There are sixteen techniques that are practised separately from the mother palms. Each may be done slightly differently according to the model and spirit of each animal. The dragon way is considered the basic way. There are a number of drills for each technique to train the ability to apply them concentrating on whole body power, with different moving steps, with a partner, and in sparring practice.
Bagua uses moving steps, so even the 'stance' training is not rigid. It is called 'setting the stake', rather than 'stake standing'.
The basic stance is mabu. Almost everything else feels like mabu, even circle-walking. The main stances are probably best described as mabu stance, mabu open stance, mabu turned stance.
The basic footwork is straight line advancing, inside triangle stepping, outside triangle stepping, zigzag advancing, back and forth bai-kou stepping, T pattern stepping, turning kou large bai stepping. All use the baibu and koubu. Random stepping is also often practised, as long as it uses the baibu and koubu.
Most practice, aside from circle-walking, is of these techniques with stake setting and stepping patterns. They are always done with whole body power, usually at the end of a circle-walking practice when the qi is full. The changes, routines and weapons are not practised as often, except for the dragon's single palm change, mastery of which is key to mastery of the others.