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neck stress and studio dogs

updated fri 18 jan 02

 

Kimi on tue 15 jan 02


I was wondering what people do to help relieve the stressed, tight =
muscles, in the back neck when throwing? I have not been able to put in =
more than a couple hours a day on the wheel. Dr. said it is just =
strained muscles, I can use muscle relaxer's, but don't want to do that =
forever, so, what helps? Could it be that I'm sitting too high or too =
low (wheel head is upper hip height on a Thomas Stuart wheel), not =
stretching enough (what kinds of stretches work best), getting too old =
(after hearing about the work Bonnie is doing at 80, and I'm few =
decades younger, I don't think I can blame it on age) or what? Any =
advice on how to help this I would be most thankful for.
Kimi

Alisa,=20
I was the one who started the whole studio dog thread way back when and =
now have a happy 19 month old golden Retriever named Daisy May. Where =
ever I am so is she; she has become the studio dog I had dreamed of. She =
quickly learned where NOT to stand when I am kicking the wheel and that =
the dry chunks of clay taste the best. If it had not been for the =
encouragement from so many Clayart People I never would have let her in =
the studio. I had been afraid she would get sick from eating clay, but =
after hearing about clay doggie poos (among many other stories) and the =
dog living to a ripe old age, my fears were relieved. I have come to =
learn how nice it is to have a pet near when you are working. They seem =
to know when you need to take a break (to play ball of course), are =
happy to pick up dropped tools or are content to quietly watch you as =
you work.=20

Merrie Boerner on wed 16 jan 02


Pain in the neck check list......
Do you work while holding the phone between your ear and shoulder ?
Do you sleep with your dog by your side, putting your back in an awkward
position ?
Are you short ? Standing at a sink or table for hours at a time can have you
lifting your shoulders to put your hands at the correct level....I should
know...5' 2 1/2" barefooted. High heels recommended ; )
Is there some pain in the neck person in your life that is causing stress ?
Is your monitor on your computer at a level which requires you to lift your
head to see out of your bifocals ?
Are you doing vigorous sit-ups and straining your neck ?
Are you forgetting to take your vitamins ?
I'm sure I'll think of more causes as soon as I click the send button, but
I'll tell you a few of the things that have helped me while I'm here.
Yoga....(a simple video tape I can do with no one watching) It has
strengthened my joints.
Vitamins, including MSM Glucosamine for bones and joints.
Work hard, then take a power nap.
Take the phone off the hook.
Saw legs off tables if you are short.
Don't do the exercises that strain your joints and neck....work your heart
and joints , then muscles will follow...
I can't stress exercise enough ! Anything off the couch will help you handle
the
stress/person that is the pain in the neck....try kick boxing : )
I'll confess, I'm the oldest person in the kick boxing class.
I do not kick to the side because it hurts my knees.
I march in place when the younger gals kick to the side.....looks wimpy,
but it is still working my heart and joints.
I'm not out to prove anything....just to IMprove.
Move slowly in the morning, working everything until your joints and neck
are warm......then crank it up.....work, play, create in clay...enjoy !
Merrie

Roger Korn on wed 16 jan 02


Dogs eat clay because they think they'll find catbox crunchies it it. Mmmm good!

Roger

Paige Furr wrote:

> My cute, sweet, stupid dog, sam likes to eat the sponges...dirty ones at
> that! I find thwm all over the loft!
> Paige in Dallas
>
> >From: "L. P. Skeen"
> >Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> >To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> >Subject: Re: neck stress and Studio dogs
> >Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 07:42:37 -0500
> >
> >she has become the studio dog I had dreamed of. She quickly learned where
> >NOT to stand when I am kicking the wheel and that the dry chunks of clay
> >taste the best.
> >
> >WHY do dogs eat the clay, that's what I want to know. My dog doesn't, but
> >then she's a picky bitch, but other dogs that have come in the studio do
> >eat
> >them. WHY?
> >
> >Re: neck stress, I have discovered an added benefit to my pugmill. It
> >is very heavy, especially when loaded with clay and therefore does not move
> >when I lean my back against the handle. Very kewl for working out neck
> >knots. :)
> >
> >L
> >
> >______________________________________________________________________________
> >Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> >melpots@pclink.com.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
> http://www.hotmail.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.

--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464

L. P. Skeen on wed 16 jan 02


she has become the studio dog I had dreamed of. She quickly learned where
NOT to stand when I am kicking the wheel and that the dry chunks of clay
taste the best.

