The intersection of practices
Yoga is often defined narrowly as a physical practice on a mat. But at its core, yoga is the union of the mind, the breath, and the physical body in the present moment. When viewed through this lens, any practice that requires profound physical presence and sensory awareness can become a form of yoga.
Somatic ceramics—the act of shaping clay with deep attention to the physical sensations involved—is one such practice. It functions exactly like an asana practice in its ability to regulate the nervous system.
The art is the teacher
Both yoga and somatic ceramics require you to abandon the idea of a perfect final outcome. If you step onto a yoga mat determined to force your body into an idealized shape, you will likely injure yourself. The same is true with clay; if you try to force it, it collapses.
"I don't think we can take ourselves too seriously when creating or practicing yoga for that matter, because these arts are the teacher and we are on a journey." — Tiffany Bergin
You must approach both practices with openness and intuition. You feel your way forward. You follow the instinct of the body. You get curious about where the practice is taking you, rather than demanding it conform to your expectations. In both yoga and art-making, the material—whether it is your own body or a lump of earth—is the teacher.