What Are Baoding Balls

Baoding balls are also known as Chinese exercise (meditation, therapy, stress, medicine, or chime) balls, or simply as Chinese health balls. They originally where made from iron in Baoding city of Hebei province in China during the Great Ming dynasty that ruled in the country from mid 1300s till late 1600s. Baoding balls are believed to have great healing effect on human mind and body. Nowadays these therapy balls are very popular all over the world. To have an idea of what are baoding balls we need to say that normally they are made from chrome-plated steel. However they can be made of copper or other material. These balls are hallow and contain tiny balls or particles inside that produce chime-like sound when the Chinese balls are being manipulated. The balls now vary in size, color, ornament and material they are made from.The color and ornament on the meditation balls aim to convey a feel of harmony and repose.

The fact that the baoding balls have diverse names undermines the various areas of human practices that the balls are used in. The general implementation would be to exercise and train hand muscles. The balls can be central items for meditation and irreplaceable in alternative medical practices. Still, when we say that exercise would mean training of hand and palm muscles it would not be solely training of this limited area of the body. As there are numerous receptors on the inside part of the hand, the exercise will have positive effect on other organs throughout the body and even on the person’s psychic. The balls regulate the internal energy balance and blood flow. The medical effect could be explained by that the balls’ come into contact with meridians and acupuncture (or pressure) points. Stimulation of the meridians stirs positive impulses in the whole organism. According to eastern medical tradition, the complex bodily systems are interlinked. Thus, manipulation with one organ or part of the body would affect the whole body. They also maintain that regular manipulations with the health balls make brain and bones stronger and cause healing process in the function of the whole nervous system, cranial nerve, and such organs as heart, lungs, stomach, liver intestines, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, and other. Nevertheless, advocates of western medical tradition remain skeptical about the Chinese balls’ healing role. But there definitely is evidence that Chinese balls have healed problems with muscles and joints, released hypertension, numbness and other numerous physical disorders.

Traditionally the baoding balls are rotated clockwise and then counterclockwise in one palm and then in the other. At first you may find it inconvenient or difficult to manipulate the balls only by means of one hand but soon when you get accustomed to it the chime balls may become an integral part of your daily occupations. There are different techniques of balls manipulation. You may either simply roll them round or try to keep them when rolling. The number of balls may vary from two to three or more.

Now that you have a decent idea of what are baoding balls we just would like to add that stores have various health balls on offer, among them: Chrome Steel Baoding Balls, Goldfish Baoding Balls, Tai Chi Yin Yang Baoding Balls, Four Leaf Clover Baoding Balls, and other that are usually priced circa $8.