Ceramic Arts Daily

When I manage to squeeze time out of my day to go to the gym, I need to distract myself in as many ways as I can think of during my workout (listening to my iPod, reading celebrity gossip magazines, watching mindless television, and so on). So why not get a workout while doing one of my favorite activities, working with clay? That would be a perfect distraction! This week’s Tip of the Week from Jane Johnson Hoeltzel of St. Louis, Missouri, shows us a way to do just that. Work those abs! - Jennifer Harnetty, editor

If your main form of exercise is wedging and throwing clay, try sitting on an exercise ball (yoga ball) to get a free workout at the wheel. I use a 65 to 75 centimeter ball, which sits in a stabilizing ring. The amount of inflation will determine the seated height. Both the ball and the ring were purchased from a sports equipment store. The ball is not only good for an abdominal workout but it also seems to work the lower back, glutes and inner thighs. Need a break? Just lie on your stomach over the ball. It really does give you a good workout. The first time I used it, I felt like I had been riding a horse all day when I got off!