Cloud Hands

Shift weight side to side, hands circling like turning a wheel. Endlessly repeatable.

10 minVataPitta

How to do it

Stand with the feet a little wider than the hips and shift your weight slowly from one foot to the other. Let the hands circle in front of the body as though slowly turning a large wheel, the waist leading and the arms following. Repeat for the full time — the repetition is the point, not the count.

SeatedSeated, same arm circles and same weight shift through the sitting bones.

The sequence

4 steps

1Set the stanceFeet a little wider than the hips, knees soft, weight centred.
2Shift rightWeight moves to the right foot as the right hand rises past the face.
3Turn from the waistThe waist leads, the arms follow. Never lead with the hands.
4Shift left and repeatWeight to the left, hands exchange. Keep going for the full time.

What it does

Endlessly repeatable and almost impossible to do wrong, which is why it settles a scattered day.

When you'll be given it

Vata grounding blocks, and Pitta sessions that need movement without heat.

Where it comes from

The signature repeating movement of the Yang-style tai chi form.

Another traditionChinese internal art — not Ayurvedic.

Take care

Keep the knees tracking over the toes as you shift. Narrow the stance if the knees complain.

Not sure whether it suits you? Ask a Vaidya.

There's no button here to start this. Your practice is prescribed each morning — that's what keeps the dose honest.