Chinese Exercise Balls
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| photo by Soulkeeper |
Did you ever see the old movie Caine Mutiny where Humphrey Bogart was continually rolling steel balls around in his hand? Well, they may not have helped him much as captain of the ship, but he was certainly on the right track in trying to gain some calmness by using them. These little balls, found on almost every market stall in China, have a long history in Chinese medicine going back to the Ming Dynasty. Known as Chinese exercise, health balls, or Baoding balls where they were first produced, they can be found in wood, stone or steel. The wooden balls are mainly sold for decorative purpose as they are generally too light to use as a therapy. The stone balls are much heavier yet fragile and made from onyx, marble or jade. The most common are steel balls, often elaborately decorated with a cloisonné enamel. These usually are hollow and make a pleasant chiming sound, one in a low tone (yin) and the other in a higher tone (yang).
Although Chinese exercise balls are most popular in the West as a means of relieving stress, they do so much more. Proper use of them not only helps strengthen muscles of hand and fingers but also stimulates acupuncture points in the hand to increase qi circulation and blood flow. Meridians that begin or end in the fingers are: lungs and large intestine, pericardium and triple warmer, heart and small intestine. Exercising with Chinese balls will benefit these organ networks and also sharpen brain and memory.
If you are a beginner, you will find different sizes to accommodate different sizes of hands, for both adults and children. Start with smaller balls and increase as you become more proficient. The idea is to rotate both balls in one hand smoothly using all fingers and palm equally. Start by holding them in the dominant hand with the wrist straight and see how you go. With practice the movements will become less jerky and more natural. Once you feel comfortable with the balls, try using the other hand. Next, change the direction of the rotation. Chances are you have been pushing the balls outward with the thumb. Now reverse so that they move inward, ie clockwise in the left hand and counter-clockwise in the right hand. This requires more dexterity and will stimulate more acupuncture points. Next, practice using two balls in each hand at the same time. When you are an expert you may wish to increase the difficulty by trying three or four smaller balls in each hand.
Chinese exercise balls are particularly beneficial for computer users, sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis of the hands. They can also be used to massage feet and act as a type of reflexology treatment. Try rolling one beneath each foot and under the toes when you are sitting down.
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