Simone太极球的健身作用很大，不仅可以强身健体，而且对消化系统、心血管系统、神经系统的疾病及许多慢性病都有一定的防治效果。根据不同的练功要求，球的大小和质量及运动方式差别很大。具体方法有以下3种：
①把球放在桌面、石板、石槽上揉动或滚动。这种球一般为木质或石质，较重，揉动时讲究烂搏方位，暗藏武术技击的劲路、身法、步法。太极柔术名家沈阳赵中道习练此功，90岁仍耳聪目明，行步稳健。1962年他119岁无病而终，就得益于练太极球。
②在侧立的平面上（墙或立起的木板等），揉动铁球或石球。本功法可以练出两臂的含如超人力气，揉动的球可达数十公斤重。
③人持球做各种动作，练一些手上的特殊功法，或用球协调身体，使人体内外与球合为一体。这种球一般不重。也有把球悬起练各种动作的。
太极球功法是太极拳内功修炼的高层功夫，历代太极高手都对太极球功法喜爱倍至并苦练不辍，其功法秘诀更是传承隐秘，不肯轻易示人。李正先生首次把太极球功法公诸于世，相信它一定会给广大太极拳爱好者以新的启示。
“上拳不上圆，谈历启上圆助拳旋。”是指习拳者练拳精熟扎实后，开始学习磨练太极球。 太极球有轻有重。最重为三十公斤。成人练习用的一般为十公斤，直径约三十公分。 （先人有的用猪尿胞制成太极球，有的用稻草和泥或木料制成。） 初学者从轻而学，逐渐加大重量。先从定势开始练习，再学习套路。要求：里转外緾，体绕球旋，根稳球顺，忽开忽黏。最终感到手中太极球旋转自如，轻灵无物。太极球的练习使习拳者更加明确缠绕旋转的太极原理。逐渐体会到拳势攻守的作用，慢慢真功夫方会显露出来，并能化解任何对手的攻击动作.
The Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy is one of a small number of kung fu and wushu schools in Sydney NSW Australia. Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Tong Long quan or Tang Lang quan) is over 1000 years old. It's creator, Wang Lang, is documented in the archives of the Shaolin Temple as one of the great masters of the time. Wang Lang developed the style after training at the Shao Lin temple and being inspired by the praying mantis insect. Shifu Daniel Wang Yun Kuo teaches this traditional style of Chinese martial art in Leichhardt a suburb close to the Sydney CBD, NSW Australia. Within the praying mantis kung fu syle there are several variations. The variations taught by Shifu Wang are the Seven Stars and Plum Blossom styles. The Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy teaches other styles of Chinese KungFu including Wu Shu (wushu is a style of competitive Kung Fu made famous by Jet Li), Chin Na and Wu Dong (also known as Wudan, Wu Tang or Wudang) Tai Chi (taiji, taiqi). Sifu Wang also teaches styles such as Xing Yi (Hsing I) and Ba Gua (Pa Kua). There are many styles of Kung Fu including Chow Ka (Jow Gar), Hung Gar, Chin Woo, Choy Lay Fut, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun (Ving Tsun) and many others. Kung Fu is very different from other martial arts known in the West such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do or Kickboxing. These are often referred to as hard styles as they use direct force to strike or block the opponent. Many Kung Fu styles combine hard techniques with soft moves. Soft techniques use the momentum and energy of the opponent against them. Kung Fu first gained exposure in Western culture from the 1970's TV Series Kung Fu starring David Carradine. More recently, Kung Fu has been gaining popularity in the West as it is exposed to Wu Xia kung fu culture from movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Fearless and famous Kung Fu actors including Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Zhang ZiYi, Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh. Kung Fu has even influenced popular music for example, the Wu Tang Clan and Asian Kung Fu Generation. But the most famous of Kung Fu pop songs is Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. Praying mantis kung fu is often mis spelled as preying mantis kung fu or playing mantis Kung fu
“上拳不上圆，上圆助拳旋。”
骤增太极功的关键所在之怎样松腰
1925年杨澄甫口述、陈微明笔录的《太极拳术十要》问世之后，人们始知松腰的重要性，但具体练法却从没公开过。
据说，以前师傅练松腰法时，往往躲着徒弟偷着练。直到20世纪80年代，才有明师传出了一些要点。而太极球也遭遇了同样的命运，世上只闻太极球而不见传授。
为什么要学练太极球？因为练太极就是练天地人相合的一团虚实相间、空而不空的球体，这个球体既能滋润身心，又可悟觉太极真谛，使习练者很快进入练太极拳的全方面角色。通过太极球的训练，可以有效提升太极拳的内功修养水平：其一，练太极球易体会“松、柔、轻、灵、整”的太极状态；其二，练太极球易强化人的内在感觉；其三，练太极球能促成精神的集中专一(专注一方)；其四，练太极球可使练习者较快体会到练神、练意、练气的内涵；其五，练太极球乍看起来似乎运动量很小，其实不然，它锻炼的内容非常全面，关系全身各个部位，很多动作都是“一动无不动”的全身动作，因此，健身效果特别好。
练太极球不仅能帮助习练者很快掌握太极拳的练拳要领，有效促进经脉的气血流通，从而为强身祛病奠定雄厚基础；还能通过太极球的锻炼实现松腰之目的。
练太极拳为什么要松腰？因为腰在人体中有着非常重要的作用，古人有“命意源头在腰隙”、“腰为驱使”、“源动腰脊转股肱”、“刻意留心在腰间”等说法。腰为一身之主宰，犹如动力机械的大轴，轴一断，则全部的动力机械报废。腰一生病，则百病丛生；腰病一重，则他病亦重。
经常进行太极球与太极松腰法的锻炼，除预防和治疗一些疾病外，还可在神意气形等四个方面提高我们的身心健康水平：
从形体上来看，可柔韧形体，抻筋拔骨；从气的角度看，可使束缚人体上下气血流通的带脉流畅无滞，内气充足；从意的层次看，可养成意在形先，心念专一的习惯；从神的高度看，可使头脑灵明无碍。
总之，通过太极球与太极松腰法的训练，太极拳“支撑八面”、“全体透空”、“阶及神明”的内涵就有了物质基础。 (文章出处：《健身科学》)
骤增太极功的关键所在之怎样松腰
