Greetings..

Hi Sound: The ball used in the video is a 5.2 pound solid wooden ball.. i recommend beginning with a soccer ball if there are any health issues that concern you. I also recommend finding a reputable teacher to help, unfortunately 'reputable' teachers are not plentiful.. I had C5-6 and C6-7 fused this past April and am better than before the surgery.. now, i am teaching full-on Taiji classes including Tui Shou, Shui Jiao, Qin Na, and judging and refereeing at tournaments.. full recovery is very possible, the ball exercises (adjusting weight as needed) are excellent, as are the plate exercises.. i wish you well in your surgery and recovery, your beautiful spirit and delightful personality (as your posts reveal) should benefit you greatly..

Be well..