Who is this for?
Ten Hands Medical Qi Gong is a series of movements designed to assist those who have stiffness, pain, weakness, or numbness in their hands, fingers or wrists. With repeated practice, this movement therapy can reverse the above symptoms, plus build greater strength, flexibility, and circulation, all while preventing a reoccurrence of the symptoms. This practice is especially helpful for those who work with their hands, like those typing, repairing, painting, gardening, playing an instrument, or massaging, for example.
What is being done?
Ten Hands is a series of Qi Gong movements that consciously challenge the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints of the hands and wrist to prevent or heal pain from arthritis, carpal tunnel, or repetitive stress injuries related to your hands. We will practice a sequence of ten movements tapping and clapping different parts of your hands up to thirty-six times for each movement.
How should it feel?
While doing this you may feel parts of your hands and wrists that are sore or tender. It’s okay and even preferable if this practice is challenging, intense or a little edgy. However, you should not be feeling any pain. The clearest signs that you are reinforcing pain is if you are: #1. holding your breath or #2. unnecessarily tightening your muscles-- lifting your shoulders, clenching your jaw, or even wincing are examples of reinforcing resistance. If you notice any of these symptoms of resistance, please use less impact or consider leaving out the particular exercise(s) until you can easily manage the sensation with deep breaths and soft muscles. After completing the 10 Hands you may experience warmth or tingling in your hands from the new blood and qi/chi you are now circulating in your hands.
Why is it important?
In the East, it is said, “Rust does not grow on a moving hinge.” In the same way, we want to encourage a variety of movements in our body to maintain strength, flexibility and balance in our bodies. A quarter of all the bones in our body are in our hands and wrists. These are also among the smallest and most used muscles and bones in our bodies. If you perform repetitive actions or work with your hands (typing, texting, writing, crafting, playing instruments, utilizing tools, living, etc.) then your hands are your tools and deserve your loving attention and care. This is one way to care for your hands and care for yourself.
What short or long term impact does this have?
If you are currently healing in your hands, fingers, thumbs, or wrists, the first several times you practice Ten Hands, your body sensations may feel quite intense. As mentioned above, do not continue to practice if it hurts. Also, don’t practice this if you are currently experiencing acute inflammation in these areas, which may present as warm and swollen areas, a fibromyalgia or rheumatism arthritic (RA) flare up, or sprain. Many report feeling a reduction or even complete elimination of the pain in their hands, wrists and finger after only one session of Ten Hands. The impact that is generated by tapping the hands together in this exercise help build bone growth and is meant to helps make your hands stronger and more resilient for everyday use. The more often you practice the stronger, more agile, and less sore your hands will become.