Cloud hands is a beautiful movement that mimics the soft movement of clouds floating through the sky. It is a lovely movement to practice over and over again. Partly because it feels good to do and partly because there is so much it can teach you when it comes to relaxing down and connecting different parts of your body together.

How to do it

Start with just the arm movements beginning with your right arm.

• Stand in basic stance with your right hand in front of your right hip.
• Twist to the left drawing your right hand in front of your left hip.
• Let your arm float up to shoulder height then twist to the right drawing it softly across so it ends up in front of right shoulder.
• Keep your hand very soft and let the turning of the waist pull it from side to side.
• Let your elbow (not shoulder) float up pulling the hand up then sink back down again. Don’t just raise and lower your hand.
• Practice it also with your left hand – this time it goes anti-clockwise.
• Practice this a lot. Gradually you learn to relax your shoulder and elbow and let your body carry your arm across.
• Try and keep both arms unbendable.

Both hands together

When you are confident with moving one hand at a time try them both together

• Twist to the left circling your right hand across and float it up so it is in front of your left shoulder. At the same time place your left hand palm down under it in front of your left hip.
• Transfer your weight to your right leg and twist to the right carrying both hands across. Then let your left arm float up and right arm sink down.
• Transfer your weight to your left leg and twist to the left carrying both hands across. Then let your right arm float up and left arm sink down.
• Keep twisting to the side and letting one arm sink and the other float up.
• Don’t worry too much about the hand positions. There are many variations but the one I most commonly use is your upper hand palm is facing towards you and your lower hand is palm down.

At home practice this move standing on the spot but transferring your weight and twisting your waist and hips.