The Aligned Potter

An Online Resource about Ergonomics, Body Mechanics, and Pottery Making

helping you work with clay in whatever way you want — for however long you’d like

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Latest Body Friendly Tips & Resources

Support your practice with insights for posture, movement, and sustainable making.

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Your neck deserves a break!
Your neck deserves a break!

This short video guides you through a gentle stretch for the sternocleidomastoid—a key muscle along the front and side of the neck that often gets tight from leaning forward, turning your head, or hunching over your work (pottery or screen-based!). Whether you're a potter, maker, or desk-dweller, this is a great one to add to your movement toolkit.

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Hand Massage for Potters
Hand Massage for Potters

Potter’s hands work hard—kneading, shaping, pinching, trimming. This quick tip shows you how to ease that deep hand fatigue using tools you already have in your studio (no fancy gear or hand washing needed).

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Finger & Thumb Stretches
Finger & Thumb Stretches

Your hands do a lot—pinching, pulling, shaping, centering. Over time, that repetitive motion can lead to stiffness or strain, especially in the thumbs and fingers. This quick video offers a few easy stretches to bring relief and reset your grip.

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Illustration showing proper posture for neck and head: a woman standing with correct posture and side profile, looking straight at her phone, with a checkmark, and a woman with poor posture slouching while looking at her phone, with a red cross. Text explains tips for neck and head care, with a graphic of the aligned pottery.

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Person shaping clay into a sphere at a pottery studio with clay and pottery tools on the table.

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Six small ceramic pots in earthy tones, arranged on a pink tablecloth.

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helping you work with clay in whatever way you want — for however long you’d like

The Aligned Potter is a free online resource for potters, students, and instructors who care about wellness and longevity in their practice.

We focus on ergonomics and body mechanics in all forms of pottery making — from throwing and handbuilding to glazing and trimming.

Our blog resources explore how to position your body more sustainably, and how to leverage posture, tools, and equipment to reduce strain and discomfort over time.

Whether you're a full-time studio pro or a hobbyist at home, our goal is to help you keep making, both comfortably and confidently.

Contact

Questions, ideas, other resources? Please contact us with this form or on Instagram @thealignedpotter