WHY do dogs eat the clay, that's what I want to know. My dog doesn't, but
then she's a picky bitch, but other dogs that have come in the studio do eat
them. WHY?

Re: neck stress, I have discovered an added benefit to my pugmill. It
is very heavy, especially when loaded with clay and therefore does not move
when I lean my back against the handle. Very kewl for working out neck
knots. :)

L

Cindi Anderson on wed 16 jan 02


While you are throwing, are your muscled tensed? I found that I used to do
that. All I had to do was relax them and I can throw all day and am not
sore the next day. This might sound too simple, and maybe you hae something
else going on. But I would rule that out first. If it is the case, add to
your mental checklist of throwing steps to "loosen muscles". It will become
a habit soon. I also don't make more than 2 balls of clay at a a time, so I
force myself to get up and stretch back up.

Cindi
Fremont, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kimi"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 9:56 PM
Subject: neck stress and Studio dogs


I was wondering what people do to help relieve the stressed, tight muscles,
in the back neck when throwing? I have not been able to put in more than a
couple hours a day on the wheel. Kimi

Paige Furr on wed 16 jan 02


My cute, sweet, stupid dog, sam likes to eat the sponges...dirty ones at
that! I find thwm all over the loft!
Paige in Dallas

>From: "L. P. Skeen"
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: neck stress and Studio dogs
>Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 07:42:37 -0500
>
>she has become the studio dog I had dreamed of. She quickly learned where
>NOT to stand when I am kicking the wheel and that the dry chunks of clay
>taste the best.
>
>WHY do dogs eat the clay, that's what I want to know. My dog doesn't, but
>then she's a picky bitch, but other dogs that have come in the studio do
>eat
>them. WHY?
>
>Re: neck stress, I have discovered an added benefit to my pugmill. It
>is very heavy, especially when loaded with clay and therefore does not move
>when I lean my back against the handle. Very kewl for working out neck
>knots. :)
>
>L
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.


_________________________________________________________________
Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
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Philip Poburka on wed 16 jan 02


Hatha Yoga would help...

As say, takeing it two or three times a week from some gentle instructor,
and doing some on your own as well.
Same for the troubles Potters have with their 'backs' as especially from the
sit-down Wheels...

Phil
Las Vegas...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kimi"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 9:56 PM
Subject: neck stress and Studio dogs


I was wondering what people do to help relieve the stressed, tight muscles,
in the back neck when throwing? I have not been able to put in more than a
couple hours a day on the wheel. Dr. said it is just strained muscles, I can
use muscle relaxer's, but don't want to do that forever, so, what helps?
Could it be that I'm sitting too high or too low (wheel head is upper hip
height on a Thomas Stuart wheel), not stretching enough (what kinds of
stretches work best), getting too old (after hearing about the work Bonnie
is doing at 80, and I'm few decades younger, I don't think I can blame it
on age) or what? Any advice on how to help this I would be most thankful
for.
Kimi

Alisa,
I was the one who started the whole studio dog thread way back when and now
have a happy 19 month old golden Retriever named Daisy May. Where ever I am
so is she; she has become the studio dog I had dreamed of. She quickly
learned where NOT to stand when I am kicking the wheel and that the dry
chunks of clay taste the best. If it had not been for the encouragement from
so many Clayart People I never would have let her in the studio. I had been
afraid she would get sick from eating clay, but after hearing about clay
doggie poos (among many other stories) and the dog living to a ripe old age,
my fears were relieved. I have come to learn how nice it is to have a pet
near when you are working. They seem to know when you need to take a break
(to play ball of course), are happy to pick up dropped tools or are content
to quietly watch you as you work.

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Cheryl Hoffman on thu 17 jan 02


My golden retriever eats clay to clear her palate for the dog rockets in the
yard!

Bill Karaffa on thu 17 jan 02


For those of us who spend a lot of out time doing wheel work neck and upper
back pain can be as much of a problem as lower back and hip pain. As a
result of several conversations with my chiropractor where he commented on
how my muscle tone was being lost during the course of time I spent at the
throwing position I came up with a simple exercise to attempt to offset this
deterioration.
I took a bungee cord about 2 foot long (not one of the flat rubber ones, but
a softer round one) and nailed it to a wooden post in the studio. Several
times during the day I slip my head behind the cord and do isometric type
exercises, extending to the back and then the sides to try and keep those
fagged out muscles strong and fit. I have been doing this for a couple of
years now and I do feel better, and I find that I have not had to visit my
chiro quite so often.

Bill Karaffa
Firemouth Pottery and Gallery
http://fp1.centurytel.net/karaffa