PART I

THE term gymnastics and likewise the term calis­thenics are popularly supposed to apply only to movements of the muscles or of portions of the body operated solely for the purpose of strength­ening the muscles. It has not been supposed possible to arrange a series of exercises that would produce strength in the nerve tissues and strength in the nervous sys­tem of the body; and it is only after many years of experiments that is has been discovered that exercises like those of this chapter apply almost altogether to the nerves. Awkwardness is often due to the erratic action of the nerves and muscles combined; but in order to make the muscles move accurately the nerves have to be specially trained so that in the eradica­tion of awkwardness an entire training of the nerves is reached through a careful exercise of the muscles.

Many of the calisthenics and gymnastics that are in use in the schools and colleges of the world, and in gymna­siums, are productive of great injury to the nerves, and have been known in very many cases to produce prostration. It is possible that a series of muscular calisthenics could be de­vised which would avoid the production of awkwardness and thereby add to the grace of the entire body; but it must be admitted that in a great majority of cases persons who exercise much in gymnasiums are awkward and jerky in their movements, and the nervous system is often seriously im­paired. To train the nerves will, in every case, result in suffi­cient muscular training; but to train the muscles will not result in good nervous training. It is, therefore, highly im­portant that the nerve calisthenics of this chapter should be carefully studied, and, if possible, by practice, perfected. As they deal with a part of our existence with which we are almost totally unfamiliar, the method of practice will be new to the pupil.

FIFTY-SIXTH GRAND PRINCIPLE A gradual increase of speed magnetizes the body.

The slow beginning, the prolonged increase and the prevention of a sudden termination are matters of great value in this study. By watching the habits of persons who are known to be magnetic we see many examples of this principle, although it may be true that very few of those who possess the gift as a natural talent would know the meaning of the law under which their powers had been developed.

Before we commence the exercises it is better to under­stand two leading ideas. First it must be remembered that every muscular movement of the body is impelled and guided by the action of the nerves. From a study of one of the pre­vious chapters the pupil has already learned that any increase in the tension of the muscles is a Nerve Calisthenic, provided the increase be gradual and prolonged. We, therefore, lay down the two following laws:

1. Any gradual and prolonged increase of the tension of muscle is a Nerve Calisthenic.

2. Any gradual and prolonged increase in the speed of the movement of any portion of the body is a Nerve Calisthenics.

It will be seen from the two foregoing laws that the first applies to the action of the muscles while the entire body is in a state of repose; and the second applies to the action of the muscles while some portion of the body is moving.

It is, therefore, seen that from these two laws may be evolved a third.

3. Any gradual and prolonged increase of the tension of the muscles accompanied by any gradual and prolonged in­crease of the speed of the movement of any portion of the body will produce the most powerful Nerve Calisthenics known at the present day.

We will now proceed to the exercises.

SWELL AND DIMINISH OF SPEED

Exercise 1. Arm Movement. Take a standing posi­tion and allow both arms to hang lifeless at the side, the weight of the body being upon the balls of the feet, and the heels lightly touching the floor. Direct the mind to the right arm. The purpose of this exercise is to raise the right arm from its position at the side to a position in front of the body, the arm being kept straight, but not too stiff, all the time, and brought to a level with the shoulder. In one of the pre­vious chapters we have exercises in the tension of the body. The exercises of this chapter will follow only the second and third laws. In raising the arm the pupil must commence with a movement so slow that he can hardly tell when the action commences. After any movement has been begun its speed may be increased as rapidly as possible, provided the increase is smooth and free from jerks. Any increase of the movement of any part of the body that has the slightest jerk in it, is detrimental to the nerves. Any sudden stop is likewise to be avoided; so any decrease of the speed that is at all jerky is injurious. The pupil, therefore, must commence the action very slowly indeed, increasing the speed to a greater extent with each trial, if the jerks referred to can be avoided; and stopping by a likewise gradual diminish of the speed, bringing the arm after it has been raised in front of the body, on a level with the shoulder, to a complete standstill without any sudden­ness in the stop. Always inhale deeply.

