Pro tip: A chat with my buddy at the studio changed how I handle my punty

I was over at the River Arts District studio last week, and my friend Mark was watching me work. I was doing my usual thing, getting ready to transfer a piece off the pipe, and he just goes, 'You know, you're holding your breath right before you tap it off.' I had no idea I was doing that, but he was right. He said he used to do the same thing and it made his transfers shaky because his whole arm would tense up. He told me to try breathing out slow and steady through the whole move, like you're blowing a bubble but with your nose. I tried it on the next three pieces, and wow, it was way smoother. The glass just let go cleaner. It's such a small thing, but it made a huge difference in my control. Has anyone else picked up a tiny habit like that from watching someone else work?

3 comments

3 Comments

hart.parker29d ago

Honestly, that breathing trick sounds so simple it's genius. I used to think all the focus had to be on your hands, but it makes total sense that your whole body being tense would mess things up. It's like how I get shaky holding a tiny tool if I'm all clenched up. That's a great tip to remember, even for stuff outside the studio.

casey14510d ago

Man, isn't it crazy how your body just does stuff without you knowing? I used to get a sore shoulder after every session and couldn't figure out why. Turns out I was hunching my whole back up to my ears the whole time I was at the bench. A teacher pointed it out once and I felt so dumb, but just dropping my shoulders down made everything hurt less. It's wild what you don't notice until someone says it.

jake_dixon29d ago

Always thought it was all in the wrists, but that breathing trick totally changed my mind.

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