Therapy Association show that working with clay activates both sides of the brain, reduces cortisol levels, and provides a form of bilateral stimulation that’s naturally calming.

When we work with clay, we engage in what psychologists call “bilateral stimulation”-meaning, using both hands in coordinated movement. This naturally calms the nervous system and can shift us out of fight-or-flight mode into a more relaxed state, literally bringing us into our bodies and out of our racing minds.

Where to Start Right Now

If this post has sparked even the tiniest bit of curiosity, here’s my advice: pick one small project and try it this weekend. Maybe it’s a simple pinch pot, maybe it’s rolling out a slab for coasters, or maybe it’s signing up for that pottery class you’ve been bookmarking for months.

The beautiful thing about clay is that it’s endlessly forgiving. You can always add water and start over.

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