How to Use Chinese Medicine Balls for the Hands
Chinese medicine balls, also known as Baoding balls, Chinese health balls, or Chinese therapy balls, have been utilized for centuries as a means of exercise, injury recovery and stress relief for the hand, arm and shoulder. Practitioners of alternative healing believe that when you position and move these two balls clockwise or counterclockwise in your hand, they promote the healthy flow of chi--the body's natural energy--and activate the acupressure points found in the hand. Skillful use of the balls takes time, but with a little practice, anyone can learn to use them for exercise and stress relief.
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Instructions
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How to Use Chinese Medicine Balls
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Cradle the Chinese medicine balls in one hand. Most people start out with medicine balls that are 50 millimeters in diameter. Begin by rotating the balls in your hand so they remain in contact. The thumb steers one ball while the other fingers slide the other ball around the palm. Practice moving the balls both clockwise and counterclockwise. In the beginning, the rotation will be uneven, but as you practice, you will find a natural rhythm with the balls as they glide around your palm.
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As you become more adept, increase the speed of rotation until the balls separate and rotate around the palm without touching. Try to keep the motion smooth so that the balls don't hit into each other or fall out of your hand. After mastering this technique consider moving up to balls with a larger diameter.
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Stretch the palm and direct the Chinese medicine balls with gentle finger movements. This is a more complex approach that requires less pushing from the digits and relies more upon controlling the rolling movements with the fingers.
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Experiment with balls in both hands. As you get more comfortable using Chinese medicine balls, try using one set in each hand at the same time. This advanced approach requires greater coordination and concentration, and exercises both hands at the same time.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep practicing. Getting the hang of using Chinese medicine balls takes patience, but with daily use you can master this ancient method of stress relief and healing.
Purchase balls that fit comfortably in your hands. Manufacturers produce balls in many different sizes, and they can be hollow or solid. Because they are lighter, the hollow balls are usually better for injury recovery. The solid balls are heavier and will provide a more vigorous exercise.
Chinese medicine balls have long been utilized for stress relief. You may want to purchase balls that contain calming bells inside. When rolled around the palm, they create a soothing sound that can promote relaxation.
Chinese medicine balls should not be used to treat serious health conditions that require medical attention. Instead, they should be utilized as a complementary practice that supports the body's natural healing systems.
