If You Struggle to Be Present, Pottery Can Gently Ground You in the Now

Your body’s here—but your mind is everywhere else. Worrying, replaying, planning, avoiding. Pottery invites your whole self back into one quiet moment.

At The Clay Hole in Draper, Utah, we offer more than pottery—we offer pause. A chance to sit down, take a breath, and put your hands on something real. The clay doesn’t care what happened earlier or what’s coming next. It only exists in the now—and so do you, while you shape it.

You don’t need a meditation app or mindfulness retreat. Just clay. Just your hands. Just this moment.

Why Pottery Helps People Who Can’t Slow Down

When your thoughts race or refuse to settle, your body often bears the cost—tension, fatigue, stress. Pottery interrupts the spiral by giving you something sensory and immersive to focus on. You don’t just think about being present. You *are* present.

• Clay requires focus, breath, and movement—all anchors to the now
• The process unfolds slowly, helping you find rhythm and calm
• Mistakes are welcome—they keep you engaged and adaptive
• You’ll leave class feeling emotionally and physically grounded
• No screens, no pressure, no rush—just presence

A study on embodied mindfulness through art found that pottery promotes “flow states” and reduces internal rumination—making it especially effective for people struggling with anxiety or distraction.

How Pottery Brings You Back to Yourself

You don’t have to talk. You don’t have to explain. You just sit down at a wheel or worktable and begin. Within minutes, the noise fades. The glaze colors become fascinating. The clay starts to respond. And for a little while, you’re not chasing the future—you’re here, with yourself, in peace.

• Draper studio central to Salt Lake County and Utah Valley
• Weekly classes + bonus days to maintain rhythm and regulation
• All tools and materials included—just show up as you are
• Studio founder Dan Pearce joins classes often and believes in healing through hands-on presence

“I’ve never been good at staying present. But when I’m shaping clay, I’m *here.* For the first time in years, I’m not lost in my head. I’m in the moment—and I like it.” — A.J.

*You don’t need to escape your thoughts. You just need a moment where they quiet on their own.*

Conclusion

If you struggle to stay present, you’re not broken. You’re overstimulated, overthinking, and overdue for something slower. Pottery gives you that. We’d love to see what happens when you finally find a way to be here, now.

This content was created in collaboration with Dan Pearce, owner of The Clay Hole—a professional potter with nearly 3 million followers across social media who regularly joins members in studio classes.

Come Ground Yourself in Clay