This movement is called the Swell and Diminish in Speed.

Exercise 2. This is simply a reverse of the foregoing exercise. It commences with the arm raised at full length in front of the body on a level with the shoulder and it is carried down to the side by the same slow start and gradual increase in speed on its way and the same slow diminish until it comes to a full stop. Practice each of the foregoing at least twenty times deliberately and carefully. Any haste or lack of interest in the work will only result in time being wasted.

Exercise 3. Combine the first and second exercises, commencing with the arm at the side, raising it as previously directed, and without any jerk, causing it to descend, follow­ing exactly the direction of the two preceding exercises.

Exercise 4. Repeat the three exercises just given, with the left arm.

Exercise 5. Repeat the three exercises just given with the right arm at the side and raised laterally, that is, from the side outward from the body, the arm being brought to a level with the shoulder.

Exercise 6. Repeat the first three exercises with the left arm laterally.

Exercise 7. Repeat the three foregoing exercises with both arms, following all the directions heretofore given.

Exercise 8. Place the right arm over the head in what is called a zenith position, the index finger pointing straight upward. From this position commences a descent with the arm held, during the whole of its passage, out at full length, and passing in front of the body, the finger making a semi­circle in its movement until it reaches the side. The begin­ning of the motion when the hand is in the zenith position must be so slow that an observer could hardly tell that the action had commenced. After it has commenced the in­crease in speed may be as rapid as can be made without any jerk in the movement, and the coming to the side must stop as slowly as is necessary in order to prevent any suddenness or jerk in the ceasing of the motion. It will therefore come to a dead stop at the side so slowly that an observer could hardly detect when the motion had ceased. This exercise may be varied after the pupil has become skilled in this move­ment by making the speed when the arm is one-half way down exceedingly rapid, and if the detrimental features can be avoided the greater the speed the greater the benefit to the nerves.

Exercise 9. Repeat the last exercise by reversing the direction of the movement, commencing with the hand at the side and raising it to the zenith position. The arm must be kept at full length all the time; observing every one of the directions of the eighth exercise.

Exercise 10. Combine the last two exercises by com­mencing with the hand at the side, raising it as in the last exercise, and when at the zenith position, reversing and low­ering it as in the eighth exercise.

Exercise 11. Perform the last three exercises with the left arm.

Exercise 12. Perform the three exercises last referred to, with the right arm at the side and moving out laterally.

Exericse 13. Perform the three exercises last referred to, with the left arm at the side and moving out laterally.

Exercise 14. Perform the three exercises last referred to, with both arms.

Exercise 15. Raise the right arm to a position level with the shoulder and lateral instead of front. It may be a little back of a lateral position, tending toward an oblique backward. From this place the movement commences. The arm is to be moved, always at full length, forward and round in front of the body until the hand reaches the left shoulder where it will stop before it touches. It must not, under any circumstances, touch the shoulder. It will be seen that the •arm remains in a horizontal position all the way round, and until it has passed in front of the body the elbow will not be bent. This bending, however, will be a necessity in the latter portion of the movement. Commence with the hand in the oblique backward position as first stated, with a movement so slow that an observer will hardly be able to tell when the movement first commences, and increase gradually in speed, keeping the increase free from any jerks whatever, and when the hand is approaching the shoulder, commence to decrease the speed in time to bring it to a dead-still position without having to stop suddenly, or to make the decrease with any jerks. This exercise may be varied by increasing the speed to a very rapid movement in the middle portion of it.

Exercise 16. Repeat the foregoing exercise by revers­ing the direction of the movement, commencing with the right hand near the left shoulder, but not near enough to touch it, moving the arm out at full length to an oblique backward position, observing all the directions in the pre­ceding exercise.

Exercise 17. Repeat the two foregoing exercises to­gether, by commencing with the hand in the oblique backward position, moving it forward to the left shoulder and immedi­ately removing it back again to its first position, causing it to come very slowly to a dead-still position at the shoulder, and immediately commencing, very slowly, in its movement back again.

