Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-15
RELAXATION CURES ILLS
NEW SYSTEM OF EXERCISE BASED
ON PSYCHOLOGICAL LAWS.

Nature Hates Violence and by Puttiu:
the Subconscious self in Control of the
Body secures Restoration to Health
Diseases Helped by Relaxation.
new system of physical exercise,
formulated by a former supervisor of
music in the public schools of Wash
mgton, has to do with the subcon-
scious mind, says the Chicago Inter
Ocean. Yawning and stretching are
not generally considered important,
but as part of the so-called natural
movement exercises they are regarded
as significant, as they are usually the
initial movements. The following ac-
count of the exercises and their theory
comes from their chief teacher:
The first step in these exercises is
to lie loosely clothed, with closed
eyes and perfectly quiescent, until
there is consciousness of gravity-in
other words, until the weight of the
body is realized.
There must be relaxation not only
of the body, but also of the mind; the
grasp on things in general must be
lessened and all action suspended as
far as volition is concerned. This de-
pends on whether Or not the person
needs the breath expansion which
yawning brings.
He may be so in the habit of deep
breathing that he has no need Of this
particular form of interior exercise
at this time, or it may be that habit
of insufficient breathing has so afro
phied certain parts of his body that
they must be relaxed by other move
ments before yawning is possible.
An assertion made for the natural
movement exercise is that it brings
about an exact meeting of need and
help. If one is nervous, general re-
pose is gained; the inert are stimu-
lated, and, in one part of the body is
over-active, leaving another part alb
normally inactive, an equilibrium Is
established.
No two individuals have exactly
the same experience, but while differ
ing in rate and power in each person,
the spontaneous movements are all in
accordance with certain general prin-
ciples. For example, hysterical pa
tient, when perfectly relaxed and
when the will, for the nonce, is in
abeyance, will massage one arm and
hand from the elbow downward, with
the opposite hand, alternating from
time to time.
This at once indicates the disease,
and is the movement which quiets
over-wrought nerves. The involuntary
tendency, when a person has remained
long enough quiescent to be subject
to the subconscious mind, to press
with the fingers over the eyes, along
the upper orbit just under the eye
brows, is another Indication of eX-
treme nervousness. Another is the
lifting of the spine when the patient
is lying on the back.
When the trouble is insomnia there
is a tendency to bring the head for
ward, repeating the action many times.
AS an act of will this movement tends
to induce sleep, as by stretching the
nerves and muscles of this part of
the body the nerve particles are sepa-
rated as by an opiate.
Dolbear points out that sleep is sim
ply separation of the nerve sheaths,
and this movement has a tendency to
bring about such separation. This is
why kitten curls itself up when it
sleeps, and all animals drop or bring
forward the head in sleep. In activity
the particles which form the nerve
sheaths are in intimate contract, and
the more intense the activity the
closer the contact.
When there is contraction along the
spine or in the region of the back,
there is a tendency to clasp the feet
with the hands and straighten out
the limbs, which acts as a self-adjust-
ing derrick, stretching and strengthen
ing the muscles and nerves. Brain
fatigue is indicated, and also relieved,
by wiping off the face with the hands.
Rubbing of the skin denotes ner-
vous irritation of some sort, and deep
movements, as taking as much as pos
sible of the flesh of the arms and
limbs with the hands, indicate gen
eral muscular contraction. The move
ments of a neurotic are rapid, often
| almost whirl.
1t is also asserted by the author of
this system that these involuntary mo-
tions follow geometrical FORMS that
they are at first in straight and hori-
zontal lines, then vertical and oblique;
after this, arches, circles, double cir
cles and ovals are described. Also
that there is just as much stretching
as there has been contraction.
Nature hates violence, and the part
most affected often comes into motion
tardily More than this, like coiled
spring, a nerve or muscle long con-
tracted tends to return to the abnor-
NAL position, so that cure is often
matter of considerable time.
Stated briefly, the foundation fact of
the natural movement system as a
cure is the one well known, but not SO
generally realized, that absolutely per-
feet circulation is perfect health. That