Baoding balls, also called Chinese meditation balls, can help calm your mind and exercise your hands. While you may remember these classic fidget toys from years ago, there are several more beautiful versions on the market today to choose from.
Our Favorite Absolutely Beautiful (But Still Affordable) Baoding Ball
These Top Chi baoding balls are made of black obsidian and come with a carrying pouch, which makes it very convenient to take them on the go with you. While the deep black color of the obsidian is calming for meditation, the fact that obsidian is a form of natural glass caused by quickly cooling lava is enough to make you feel connected to the power of the Earth. The carrying pouch also makes a big difference when it comes to usability. They are 1.5 inches in diameter, perfect for average sized hands. Check them out here.
Side note: If you love the case, but would rather have stainless steel version, check this one out!
How to Use Baoding Balls
The Basic Technique
To use meditation balls, place two balls in one hand and rotate them around each other.
Advanced Techniques
Once you have the basic technique mastered, try one of these five more advanced techniques.
- Increase the speed of the rotation in your hand. How fast can you rotate them without dropping them?
- Switch hands. Use your less dominate hand and rotate them.
- Get two sets and have both hands rotating the baoding balls at the same time. (This takes some good coordination.)
- When rotating, make sure the two balls do not touch each other.
- Got the hang of two balls in one hand? Try three. Can you manage all three at the same time?
What size baoding balls should I buy?
Chinese meditation balls come in a variety of sizes. When you are starting out, it’s recommended to start at 1.4″ size and increase as you become more comfortable with using them. Pay attention to the descriptions and double check the dimensions before purchasing any items, as they aren’t always obvious that they are different sizes. The typical ones you will find will measure 1.5″, but if you look carefully, you can find larger sets as well. If you’re not sure what size to buy, start at 1.4″.
Here’s our recommended starter set, measuring only 1.4″ to make it easier to handle. Check it out!
For a larger meditation ball, try this one measuring at 1.75″ in diameter. Note: This is only recommended for more advanced users or for adults with larger hands.
How Are They Made?
There are two main types of baoding balls: solid and hollow. The solid balls are typically made of solid stone, glass, or wood. They are normally heavier than their hollow counterparts. The heavier weight is often appealing to fidgeters because it feels more robust and substantial in their hands.
If you prefer to have a hollow set, there are some gorgeous designs to choose from. Inside the hollow ball, there’s a chime mechanism that makes a sound each time the ball is rotated. Some people like using this for meditation as an auditory cue to focus on.
Check out our favorite solid blue corundum solid stone set here!
For a truly stunning hollow set, try this cloisonne design!
More ways to use baoding balls …
Hand exercises: Try using solid metal balls and increasing the weight as your hand strength progresses.
Meditation exercises: Use hollow balls with the chime sound for additional focus points during meditation.
Massage tools: Use the balls to roll across sore points on your skin for a great massage effect.
Physical therapy: If you have a recent hand or wrist injury, talk to your physician about using meditation balls after surgery to help with the recovery process.
Fidget: These are great for quelling the fidget impulse because once you are practiced at using them, you can easily fidget with these one handed and they are fairly quiet and unobtrusive.