Exercise 18. Repeat the last three exercises with the left hand.

Exercise 19. Repeat the three exercises last referred to, with both hands, having the left arm pass under the right arm as the two approach each other. This will cause the right hand to pass near the left shoulder, above the left arm, and the left hand to pass near the armpit of the right shoulder, under the right arm.

Be careful that neither arm touches either the body or each other.

Exercise 20. Raise the right arm to a horizontal posi­tion in front of the body, that is, to a level with the shoulder. The movement of the hand will be in a large circle. Its first position will be its starting place. The arm during the whole of this movement must remain at full length. It is raised to a position half-way between a horizontal lateral and a zenith position, when it is at its greatest elevation; and from this position it will commence to descend, passing down in an oblique backward position when the hand has reached a level with the shoulder, and from this it will come in toward the side, when it is at its lowest depression and from the side, it will move outward and upward in front until it has reached its first position, which is horizontal with the shoulder. This makes a complete circle, and must be performed as follows:

The hand commences its movement so slowly that an observer will hardly be able to tell when the movement has begun, and gradually increases in speed until, when it is half­way round the rapidity will be very great. It then com­mences to diminish gradually in speed until it comes to a dead-still position in front of the body, which completes the circle.

FIFTY-SEVENTH GRAND PRINCIPLE

A swell and diminish of muscular tension gives control of the vitality.

It has already been explained, and we will proceed at once to the exercises used in its development.

PART II.

SWELL AND DIMINISH OF SPEED ACCOMPANIED BY INCREAS­ING MUSCULAR TENSION

The following exercises exemplify the third law of this chapter, which is a combination of the swell and diminish of speed with the swell and diminish of muscular tension. As has been previously stated, these are the most powerful nerve calisthenics that have been discovered up to the present day.

Exercise 21. Repeat Exercise No. 1 of this chapter, accompanying the movement therein described, by a gradual increase of muscular tension. Always inhale deeply. The muscular tension will be entirely absent when the movement first commences, and as the movement increases in speed the tension will commence to assert itself, growing strong as the speed of the movement increases, until the maximum rapidity has been reached, at which point the tension should be almost frantic. This desperate power of the nerves will be acquired only after many weeks of practice. As the movement commences to decrease in its speed the tension will likewise de­crease, until, when the movement has been brought to a dead still position, the tension is entirely absent, the arm and hand being as lifeless as a piece of wet cloth.

The foregoing exercises must each be repeated, accom­panied by the swell and diminish of tension. This will re­quire a repetition of the 20 Exercises of Part I of this chapter.

If the foregoing exercises of this chapter are practiced with the carefulness desired by the author, the most satisfac­tory results will be accomplished. It will take time to grow into the new life which must necessarily result from steady practice, but the pupil will find, when he or she has suffi­ciently practiced these twenty-one exercises, that a new force called Internal Energy has been developed in the cen­tres of the nervous system. The work of this chapter will be found to be exceedingly tedious, and the pupil will, perhaps, lack that patience which is necessary in order to win, but to the few who always succeed in great undertakings where the many fail, we will say, that the power which you develop will be a surprise to yourself; and a proper wielding of that power may be a surprise to others whom you meet in daily life.

A few of the foregoing vitality exercises should be per­formed accurately for three minutes to five minutes daily; and no two exercises of this chapter should be used the same day, unless three minutes have been given to one; and a different exercise should be taken each day. This will require twenty days at least to graduate from the present stage.

The pupil can rest on laurels well won. There can be no failure, no disappointment, no discouragement, if the work has been rightly done: for every nerve and fibre of the brain and body will be in perfect health; the ganglionic cells will be storage batteries of new and vast quantities of magnetism; the blood will be clearer, purer and stronger, especially if the pupil observes the direction to inhale deeply when commenc­ing each exercise; and life and health will be at the zenith of their meridian. It is a glorious work!