WE NOW COME to the pleasantest part of the instruction in this line of study, which is called tense walking. In order to know the exhilaration of the habit, we must learn to develop a knowledge of the great engine of vitality, which in medical books is called the diaphragm. It is a large and wide muscle, constituting the entire floor of the lungs or roof of the stomach. It reaches from one side of the body to the other and from the front to the back. The ancients taught that here was the seat of the soul. But it is merely the great engine of vitality.

It is full of mischief, and can cut up many pranks. If, for instance, it gets fast in its upward movement and will not go down by its own impulse, the result is that you will have the hiccoughs. We were called at one time to visit a person who had suffered from this malady for two days and who was dying, as no doctor could relieve him. We showed him in ten minutes how to take in more breath than he had been inhaling, increasing this intake with each respiration, and as soon as he was able to take in a fair amount of air, the diaphragm was forced down to its place, and the hiccoughs ceased at once. We have known this method to be employed successfully many times. It is valuable in mild cases when a person wishes to get rid of this troublesome condition. Its cause is merely a raised diaphragm that will not go down until the lungs are filled with air, and the breath held for a short time.

The act of sneezing is interesting as showing the relationship between the nerves, the third brain, and the respiratory function.

If you have a grain of dust in the nostril, it will tickle the nerve there; this nerve will communicate with the medulla, or third brain, which is the top section of the spine; and as this third brain controls the organ of respiration, that muscle which is called the diaphragm will suffer a quick paroxysm, with the result that it will rise with great suddenness, hurl the breath out through the nose or mouth, and produce what is called the sneeze. This sneezing is frequent in rose cold or hay fever; and we find. that over half all such cases are due to false sensations which may be controlled.

Another set of caprices that this great engine of vitality indulges in, is called mirth; and it has many varieties. If a young man says something nice to the girl who is just blooming into society, her diaphragm will respond with rippling waves of action, the result being that she will giggle. Mild forms of mirth are caused by the same organ. There are twenty different kinds of laughter, each requiring a different throbbing action of this organ that rests at the base of the lungs. Actual laughter of the robust kind is merely the very large motions of the same organ. In hysteria the whole trouble arises in this diaphragm, whose powers are then running wild like amotor vehicle plunging ahead uncontrolled. As laughter is exactly the same action as weeping, the sounds emitted by the person who is indulging in hysterics are as often laughing tones as crying ones. Some people weep with joy; others laugh with joy. When a child is crying, the transition from weeping to laughing cannot be recognized without seeing the face.

When a person weeps, the corners of the mouth droop; these pull on the tear sacs, and tears flow. Laughter that is attended by the drooping mouth is prolific of tears. Hard crying, yelling, or bawling, is a form of shouting, that can be turned to loud laughter in less than one second of time. Of course the emotional mood controls the result; but the diaphragm does all the work in any case.

When you pant, it is the diaphragm.

When you gasp in horror or otherwise, itis the diaphragm. When your attention is concentrated OB any idea, this organ of respiration almost stops its action.

When your mind and thoughts are wholly absorbed in some thing, this organ of respiration CEASES ITS ACTION COMPLETELY. This cessation has been known to last for minutes and then to be followed by a minimum of breathing, thus lowering the vitality and endangering the heart and general health This cessation has been caused countless times by giving wrapt attention to what is being said and done; and it accmnpanies any attempt to hypnotize a person; therefore it is important that you practice the teachings of this lesson for warding off all outer influences, no matter of what character.

A lowered diaphragm develops magnetism naturally.

A raised diaphragm depresses life, weakens health, and destroys magnetism.

In hypnosis, it is raised.

In wrapt attention it is raised.

In hysterics it is raised.

In hiccoughs it is raised.

In giggling, simpering and suppressed or abnormal levity it is raised.

When another person is holding any kind of control over you. your organ of respiration, the diaphragm, is raised.

In fainting the diaphragm is raised.

In illness it is raised.

In death it is raised.

In any condition of the mind that transfers the full attention to something, such as a game of gambling, or of chance, as of cards, this organ is raised in the same position as in death.

For these reasons and because such condition depresses life, weakens health and destroys magnetism, it is important that this fault should be overcome by the formation of a new habit, This is accomplished by the following practice:

1. Learn to recognize the location of the diaphragm. It is the floor of the lungs, and is to be found at the top of the abdomen above the stomach, at the arch of the front ribs, where the soft part of the abdomen joins the bones. Place the tips of the fingers of both hands at this part, and cough. As the diaphragm does all the coughing, it will give a series of jumps when that action is going on. Try one big cough, and note the way in which the diaphragm gives a big jump. Snivelling is caused by small jumps of the same organ.

2. Next exhale all the air from the lungs, then inhale as much as you can, and hold the breath for one second. After a rest,repeat the whole process and hold the breath two seconds. Then exhale as before all the air from the lungs, after another rest; breathe in all you can, and hold the breath three seconds.

3. After another rest exhale all you can, then inhale all you canhold the breath for four seconds, and tense the locality of the diaphragm, which is done by directing the attention to it as the breath is retained in the lungs. This tensing is best done by attempting to spread the lower chest as far to the right and to the left, as well in front and back, as is possible. This is called expanding the diaphragm. When this organ is raised it is contracted; when lowered habitually it is expanded. It is able to carry on the process of respiration in the lowered position, despite the fact that it rises for exhalations and falls for inhalations. But there is a vast difference between a rising and falling diaphragm in a raised position, and a rising and falling diaphragm in a lowered position.

4. As soon as you are able to master this habit, adopt it always. This means to keep the locality of this great engine of vitality both tensed and expanded. You will soon find yourself a very much changed and improved person with new courage, new confidence and new powers.

5. Combine the tensing and expanding of the diaphragm with the very excellent practice of tensing the chest. Both are related, and should work together.

Remember that in tensing and expanding the diaphragm and also in assuming the positions just described, the abdomen must not be allowed to protrude. If you are over-large in that section, this lesson will slowly but very gradually reduce you there, for it gives to the body its most beautiful and graceful shape. Persistent attention however is necessary.

These exercises are in use in schools that have purchased this system of personal magnetism for the purpose of imparting health, vitality, grace, freedom from awkwardness, and beauty Of form and action to pupils who have sought the best refinements of the body. They destroy all bad developments, ill-shapes and evil habits of carriage, and overcome fiat chests, fallen shoulders, spinal curvatures, and unattractive positions.

But these advantages are incidental only.