The Colfax chronicle., 1903-10-24
ORIENTAL EXERCISE SYSTEM.
Hindoo OccuItisfs Takes i'm
This Country.

Exercises for fat, exercises for I'M
perfect digestion, exercises for that
tired feeling-these are our common
portion. Americans have been body
building by physical culture with as
tonishing persistence of late. Cures
for half the Ills that flesh is heir to have
been found in various movements,
and 1t has seemed that the cold morn
ing tub and the 15-minutes' drill was
to become as universal as breakfast IT.
self.
But now comes an exercise system,
reports the New York World. which is
claimed to have an almost occult In
fiuence: to promote personal magnet
ism, to quiet. strengthen, and steady
the most erratIc nerves. and to promote
great power OF mental concentration In
the fiightiest
This new and peculiar fad Is, as
might be guessed, oriental in its origin,
and either because of this or because OF
come realization Of real possible bene-
flts 1t is being taken up with enthusi-
asm.
Oriental nerve control Is taught by
Hindoo occultists, class OF teachers
who are generally recognized to have
delved with great and tangible results In
the realm of mysticism.
Its remarkable feature Is its great
simplicity, for the system consists OF
few exercises In breathing accompanied
by a mild admixture Of oriental philos-
ophy. These are based upon the fun
damental truth that all vital forces In
the body center in the lungs and that
breathing according to certain rules will
generate new and healthy forces in the
body which find expression In the abb
sence of nervousness, strong personal
magnetism and the ability to concen-
trate the mind readily upon given sub
Jest.
The first position in the principal ex-
ercise for developing control is taken
with the heels together and hands hang
Ing at the sides. The position should be
erect, without stiffness, and the mind
should dwell upon the philosophy of
nerve control while the lungs inhale
and exhale deeply.
When both mind and body seem con-
centrated upon the matter. with LONG
inhalation the arms should be raised
slowly at the sides In relaxed posi-
ton till on line with the shoulder.
This attitude Is retained for few sec
ords. while several breaths are taken.
Then. with lungs full of air, the arms
should fall slowly to the sides, with the
elbows held in toward the body and the
hand and forearm forming a curve
During this gentle movement the
breath should be exhaled so softly that
the effort has the effect of being un-
conscious. One has drowsy sensation
which. in little while, gives place to
one of increasing physical control and
greater mental balance.
The erect position should be retained
IN this movement and finger OF the left
HAND pressed against the right nostril.
This exercise Is the same as the first,
and may be practiced first with the right
arm and the right nostril closed, and
then with the left arm, having the left
nostril closed.
When pupil has thoroughly mas.
tered this exercise tensity is combined
with 1t by holding the right arm in a
horizontal position and left finger
against the right nostril while deep
breath is being taken and held for
about FIVE seconds. Meanwhile the ex-
tended arm should be made to stiffcn
from the wrist to the shoulder and then
from the finger tips to the wrist while
the lungs are being expanded with the
imprisoned air. In the first lesson fivs
seconds Is considered long enough be-
fore relaxation occurs. AS the breath
Is gradually expelled the arm should re-
lax from the shoulder to the wrist and
from the finger tips to that point. As
the arm slowly becomes limp the elbow
Should be drawn In toward the side of
the body and the fingers curved upward
After exercising each arm in this man.
ner ten or twelve times the two arms
may be raised together.