Traditional Chinese hand exercises are performed using baoding balls and small exercise rings. Baoding balls are usually made of either wood or metal, and chime as you work them around in your hand. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes Chinese hand exercises stimulate accupressure points in the hands and fingers, and provide benefits for all organs of the body, according to the Chinese Holistic Health Exercises website.
Baoding Balls
Chinese baoding balls are also known as "Iron balls" because they were originally made of iron. Exercising your hand with the basic baoding ball movement is straightforward. Hold the balls in the palm of your hand, and rotate them around one another. Alternate direction when you get accustomed to the movement, and keep the balls in constant contact with one another, without them banging together. Baoding balls are available in many different sizes, so it is important to find a pair that you can maneuver in your hands comfortably.
Chinese Rings
Chinese rings are made of rubber, and are used to improve hand and grip strength. The rings come in different sizes, with different tensions so you can graduate to more difficult rings as you gain strength. To use the ring, hold it in your hand with the edges on your palm and inside of the fingers, and squeeze. Squeeze the ring together rhythmically, for 15 or 20 repetitions per hand, 2 to 3 times a day.
No Touch Ball Exercise
Use baoding balls for a variation on the traditional motion that will challenge your hands more. Practice holding the balls in your hand, and rotating them around one another without them touching each other. It will seem like an impossible task at first, but with practice you can soon master it.
Multiple Ball Exercise
Add more baoding balls to increase dexterity in your hands. When you feel you have mastered two, add a third, then a fourth, and so on, as seen on BaodingBalls.com. Adding more balls will create powerful hands and improve your hand flexibility at the same time.
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