The Health Postures & Their Stages of Accomplishment

Figure 3 is the same as figure 2 except that the arms are wrapped around the knees from the outside, and the knees are pushed together to stretch an entirely new set of muscles while rocking back and forth, from side to side, and also in a rotating motion.

The push inward, toward the middle, exerted on both knees, acts like a fulcrum for the arm stretch and is felt in the hip joints, freeing them from blocks and tension, for easier walking with a spring in the step, and makes the body feel light due to releasing muscles locked in the daily gravity-pull position. The amount of the push is regulated by each person according to tolerance and comfort. NO FORCE IS USED. It is only a gentle persuasion through a rocking motion which does it, little by little, like a seesaw. Playful exertion is the general idea. Poise and general well-being are accomplished without compulsion, by rhythmic movements in relaxed positions.

Next, the locked hands exert a stretch upon the arms and between the shoulders, to free the brachial plexus. The head is bent forward and the spine is extended in this process. The pull must be felt between the shoulders to be effective. A deep breath is taken, stretching from the inside out, to relax tension and energy blocks. This is a lift and extension on the cavity walls from within to counteract the outer pressure and tension from daily work that is placed on external muscles and the structures of the body. The breath is directed to act as a push from within, between the shoulders, while the arms pull on the shoulders from without, in a synchronized stretch. A healthy grunt as the breath is exhaled helps deep relaxation.

Not only is the spine extended in this process, but sometimes even vertebrae will reposition themselves with a gentle click. It is a lift upward from within, by the breath, without force or strain. This is a purely physical stretch. The breath is directed to one area at a time and synchronized with the muscle-stretch on that place outside. No effort is made at any other kind of breath control or regulation. Daily efforts are necessary to follow through with the currents so liberated.

After a satisfactory stretch, the breath is released with a grunt, which adds to the relaxation. Even sick persons can groan themselves into well-being, if the principle is understood and if the effort is deep enough to arouse the latent life forces dormant in the body. Many animals do this instinctively when they roll on the ground and grunt most satisfactorily after a hard day's work in the harness. A great English physician once said: "The gallant Frenchman will groan himself well while the stolid Englishman succumbs to the malady." Such observations of man's deeper reserve forces put to good use by action have been made by many other doctors, especially in time of crisis and severe illness.