Clay Smash
Materials Needed
Clay
Feeling
Furious
How to Do It
Take a block of clay or a similar malleable material and place it on a sturdy surface. Use your fists, a hammer, or any tool to smash and flatten the clay. As you do so, imagine that you are breaking apart the fury inside you. Once you’ve finished smashing, reshape the clay into something new, symbolizing the transformation of your anger into a calmer state.
Why It Works
This exercise combines destruction and creation, allowing you to express your anger physically and then shift toward a more constructive mindset. The tactile experience of working with clay helps to ground your emotions and provide a sense of resolution.
Guided Practice
Find a place where you have some clay or another malleable material. Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths, noticing where in your body you are holding any tension or frustration.
Now feel each deep breath guide your body into deeper relaxation and your mind into stillness. Pick up the clay and feel its texture in your hands, noticing the softness, the weight, and the coolness of the material. As you hold the clay, imagine it representing any tension, frustration, or emotions you wish to release.
Begin to press and mold the clay in your hands, feeling the resistance and the way it shapes and reshapes under your fingers. Notice the sensations in your hands and fingers — perhaps a sense of tension, a feeling of strength, or a subtle release of energy. Stay with these sensations, allowing the act of molding the clay to become a form of mindful release. Visualize transferring all your pent-up energy and emotions into the clay.
When you feel ready, raise the clay above your head and smash it down onto the table, feeling the impact reverberate through your arms and body. Hear the sound of the clay hitting the table, a satisfying thud that echoes the release of your emotions. Notice the sensation in your body — perhaps a jolt of energy, a sense of liberation, or a lightness spreading through your chest. Allow these experiences to deepen your practice, connecting you more fully to the act of release.
Continue to mold and smash the clay as needed, taking moments to breathe deeply between each smash. When you feel a sense of completion, place the clay down and take a few more deep breaths, grounding yourself in the present moment. Notice how your body feels now — perhaps more relaxed, more relieved, or simply more centered. Gently open your eyes, carrying this sense of release and renewal with you into your day, feeling lighter and more empowered.