Savasana
Yoga & Art

ITALY: Savasana

Fri, Aug 7th, 2015 The final pose in every yoga class is Savasana. This is the most important and most difficult of all poses not because of how it is done, but because of what it represents, complete surrender.

In order to surrender, you have to let go and trust, two things that are very hard for humans to do. In clay, the moment of Savasana comes after you have done everything and the saggar kiln is loaded and fired.

Clay, like yoga, teaches us to yield to our expectations and take notice of what we receive. As in yoga, the guiding principle is to receive yourself where you are today....not where you want to be and not where you once were. This may come in the form of tight muscles or an aching back, but with breath, careful attention and a regular practice, this too shall pass.

Clay, whether at the wheel, on the table or in the saggar kiln, will reflect our level of experience, attention and capacity to learn, by simply doing what it does - reflecting the hands of the maker. It is the makers challenge to not struggle with it, but to move, learn and grow from it.

It was in that spirit that we unloaded the more than 75 egg-like paper clay husks from the saggar firing in Tuscany. The results were as varied as the 15 participants. Some pieces were spectacular, others a great surprise and even others were filled with lessons.

Tightly bound husks, wrapped like a hard to open present did the best, while loosely packed egg-shells broke open too quickly during the saggar firing and the larger burner flame licked them clean.

Off the Mat and Into the Studio ended with a large collection of results that reflected the personalities of the players and the unlimited lessons. We stretched our ideas and opened up possibilities for future exploration.

In addition to the clay and firing explorations, we made new friends, shared lives over wine and late night pizza gatherings and made an impact on every life there. What a wonderful group.

I hope those who journeyed with me to Tuscany to learn about saggar firing left with full experiences and memories that will last forever, I know I did. Thank you all.



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Before firing
Before firing
Saggar Firing
Ceramic Workshop Pottery
Before firing
Wild ideas
Wild ideas
Handmade Ceramics
From Clay workshop in Italy
Wild ideas
Forms n function
Forms n function
Learning saggar firing techniques
Clay & Yoga in Tuscany
Forms n function
Opening the saggar kiln
Opening the saggar kiln
paper pod saggar firing
paper clay & saggar fired pottery
Opening the saggar kiln
The results are in...
The results are in...
unloading the saggar kiln
saggar fired ceramics in Italy
The results are in...
Saggar paper pods
Saggar paper pods
unloading the saggar kiln
saggar fire techniques @ La Meridiana School of Ceramics
Saggar paper pods
Unfurling a husk
Unfurling a husk
from a paper clay saggar firing
ceramic workshop in Italy
Unfurling a husk
Enjoying lessons
Enjoying lessons
from saggar fire workshop
in Tuscany, Italy
Enjoying lessons
Some results
Some results
details from the saggar kiln
ceramic workshop in Italy
Some results
Happy clay workers
Happy clay workers
pottery & yoga in Italy
Yoga & Clay Lessons
Happy clay workers
Stacked saggars
Stacked saggars
from the saggar firing
using paper clay saguaros
Stacked saggars
Graduates!
Graduates!
Ceramic Workshop Diploma
Saggar Firing & Yoga in Italy at La Meridiana School of Ceramics
Graduates!
New friends
New friends
Ceramic Workshop in Italy
Saggar Firing & Yoga
New friends
A toast
A toast
Enjoying wine in Tuscany
A day off at Italy Ceramic Workshop
A toast
Australia, Italy, Belgium
Australia, Italy, Belgium
Making friends from around the world
at Ceramic Workshop in Italy.
Australia, Italy, Belgium
Yoga each Mornin'
Yoga each Mornin'
Clay & Yoga in Italy
Stretch your body and your creative spirit!
Yoga each Mornin'
Jumpin!
Jumpin!
Saggar Firing & Yoga in Italy
Ceramic Workshop at La Meridiana School of Ceramics
Jumpin!
The gang, Certaldo Alto
The gang, Certaldo Alto
La Meridiana School of Ceramics
Clay & Yoga in Italy
The gang, Certaldo Alto

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