I had finally arrived. What should have been a six-hour travel day had somehow turned into twelve, but I had made it. The stars had long since found their place in the sky and were shining brightly now that I was in Certaldo, a small Tuscan village and home to... La Meridiana, a world-renowned ceramics school. I was there for a four-day intensive pottery retreat and learned how to pull large vessels on the potter's wheel.
It was four wonderful days. The mornings were cool, with light fog and dew on the ground, but by afternoon it reached 21°C with clear skies. I ate well. I worked with clay. I recharged.
What surprised me wasn't that I came home refreshed, but how refreshed I felt. I'd spent four days doing something truly demanding, so demanding that my arms trembled while centering four kilos of clay, and my body ached at the end of each day. And yet, I was refreshed. Something I would recommend to everyone at least once.
There's a word for this little break I took for myself: skillcation.
What is a skillcation – and why now?
A skillcation is a vacation focused on learning. Unlike traditional vacations where you spend most of your time by the pool or on the beach, the new skill is the main focus. Your souvenir is what you've learned.
It's also known as a creative holiday: traveling meaningfully and coming home with something that stays with you.
What distinguishes a skillcation from a wellness retreat?
A wellness retreat is primarily something that's done to you. Massage, sauna, silence, a program built around your relaxation. Nice, but it's usually over at check-out.
A skillcation is something you actively participate in. You take part, rather than just receiving. On the first day, you might feel awkward and unsure, but by the end of the trip, you'll be significantly better. And what you take home with you isn't just a feeling of being refreshed. It's your new skill.
Why a pottery retreat in particular? What clay does to you.
Clay is honest. It reacts precisely to what you do, with immediate feedback. If you press too hard, the wall becomes thin. If you hesitate, the form wobbles. If your hands remain wet and still, the form grows beneath your palms exactly as you envisioned. Clay demands that you stay present and focused. Eventually, this leads to a flow state.
Presence and concentration might sound like soft benefits. They aren't. Learning a new skill is measurably good for us—mentally, physically, and emotionally. In the Synapse Project at the University of Texas at Dallas, adults spent three months learning either something challenging and unfamiliar or something pleasant but simple. Memory improved only in the more challenging groups. (Park et al., 2014, Psychological ScienceThe effort was the price, the improved memory the reward. Moods react even faster: In a 13-day diary study with 658 people... After the creative days, the participants reported increased enthusiasm and a sense of flourishing. (Conner et al., 2016, The Journal of Positive Psychology).
Working with clay has its own unique effect: Researchers at the University of Oxford describe it as mindful, relaxing and wellness-promoting experience (Malafouris & O'Brien, 2025, TopoiPottery, stress reduction, and mindfulness are therefore more closely linked than it sounds. At Drexel University 45 minutes of artistic work lowered cortisol levels in 75 participants (%)., regardless of any prior experience (Kaimal et al., 2016, Art TherapyBeginners benefited just as much as experienced participants.
These are connections, not promises of cures, and clay is no substitute for professional treatment. But together they point in a useful direction: craftsmanship and mental health are linked, and spending a week working with your hands is anything but wasted time. Perhaps it's one of the most sensible gifts you can give yourself.
The wonderful question remains: Which retreat is right for you?
Three pottery retreats, three ways to slow down
You don't have to look far. We offer three pottery retreats throughout the year. All three are led by db pottery founder Denise Kratzer, an experienced ceramicist who has been sharing her passion for working with clay for years, often inspiring others to do the same. Most participants have never centered a lump of clay before, but they are curious.
Morocco – Pottery and Surf Retreat on the Atlantic coast
We are staying in Tayourt, one of the oldest fishermen's houses in Imsouane, above the bay with the longest waves in Morocco.
The mornings belong to the sea, with two hours of surf lessons. The afternoons belong to the clay, with three hours of hand-building each day. Building, pinching, shaping, outside in the shade.
Never surfed before? No problem! You'll learn on the beach first and then go into the water. Learning to surf is a bonus, not a requirement. You can also skip a session and stick to the audio instead.
- Skills: Hand-built and daily surfing
- Dates: Saturday 12 – Saturday 19 September 2026
- Ideal for: all those who love the sea and want to be grounded and active
South Tyrol – Pottery retreat amidst mountains, spa and deceleration
I've noticed that the Dolomites are currently enjoying a surge in social media popularity, and rightly so. Radein lies at 1,550 meters on the Regglberg plateau, and within it is the Zirmerhof: a farmhouse dating back to the 12th century that has been welcoming guests for over a hundred years. Larch forests, Highland cattle, and a vineyard further down the slope complete the picture. Participants enjoy four nights with a five-course dinner each evening and a generous breakfast buffet.
Twelve hours of clay work, spread over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, alternating between pottery on the turntable and hand-building. Between sessions, the spa and pool await, as well as an optional guided hike through the Bletterbach Gorge.
If you're looking for a cozy autumn getaway, close to nature but with a pampering factor, this is the place for you!
- Skills: Hand-built and turntable + hiking + spa
- Dates: Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 October 2026
- Ideal for: Peace and quiet, fresh mountain air, slowing down
Andalusia – Pottery and Yoga Retreat by the Sea
El Palmar is located on the Costa de la Luz in the province of Cádiz: long sandy beaches, dunes, and pine forests. We stay at the A-Frame Surfcamp every year. Start your day with a yoga session and then discover your creative side with clay.
Throughout the week, there are six guided pottery sessions, sometimes on the wheel, sometimes hand-building, plus an open studio for further practice after class. One afternoon, a surf coach from A-Frame will take you out on the water for a taster session.
This retreat is ideal if you want to soak up some sun and warmth during the winter months.
- Skills: Hand structure and turntable + Yoga + Surf taster course
- Dates: Still open, see retreat page
- Ideal for: Warmth, movement, gentle introduction
No time to travel? Your Skillcation in Zurich
Not everyone has the time or energy to travel.
Our intensive week-long course takes place right here at Schiffbaustrasse 9a: four days, with dates in September and October 2026, and we are continuously adding new dates. The intensive pottery course in Zurich is structured similarly to a pottery retreat: many hours at a time, real progress, and a teacher by your side. Only without the airport and without sleeping in a stranger's bed.
Come and get your hands dirty
I came back from my skillcation with a few large vessels, a clear head, and a calmed nervous system. Not because I had completely disconnected from my life, but because I had switched to something slow, physical, and entirely my own.
Whether you prefer a morning on the Atlantic coast in Imsouane, a week in South Tyrol in October, an escape from winter in El Palmar, or four days in the db pottery studio with the hum of the potter's wheels in the background: the invitation is the same. Come and learn something with your hands!
We look forward to seeing you in the studio… or at a retreat. 🧡
db pottery retreats and intensive courses are led by founder Denise Kratzer, an experienced ceramicist who has been teaching wheel throwing and hand-building in Zurich for years. Clear your mind with dirty hands – subscribe to the newsletter!
