CLOUD HANDS Yun Shou - Start in the Ping Xing Bu stance - Arms hanging naturally to the sides fingers pointing straight forward (i.e. palms are parallel to the floor) - From the starting position, raise the arms forward and up (in line with the shoulders) and stop at the shoulder height level - The palms keep facing the floor (or straight down) throughout the lift. (Thus, the wrists are bent in the starting position and straight in line with the forearms in the end position) - With the arms straight forward at shoulder level sink down and slightly bend the legs - Focus with the eyes on the back of the right hand and open the arms sideways and stop at the 45 position - Step out with the left leg into a wide Ma Bu stance
- Relax the right elbow and start dropping the left arm straight down to the body s - Transfer the bodyweight towards the right arm and pivot on the right heal so that the right foot is turned out 45 - Shift the bodyweight onto the right leg into a Gong Bu stance and turn the left (back) foot on the heal so the left foot can be parallel to the right foot - Bend the left elbow and bring the left hand up towards the wrist of the right hand so that the left fingertips are touching the right wrist - Move the left hand over and past the right hand and raise it to be at the nose height level - The right arm starts falling towards the body s - The left foot is turned on the heal 90 and the - The shoulders keep turning to the left and the bodyweight is shifted onto the left leg into a Gong Bu stance to the left - Turn the right (back) foot on the heal so the right foot can be parallel to the left foot - Turn the left forearm in so that the palm turns around to face down and bend the right elbow and bring the right hand up towards the wrist of the left hand so that the right fingertips are touching the left wrist
- Move the right hand over and past the left hand and raise the right arm straight up the body s to be extended straight up and over the head, right palm facing inwards - The left arm starts falling towards the body s - The right foot is turned on the heal 90 and the - The shoulders keep turning to the right and the bodyweight is shifted onto the right leg into a LOW Gong Bu stance to the right - Turn the left (back) foot on the heal so the left foot can be parallel to the right foot - Turn the right forearm in so that the palm turns around to face out, relax the right elbow and pull the right forearm down the body s centreline - Bend the left elbow and bring the left hand up towards the wrist of the right hand so that the left fingertips are touching the right wrist in front of the face at about the nose height level
- Move the left hand over and past the right hand and raise the left arm straight up the body s to be extended straight up and over the head, left palm facing inwards - The right arm starts falling towards the body s - The left foot is turned on the heal 90 and the - The shoulders keep turning to the left and the bodyweight is shifted onto the left leg into a LOW Gong Bu stance to the left Turn the right (back) foot on the heal so the right foot can be parallel to the left foot - Turn the left forearm in so that the palm turns around to face out, relax the left elbow and pull the left forearm down the body s centreline - Bend the right elbow and bring the right hand up towards the wrist of the left hand so that the right fingertips are touching the left wrist in front of the face at about the nose height level - The same sequence is repeated another two times
ENDING THE EXERCISE - From the low Gong Bu stance to the left turn the right foot forward and shift the body weight back to the Ma Bu stance and extend both arms forward and out, palms up, in line with the shoulders - Turn the left foot to face forward, transfer the weight onto the right leg and step up to the level stance with the left foot - Straighten the legs and at the same time turn the forearms in through 180 so that the palms face down (arms are in line with the shoulders) - Relax the elbows and let the arms bend naturally at the elbows while the hands (palms still facing down) are pulled back towards the body - Keep the fingertips at the same height as the shoulders while the arms are coming closer to the body - When the forearms are at a 45 angle to the floor relax the shoulders and let the forearms fall naturally towards the floor - Keep a straight line between the hands and forearms throughout the arm lowering movement till the forearms and hands are again parallel to the floor - Let the forearms fall further, gently down the sides, to hang vertically next to the body - allow the wrists to bend till the arms are hanging to the sides and the fingers are pointing straight forward (palms still pointing towards the floor) Repeat this preparation exercise 3 times to each side