To begin, choose a pair of balls you can handle easily. Place them in your hand and use your palm and fingers to rotate the balls in the direction that seems most natural. You can also tilt your palm at different angles in order to let gravity help you along. Once you are comfortable with rotating in one direction, experiment with the opposite direction. Your goal should be to eventually be able to rotate the balls comfortably in either direction.

There are different ways to use Baoding balls. You can rotate them smoothly so they don’t hit each other hard, or for challenge you can rotate them so they don’t touch at all. Remember to keep switching your hands so you maintain a healthy balance. As your hands strengthen, you can increase the size of the balls. If you practice for 10-15 minutes, you will notice that your forearm, shoulder, and hands are receiving a substantial workout.

Tips

• From personal experience, the best time to practice is in a car or on public transit (as long as you’re not driving!) or while watching TV.

• Dr. Yang of the YMAA association has personally advised me to never use metal balls because they drain your energy. Use balls that are coated with plastic or ceramic so the metal never touches your skin. According to Dr. Yang, the best balls are made of solid stone or wood.

                                                           
the whole world in your hand

Other cultures and traditions can teach us valuable lessons and expand our horizons. Give Baoding balls a try and open yourself to a new way of thinking.